diff --git a/app/controllers/access_controller.rb b/app/controllers/access_controller.rb
index 5b6dea6e..a83fd128 100644
--- a/app/controllers/access_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/access_controller.rb
@@ -20,9 +20,7 @@ class AccessController < ApplicationController
   # POST maps/:id/access_request
   def access_request
     request = AccessRequest.create(user: current_user, map: @map)
-    # what about push notification to map owner?
-    mail = MapMailer.access_request_email(request, @map)
-    @map.user.notify(mail.subject, 'access request', request, true, MAILBOXER_CODE_ACCESS_REQUEST)
+    NotificationService.access_request(request)
 
     respond_to do |format|
       format.json { head :ok }
@@ -35,12 +33,9 @@ class AccessController < ApplicationController
 
     @map.add_new_collaborators(user_ids).each do |user_id|
       # add_new_collaborators returns array of added users,
-      # who we then send an email to
+      # who we then send a notification to
       user = User.find(user_id)
-      mail = MapMailer.invite_to_edit_email(@map, current_user, user)
-      user.notify(mail.subject, 'invite to edit',
-                  UserMap.find_by(user: user, map: @map),
-                  true, MAILBOXER_CODE_INVITED_TO_EDIT)
+      NotificationService.invite_to_edit(@map, current_user, user)
     end
     @map.remove_old_collaborators(user_ids)
 
diff --git a/app/mailers/application_mailer.rb b/app/mailers/application_mailer.rb
index 338f38ee..ebffb2df 100644
--- a/app/mailers/application_mailer.rb
+++ b/app/mailers/application_mailer.rb
@@ -11,8 +11,11 @@ class ApplicationMailer < ActionMailer::Base
     def mail_for_notification(notification)
       if notification.notification_code == MAILBOXER_CODE_ACCESS_REQUEST
         request = notification.notified_object
-        MapMailer.access_request_email(request, request.map)
-      elsif notification.notification_code == MAILBOXER_CODE_INVITED_TO_EDIT
+        MapMailer.access_request_email(request)
+      elsif notification.notification_code == MAILBOXER_CODE_ACCESS_APPROVED
+        request = notification.notified_object
+        MapMailer.access_approved_email(request)
+      elsif notification.notification_code == MAILBOXER_CODE_INVITE_TO_EDIT
         user_map = notification.notified_object
         MapMailer.invite_to_edit_email(user_map.map, user_map.map.user, user_map.user)
       end
diff --git a/app/mailers/map_mailer.rb b/app/mailers/map_mailer.rb
index f6865ecd..bf0cec7b 100644
--- a/app/mailers/map_mailer.rb
+++ b/app/mailers/map_mailer.rb
@@ -2,17 +2,21 @@
 class MapMailer < ApplicationMailer
   default from: 'team@metamaps.cc'
 
-  def access_request_email(request, map)
+  def access_request_email(request)
     @request = request
-    @map = map
-    subject = @map.name + ' - request to edit'
-    mail(to: @map.user.email, subject: subject)
+    @map = request.map
+    mail(to: @map.user.email, subject: request.requested_text)
+  end
+
+  def access_approved_email(request)
+    @request = request
+    @map = request.map
+    mail(to: request.user, subject: request.approved_text)
   end
 
   def invite_to_edit_email(map, inviter, invitee)
     @inviter = inviter
     @map = map
-    subject = @map.name + ' - invitation to edit'
-    mail(to: invitee.email, subject: subject)
+    mail(to: invitee.email, subject: map.invited_text)
   end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/access_request.rb b/app/models/access_request.rb
index c433f7cc..e5416fff 100644
--- a/app/models/access_request.rb
+++ b/app/models/access_request.rb
@@ -12,8 +12,7 @@ class AccessRequest < ApplicationRecord
     end
 
     user_map = UserMap.create(user: user, map: map)
-    mail = MapMailer.invite_to_edit_email(map, map.user, user)
-    user.notify(mail.subject, 'invite to edit', user_map, true, MAILBOXER_CODE_INVITED_TO_EDIT)
+    NotificationService.access_approved(self)
   end
 
