mdmd

I agree with the others, more emollients/liquid. Some day you may need more than others, depending on the weather and humidity level, so it's never the same exact recipe. When you test your mixture, squeeze a little in your hand, and it should hold together. Let it rest a minute, then apply a little pressure to break it. If it crumbles, add a tiny bit more oil or spray with witch hazel. If it breaks in two (or maybe three) big pieces, it's ready to pack. Also, I pack mine in Silicone molds and let them sit overnight (mainly just because I'm lazy), and they pop right out the next morning.

What ratio water/butters/oils are you using? I use up to 25% Shea in my lotion, and it's very moisturizing. It makes a really thick lotion, though. You can also try adding a little Cocoa Butter, if you have some on hand, which will give your lotions a more protective feel to them.

Some people can have actual allergic reactions to EOs and FOs -- unfortunately, I'm one of them. I have seasonal allergies (ragweed, grass, tree pollen, etc), and have cross reactions with a lot of floral and herbal EOs, and similar ingredients in FOs, and I actually do break out in hives, get sneezy and a runny nose, sometimes get really lightheaded, too. But, I also don't go in candle stores, and I can see how people in your stores complaining about the scents would be very annoying! (I make soaps/lotions, but mainly unscented).

I don't make candles (I make lotions, soaps, etc.), but the advice you're getting here about starting a craft business is important. It takes years to get your products sale-ready, and lots of money goes into research and testing. And, I can't speak for candles, but I imagine it's a lot like bath and body products -- there's not a huge profit for the amount of work that goes into making, marketing and selling your products unless you're outsourcing a lot of the work (and paying people for it!). It can take a long time and a lot of work before it could replace your day job. That's not to say that there aren't people making some decent money doing this, but it takes a lot of work to get to that point. But, like the others have said, if you do love your craft, then it can be very rewarding. I teach bath and body craft classes, and I've seen lots of people start off all excited about starting a business, only to be discouraged when they find out how much work and how little profit, comparably, there is. I hope this isn't discouraging to you, but just wanted to add my two cents. Like one of the previous posters said, make sure you love what you're doing first, otherwise it'll be hard to keep it going (and you'll have wasted lots of time and money). --Melanie

Those are awesome!

The test for infringement on a trademark is whether there could be a likelihood of confusion between two marks. And if it would ever go to court, the first to market could take precedence, even if it was trademarked by another company first (who never used the name, that is). So you'd have to consider whether there could possibly be any confusion, and if you'd be willing to just give up that name and start over if the trademarked company ever approached you, or if you'd be willing to fight for it (and pay for lawyer, court fees).

I've used WSP detergent free bases, and they're nice, but they do sweat a lot in humid climates. Also, the GM one is very soft, almost rubbery. The others are harder. And yes, the fragrances do discolor the MP. Also, just a side note, I find that I need to use a lot less FO or EO in MP than I do in CP to keep the same level of scent (with the exception of citruses, which are always tricky to soap with).

They're mixed all the time to make special scents that you can't get from just EOs -- ex. coconut FO and Lime EO (which I just mixed today!)

When I first started doing shows another vendor (he made spicy relishes and salsas) gave me some advice. He told me that I'd sell more if I had less to sell. This guy had about 20 years of craft show experience, and he said that over the years he found that if he brought 10 different items, people would browse and move on, but if he had only 2 or 3, which he sampled, then people would make a decision and buy. I've tried both at shows -- bringing a little bit of everything, and bringing only a few items, and I do tend to sell more when I have just a few things. The booth is less cluttered looking, and people aren't overwhelmed.

That happened to me with a Strawberry-type scent before. It was almost nonexistent in HP soap the day after I made it, but then reappeared. It had the same effect when I made lotions with it -- could smell it when I first made the lotion, then nothing for several days, then all of a sudden it would come back.