emilyspoppy

:laugh2:Be careful how you say that to her!!

Nah! I enjoy "combat"!

I feel spoiled now. Now I just want wood molds with liner. Can you tell I hate lining wood molds?!!

Ha ha! Dave. No reason to sell a kidney. I bought the liner and custom mold because they are both cheap (as far as soap molds go!) or at least the cheapest I can find but still great quality and craftmanship. I didn't have any log molds yet and was looking for a cheaper option. This way I can buy more as I go and not have to cough up a lung.... or sell a kidney. LOL

The wood mold is made from poplar and is lightweight compared to my other wood molds. But then it is also smaller than my 5-6 lb slab molds made of birch I think. Got them at BB. Pricey but worth it.

I feel spoiled now. Now I just want wood molds with liner. Can you tell I hate lining wood molds?!!

Nearly all of my "gal pal" soapers virtually say the same thing about "wallpapering" wooden molds.

I'll just take their advice and never personally "enjoy" the experience.

My B-Day is this September. I may just start hinting to my DW that; "Candy really has a sweet box mold!"

I wonder what her reaction will be?

Dave

(Poster's note; The question is rhetorical!)

Soapers choice for soap quality in any of your versions for shea or cocoa butter, hands down. They have the best prices, quality and service for soap needs. I buy some extra for cooking-seeing as their primary business is food oils. I have been to the warehouse center and it is neat as a pin.

Raw shea, global mama or shea radiance.

Cocoa butter for any application, JEDwards, cocoasupply.

Thanks a bunch, Shannon!

It's very reassuring to buy from a supplier(s) that you know very talented crafters endorse.

Have a super day today and a better one tomorrow!

Dave

I'm sure I'm in a minority group when I say this, but I no longer add special holiday fragrances to my line other than a few Christmas offerings. I've found it's not profitable to pour unique fragrances for the lesser holidays.

I can't sometimes help wondering if customers aren't a bit wacko by thinking a holiday item is past it's prime or out-right spoiled the day after the holiday. Just look at the huge sales nearly all mass marketers hold on their holiday items the "day-after".

I do, however, re-label some of my regular line that I can return to my normal stock after the "event" passes with a simple label change.

Halloween;

Country Pumpkin; Jack-O-Lantern

Spiced Cider; Witch's Brew

Fresh Mown Hay; Halloween Hay Ride

Pomegranate; Vampire's Kiss

Your choices are really numerous and a little fun to do.

JMO/HTH

Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles

ETA: When I composed this I was the first to reply. Some other member's posts made it in before mine. All are quite interesting and may be better suggestions for your personal circumstances.

Good luck with your decision.

Dave

That's a very good looking set-up, Candy.

I bought several heavy silicone molds from Brambleberry . The sides are reinforced so a wood frame isn't required, but in my opinion it's a little bit of a project to achieve release even with M&P. I might be full of hooey, but that's my impression.

It's also my impression from looking at the photos you posted that the lid sits nicely on the frame rather than sliding into a groove.

It looks like I may be adding yet more items to my ever-growing shopping list. Does anyone know where I might be able to sell a kidney? I went to the sperm bank at a reproductive services facility, but the receptionist just broke into hysterical laughter when she looked down at me in my wheelchair.

Boy! Talk about having your feelings hurt. I never even got the chance to show her a photo of my daughter and grandchildren!

Dave

Thank you VERY much for the advice, friends.

I checked SC out and was very impressed with them even though their raw Shea Butter was out of stock. I'm not an experience soaper, but my guess is that if they don't have the ingredient that you want to soap with you don't actually need it.

Something I've noticed, however. There must be a lot of dirty people with dry skin in the Midwest. There are so many suppliers based there. (lol)

Dave

I would appreciate any advice on where would be my best (value) source for raw and processed butters and suggested retail pricing and marketing ideas.

All advice is welcome.

Thanks!

Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles

I have not found a cinnamon bun or creme brulee that I like- it may just be me and my nose, but I just don't care for the ones that I have tried. Also, a good Almond- AH's Almond Creme is the best I have found so far. Honey has been a tough one - many seem too perfumey to me, I do like the L'Occitane Honey and Shea from Elements and WSP though. I may just be picky when it comes to scents- as so many others love the ones that I don't care for.... everyone's nose and preferences are different....

Peaks "Wild Mountain Honey" ended a decade-long search for a true/strong honey fragrance that I remember from working with my beekeeper dad while servicing his hives and extracting the golden nectar. A little of "WMH" goes a long way especially in B&B.

JMO/HTH

Update on shaving soap;

It appears that I was wrong again.

The shaving melt and pour ranges from one and a half to about twice the price of the soap bases I have chosen to use. Some of the sources it can be found at;

http://www.brambleberry.com/Shaving-Melt-And-Pour-Base-P4384.aspx

http://www.bulkapothecary.com/soap-making/melt-and-pour-soap-bases/shaving-sfic-all-natural-glycerin-melt-and-pour-soap-base/

http://www.wholesalesuppliesplus.com/StoreCategory.aspx?CatalogID=1&GroupID=1&CategoryID=2380&CategoryName=Shave+Soap+Base

Dave

ETA; I just read the addition to Candy's post. I'm a firm believer of the three strikes and you're out ruling so I'm shutting down and heading back to bed! Geez! How did I forget to post a link to the Peak site? Sorry, Alan!

Dave

There is such a thing as a shaving soap M&P base. It used to be a staple base anywhere you saw M&P bases sold. Now you have to search for a supplier that still carries it. Sad because it had tons of lather and many M&P soapers bought the shaving base to add lather to their regular bases. I will look around and let you know if I find it.