   def deny
@@ -25,4 +24,12 @@ class AccessRequest < ApplicationRecord
       Mailboxer::Receipt.where(notification: notification).update_all(is_read: true)
     end
   end
+
+  def requested_text
+    self.map.name + ' - request to edit' 
+  end
+
+  def approved_text
+    self.map.name + ' - access approved' 
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/models/map.rb b/app/models/map.rb
index 36b2d284..5744b856 100644
--- a/app/models/map.rb
+++ b/app/models/map.rb
@@ -123,4 +123,8 @@ class Map < ApplicationRecord
     Topic.where(defer_to_map_id: id).update_all(permission: permission)
     Synapse.where(defer_to_map_id: id).update_all(permission: permission)
   end
+
+  def invited_text
+    self.name + ' - invited to edit'
+  end
 end
diff --git a/app/services/notification_service.rb b/app/services/notification_service.rb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..05a268f4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/services/notification_service.rb
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# frozen_string_literal: true
+class NotificationService
+
+  def self.renderer
+    renderer ||= ApplicationController.renderer.new(
+      http_host: ENV['MAILER_DEFAULT_URL'],
+      https:     Rails.env.production? ? true : false
+    )
+  end
+
+  def self.access_request(request)
+    body = renderer.render(template: 'map_mailer/access_request_email', locals: { map: request.map, request: request }, layout: false)
+    request.map.user.notify(request.requested_text, body, request, false, MAILBOXER_CODE_ACCESS_REQUEST)
+  end
+
+  def self.access_approved(request)
+    body = renderer.render(template: 'map_mailer/access_approved_email', locals: { map: request.map }, layout: false)
+    receipt = request.user.notify(request.approved_text, body, request, false, MAILBOXER_CODE_ACCESS_APPROVED)
+  end
+
+  def self.invite_to_edit(map, inviter, invited)
+    user_map = UserMap.find_by(user: invited, map: map)
+    body = renderer.render(template: 'map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email', locals: { map: map, inviter: inviter }, layout: false)
+    invited.notify(map.invited_text, body, user_map, false, MAILBOXER_CODE_INVITE_TO_EDIT)
+  end
+end
diff --git a/app/views/mailboxer/notification_mailer/new_notification_email.html.erb b/app/views/mailboxer/notification_mailer/new_notification_email.html.erb
index 7f680869..ad90419f 100644
--- a/app/views/mailboxer/notification_mailer/new_notification_email.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/mailboxer/notification_mailer/new_notification_email.html.erb
@@ -1,10 +1,6 @@
 <!DOCTYPE html>
-<% mail = ApplicationMailer.mail_for_notification(@notification) %>
 <div style="padding: 16px; background: white; text-align: left;">
-  <% if mail %>
-    <% @notification.update(body: mail.html_part&.body&.decoded) %>
-    <%= raw mail.html_part&.body&.decoded %>
-  <% end %>
+  <%= raw @notification.body %>
   <p style="font-size: 12px;">Make sense with Metamaps</p>
   <%= render partial: 'shared/mailer_unsubscribe_link' %>
 </div>
diff --git a/app/views/map_mailer/access_approved_email.html.erb b/app/views/map_mailer/access_approved_email.html.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..91fd77e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/map_mailer/access_approved_email.html.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,8 @@
+<% map = @map || map %>
+<% button_style = "background-color:#4fc059;border-radius:2px;color:white;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;min-height:29px;line-height:29px;min-width:54px;outline:0px;padding:0 8px;text-align:center;text-decoration:none" %>
+<p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><%= map.user.name %></span> has responded to your access request and invited you to <span style="font-weight: bold">collaboratively edit</span> the following map:</p>
+<p><%= link_to map.name, map_url(map), style: "font-size: 18px; text-decoration: none; color: #4fc059;" %></p>
+<% if map.desc %>
+  <p style="font-size: 12px;"><%= map.desc %></p>
+<% end %>
+<%= link_to 'Go to Map', map_url(map), style: button_style %> 
diff --git a/app/views/map_mailer/access_approved_email.text.erb b/app/views/map_mailer/access_approved_email.text.erb
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2a8e54f6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/views/map_mailer/access_approved_email.text.erb
@@ -0,0 +1,4 @@
+<% map = @map || map %>
+<%= map.user.name %> has responded to your access request and invited you to collaboratively edit the following map:
+
+<%= map.name %> [<%= map_url(map) %>]
diff --git a/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.html.erb b/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.html.erb
index 74d666bd..759b97eb 100644
--- a/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.html.erb
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
+<% map = @map || map %>
+<% request = @request || request %>
 <% button_style = "background-color:#4fc059;border-radius:2px;color:white;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;min-height:29px;line-height:29px;min-width:54px;outline:0px;padding:0 8px;text-align:center;text-decoration:none" %>
-<p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><%= @request.user.name %></span> is requesting access to <span style="font-weight: bold">collaboratively edit</span> the following map:</p>
-<p><%= @map.name %></p>
-<p><%= link_to "Allow", approve_access_map_url(id: @map.id, request_id: @request.id), style: "font-size: 18px; text-decoration: none; color: #4fc059;" %>
-<p><%= link_to "Decline", deny_access_map_url(id: @map.id, request_id: @request.id), style: "font-size: 18px; text-decoration: none; color: #DB5D5D;" %></p>
-<%= link_to 'Go to Map', map_url(@map), style: button_style %> 
+<p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><%= request.user.name %></span> is requesting access to <span style="font-weight: bold">collaboratively edit</span> the following map:</p>
+<p><%= map.name %></p>
+<p><%= link_to "Allow", approve_access_map_url(id: map.id, request_id: request.id), style: "font-size: 18px; text-decoration: none; color: #4fc059;" %>
+<p><%= link_to "Decline", deny_access_map_url(id: map.id, request_id: request.id), style: "font-size: 18px; text-decoration: none; color: #DB5D5D;" %></p>
+<%= link_to 'Go to Map', map_url(map), style: button_style %> 
diff --git a/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.text.erb b/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.text.erb
index ef302a8b..c99aa6e6 100644
--- a/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.text.erb
+++ b/app/views/map_mailer/access_request_email.text.erb
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
-<%= @request.user.name %> has requested to collaboratively edit the following map:
+<% map = @map || map %>
+<% request = @request || request %>
+<%= request.user.name %> has requested to collaboratively edit the following map:
 
