What is it? |
Dendritic Salt is a high surface area salt that is used in bath salt formulations to improve fragrance retention and reduce/prevent clumping. |
INCI |
Sodium chloride |
Appearance |
Small white crystals; visually indistinguishable from table salt. |
Usage rate |
I find ~10% is typically sufficient to prevent clumping. |
Texture |
Fine, crystalline. |
Scent |
Nothing noticeable. |
Solubility |
Water |
Why do we use it in formulations? |
We include Dendritic Salt in bath salt formulations so they don’t seize into rock hard bath bricks over time. I consider Dendritic Salt (or products that do a similar job, like Natrasorb) to be essential in formulating bath salts and other free-flowing bath powder formulations. |
Do you need it? |
If you like making bath salts I’d say Dendritic Salt is a must-have ingredient. If you don’t care about bath salts you don’t need it. |
Refined or unrefined? |
Dendritic Salt only exists as a refined product. |
Strengths |
Excellent at preventing clumping/seizing and improving fragrance retention in bath salts. |
Weaknesses |
Dendritic Salt can be hard to find, depending on where you live. |
Alternatives & Substitutions |
Natrasorb might work; do not use non-dendritic salt as an alternative. |
How to Work with It |
Massage wet ingredients (fragrance, essential oils, solubilizers) into the Dendritic Salt, and then massage/blend in the rest of the dry ingredients. |
Storage & Shelf Life |
Stored somewhere cool, dark, and dry, dendritic salt should last indefinitely. |
Tips, Tricks, and Quirks |
Since the INCI for Dendritic Salt is “sodium chloride”, just like table salt, this ingredient is a bit of a secret for bath salts makers—the ingredient list won’t reveal its presence, but it’s doing a very important job! |
Recommended starter amount |
100g (3.5oz) |
Where to Buy it |
Buy it from an online DIY ingredient supplier or Amazon. |