I know where to get it. I'm already working with and testing a bunch of bases, around ten. I'm getting very impressive lather from most of them. I've noticed that the shaving base is quite a bit more expensive than the bases I already have. I was wondering if there really was a significant difference. I've been personally shaving with my test soaps and am quite pleased. I'm getting very rich, firm and creamy lather. The more I "work" it the more it increases in volume and firmness. Very little water is required and it rinses off easily with no greasy or sticky after feel.

If you feel that another base that is more than twice the price of the ones I'm using will make a noticeably better soap, I'll add it to my ever-growing shopping list.

Thanks!

Dave

Kelly; I've never used any WSP FO's. I can only compare BR between NG & BCN. I too, appreciate the post. I may have to go shopping again. I only want the best fragrances available for my M&P soap and lotion line.

Candy; Can you make any recommendations for a good M&P shaving soap?

Dave

Thanks to both of you! I like both ideas.

This is probably a dumb question but, do you pour the soap in the clamshell or pour it into a mold and then use the clamshell as the package? I haven't made soap yet but hopefully one day I'll be able to do that.

Thanks again to both of you!

Pour M&P soap directly into the clamshell at less than 140°F. To prevent warping.

Easy Peasy

Dave

Yep-er-ee!

Dave

You just mentioned the FO I want to try soaping-- AH/RE's Barbershop 1920's.

The only experience I had in a barbershop was when my mom took me in to have the bubblegum my brother put in my hair cut out. LOL It was an interesting experience-- plus I was the only girl in there.

My guess is that anyone in that shop who is still alive remembers you're adventure to this very day!

I may just go ahead and put the sampler of "BS 20's" in some GM M&P and see what happens. Who knows . . . I may just have a "transcentdental" moment. It would make my day!

Dave

Chris is very correct.

Palm wax makes nice votives, my personal favorites, but you really do need to make sure you've eliminated the persistent air pockets especially if your marketing them.

Proper safety labeling for votive candles, including the reference that an approved container is required is also a must, as you probably know.

Good luck and happy and safe chandlering.

Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles

My wife wishes you would shut it down so I would spend more time doing the housework while she is away at her job!

Dave

Could be, Candy, could be!

I recall the barber, "Joe", used a "booster seat". I also remember he gave me a lollipop at the end of the "ordeal". It was my favorite flavor, orange!

My brother recently sent me a newspaper clipping from the "News Journal" of Wilmington, Delaware, which featured "Joe's Barbershop" of Fairfax, Delaware.

At 85 years of age, Joe was retiring. His "baby" brother, George, was going to carry-on the business. George is a young eighty year old. He's still cutting my "baby" brother's and son's hair.

Joe gave me my very first professional haircut. I recall the experience like it was just last week. I also remember when "Kid George" began his career. I have fond memories of the brothers chatting like magpies as hair fell to the floor.

The essence of Lilac Talcum from a white tin shaker can intermingled with the fragrances of "Hop-a-long Cassidy Hair Tonic" from a tall-necked glass bottle and, what time revealed, was "Bay Rum" aftershave still lingers like a friendly, but haunting ghost in the scent receptors of my aging brain.

I began a search for that aroma when I began my venture into the world of B&B products. I sampled AH/RE's "1920's Barbershop", but settled on NG's "Bay Rum".

BTW;

My dad was quite disappointed when Joe's dad, also a barber, retired.

Joe, Sr. gave my father his first barbershop haircut. Except during his six year's of military duty during WWII, he never went anywhere else until he was forced by circumstances to go to his son's shop.

Joe, Jr. gave my father his last haircut since his dad took a "premature" retirement about the age of 90! It would be a dozen years or so later before "Senior" finally "closed shop" and took his eternal rest.

Sorry for the hi-jack. I waited until the thread appeared to have "retired", too.

Dave

ETA: http://www.superpages.com/bp/Wilmington-DE/Joes-Barber-Shop-L0093453615.htm

The last time I remember a customer asking about wax type was when she approached my register while holding three of my jar candles;

Customer; "Are these soy candles?"

Me; "No! They're made with paraffin wax."

Customer; "Good! I'll take these."

(Note: Honest in every detail as I recall it.)

HTH

Dave @ Charlotte Hall Country Candles

Bay Rum is supposed to appeal to guys. I just noticed that I'm a guy.

When I sampled what BCN called Bay Rum I was very unimpressed (FWIW). I remember Bay Rum from my childhood and even though that was over a half-century ago BC's had little in common with it.

JMO/HTH

Dave

I actually thought my fat fingers had "gotten me the boot"! (lol)

Thanks, Alan!

Dave

As usual, some very good advice from two very talented candle and soap crafters.

JMO

Dave

The blend would probably work best if it were two parts Coconut to one part Tomato Leaf -- if you try it.

Tyler . . . You'd be better off if you tried to ignore those voices in your head. I mixed up a bit of your "invention".

My wife is still mad at me for asking her; "Smell this!"

Phweeew !!! Oils were from BCN. Maybe that didn't help any.

Dave

OMG! Julie!

You have no idea how much effort (and moola) I've been pouring into finding/making a true strong "leather" fragrance. I don't stock one yet, but know it's a must have for me especially since I'm going B&B by the Fall.

I'll be watching this thread closely for opinions and recipes.

Thank you for your perfectly timed gesture.

Dave

Not even thinking about those. A weedwacker isn't much defense against anything that big.

You need to get a bigger lawnmower or a shooting-type of defense item before they abolish the 2nd Amendment. What about the coyotes. Don't forget about them!

Ok, Mr Pin Cushion, I hope your testing goes easy & well!

I know Maryland is brutal in the summer with humidity, but this place is like a swamp! I cannot bear to sweat, UGH!!!!!! Snakes, Spiders, Coyotes & Sweat! Of course the beauty of the area does make up for most of that bad.

What . . . No lions and tigers and bears? *faint* Oh my!