-<%= @map.name %> [<%= map_url(@map) %>]
+<%= map.name %> [<%= map_url(map) %>]
 
-Allow [<%= approve_access_map_url(id: @map.id, request_id: @request.id) %>]
-Decline [<%= deny_access_map_url(id: @map.id, request_id: @request.id) %>]
+Allow [<%= approve_access_map_url(id: map.id, request_id: request.id) %>]
+Decline [<%= deny_access_map_url(id: map.id, request_id: request.id) %>]
 
 
diff --git a/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.html.erb b/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.html.erb
index aba7cfd4..f08cc377 100644
--- a/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.html.erb
+++ b/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.html.erb
@@ -1,7 +1,9 @@
+<% map = @map || map %>
+<% inviter = @inviter || inviter %>
 <% button_style = "background-color:#4fc059;border-radius:2px;color:white;display:inline-block;font-family:Roboto,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:12px;font-weight:bold;min-height:29px;line-height:29px;min-width:54px;outline:0px;padding:0 8px;text-align:center;text-decoration:none" %>
-<p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><%= @inviter.name %></span> has invited you to <span style="font-weight: bold">collaboratively edit</span> the following map:</p>
-<p><%= link_to @map.name, map_url(@map), style: "font-size: 18px; text-decoration: none; color: #4fc059;" %></p>
-<% if @map.desc %>
-  <p style="font-size: 12px;"><%= @map.desc %></p>
+<p><span style="font-weight: bold;"><%= inviter.name %></span> has invited you to <span style="font-weight: bold">collaboratively edit</span> the following map:</p>
+<p><%= link_to map.name, map_url(map), style: "font-size: 18px; text-decoration: none; color: #4fc059;" %></p>
+<% if map.desc %>
+  <p style="font-size: 12px;"><%= map.desc %></p>
 <% end %>
-<%= link_to 'Go to Map', map_url(@map), style: button_style %>    
+<%= link_to 'Go to Map', map_url(map), style: button_style %>    
diff --git a/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.text.erb b/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.text.erb
index 4e822842..b58cced9 100644
--- a/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.text.erb
+++ b/app/views/map_mailer/invite_to_edit_email.text.erb
@@ -1,3 +1,5 @@
-<%= @inviter.name %> has invited you to collaboratively edit the following map:
+<% map = @map || map %>
+<% inviter = @inviter || inviter %>
+<%= inviter.name %> has invited you to collaboratively edit the following map:
 
-<%= @map.name %> [<%= map_url(@map) %>]
+<%= map.name %> [<%= map_url(map) %>]
diff --git a/config/initializers/mailboxer.rb b/config/initializers/mailboxer.rb
index b937df92..49824f50 100644
--- a/config/initializers/mailboxer.rb
+++ b/config/initializers/mailboxer.rb
@@ -8,7 +8,8 @@
 # },
 # which would imply that this is an access request to Map.find(1)
 MAILBOXER_CODE_ACCESS_REQUEST = 'ACCESS_REQUEST'
-MAILBOXER_CODE_INVITED_TO_EDIT = 'INVITED_TO_EDIT'
+MAILBOXER_CODE_ACCESS_APPROVED = 'ACCESS_APPROVED'
+MAILBOXER_CODE_INVITE_TO_EDIT = 'INVITE_TO_EDIT'
 
 Mailboxer.setup do |config|
   # Configures if your application uses or not email sending for Notifications and Messages
diff --git a/frontend/src/Metamaps/Map/InfoBox.js b/frontend/src/Metamaps/Map/InfoBox.js
index 1b06daf5..5fced292 100644
--- a/frontend/src/Metamaps/Map/InfoBox.js
+++ b/frontend/src/Metamaps/Map/InfoBox.js
@@ -264,7 +264,7 @@ const InfoBox = {
       var mapperIds = DataModel.Collaborators.models.map(function(mapper) { return mapper.id })
       $.post('/maps/' + Active.Map.id + '/access', { access: mapperIds })
       var name = DataModel.Collaborators.get(newCollaboratorId).get('name')
-      GlobalUI.notifyUser(name + ' will be notified by email')
+      GlobalUI.notifyUser(name + ' will be notified')
       self.updateNumbers()
     }
 
diff --git a/spec/mailers/previews/map_mailer_preview.rb b/spec/mailers/previews/map_mailer_preview.rb
index 17ea7671..61e33eb8 100644
--- a/spec/mailers/previews/map_mailer_preview.rb
+++ b/spec/mailers/previews/map_mailer_preview.rb
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ class MapMailerPreview < ActionMailer::Preview
 
   def access_request_email
     request = AccessRequest.first
-    MapMailer.access_request_email(request, request.map)
+    MapMailer.access_request_email(request)
+  end
+
+  def access_approved_email
+    request = AccessRequest.first
+    MapMailer.access_approved_email(request)
   end
 end