cre8tivelegance

bumping.....in hopes of getting a reply thanks

Can I use saran wrap to wrap my CP soap in? It seems I read somewhere that saran wrap will pull the FO out of the soap.....this is true? If so......what else can I use? Thanks!

Thanks everyone for your replies........very helpful!! I sat down and started doing some math and came up with 3-1/2 x 2" x 1" thick would give me a close enough size......and now by reading what everyone posted helps me know I'm pretty darn close thanks again........I'll let you know for sure in the event someone else out there is looking for the same info.

thanks rebecca......it does help some......I was hoping to not have to waste too much soap from doing the cutting down process (cutting-weighing, cutting-weighing) and thought there would be someone out there that has had to go through this already and would save me (& others) from having to do the same. Not a problem really.......other than missing all the oldies from a few years ago who where much more helpful. I do appreciate your response and your willingness to help

Thanks Donna for answering......I was beginning to wonder if my posts were invisible....... I'm not using a regular mold for soap.......I'm using a rubbermaid organizer container......it's sufficient in that it holds 2lbs of soap however, it's an odd size.....I believe it's a 6-1/2 x 9" in container. Therefore, I'm having to measure and cut. Right now, this will have to suffice as I'm not able to afford a soap mold right now and haven't found anything else that I can use. From all the reading I've done, it seems that a 4 or 5oz bar is a good size. But I don't know what dimensions to use to get this size. I measured mine 3" across, 1" thick and I believe the height is somewhere around 1-1/2-2" high. But when I weigh them, they are roughly around 3oz. I'm new at this and didn't think to weigh after each cut to make my adjustments and instead, I cut everything first then decided to weight them. Stupid.....I know. I was just wondering for the next batch so that I wouldn't have much waste and could come closer to the size without too much error. I guess the answer to this question is top secret and I'm out of line in asking it:o

Isn't there anyone out there that can give me the dimensions of a 4 oz & 5oz bar of soap?????????

Does anyone have the dimensions of a bar of soap for a 4-5oz size please?

HI Everyone! I think I've mastered making soap....well, at least I'm pleased with the few batches I've made and that's after spending countless hours reading the forum here from all you soap experts......thank you for taking the time for us newbies to learn from! Now I have to master cutting them. I see the average size is right around 5oz. But I'm having trouble finding what dimensions you have to cut the soap at to achieve this weight. Also, do you have to add the size on your packaging when selling? I see the ingredients isn't necessary but noted that it's good to do so for those who may be allergic to whatever is used......I personally feel this is a good idea as well, but now I'm wondering if it's imperative to put the wt of the soap on your package. Thanks for your advice!

Hi there! I don't do inventory with my taxes. My accountant tells me that my business isn't big enough to have to worry about inventory. So we just add up all my expenses along with all my sales and show either a profit or loss. I guess it depends on whether or not you have a store front or if you're working out of your home.....as for me, my business is a home-based business. Not sure if that helps.....but if your business is home-based, you may want to check with your accountant as to whether or not it's necessary to do inventory.

thanks for your responses......does anyone else do home parties?

Hi Everyone! I was approached yesterday by a friend who lives out of state. She has been bugging me for a long time to let her sell my candles up where she lives and yesterday, that is what our conversation was about. I am now considering it......I thought she could be my rep. She told me she would sell my candles through home parties and she would give the first one.........her sister has already agreed to book a party off of her......she's convinced this would take off like gangbusters. My problem is.......I'm not sure how to pay her or the host for hosting a party. At first I thought I'd pay her a 20% commission from total sales. And then I thought I'd have to give the hostess some incentive for having a party so I came up with a scale for the hostess: a certain amount of sale total would equal % discount off the purchase of candles up to a maximum of 20%. Well.......after thinking about this, that would be a total of 40% I would be paying out (20% to rep & 20% to hostess) leaving me only 30% profit, figuring 30% for my cost to make the candels. Right now I only charge 3x my cost and I know in her area, they would not sell for much more than that amount. Somehow, the rep & hostess together are making more than me.......can anyone give me some advice on how to handle this? I've never done a home candle party so I don't even know where to begin. Thanks for your help!

I'm curious about something.......are there different kinds of sesame oil? I'm definitely using the darker one that is causing the smell.....but like I said, I like the properties this oil gives....is there another oil that has similiar properties but doesn't stink? One more question.....I've read a lot about coconut oil....mainly that it can be drying.....what is the highest percentage that should be used for this oil? Thanks everyone for your responses......I appreciate the input!

do you remember how long it took for it to cure out?

I did use a dark sesame oil.....on the can it says "pure sesame oil" and I think this may be my culprit.....it does have the same smell as the stinkyness of the soap.....will this eventually go away during the cure time? I hope so because I do like the properties of this oil but good grief....who wants to wash with smelly soap

Hi everyone! I finally took the plunge and made my first soap last night. It actually wasn't as hard as I was anticipating.....at least not the process.....finding the right oils, well, now.....that's a different story. I wanted to make a high conditioning soap. So I researched all the oil properties and found the oils I wanted to use but the problem is.......the soap ended up stinking really bad! I even used a FO....white tea and ginger scent. Can anyone tell me which oil is causing the soap to smell bad? Here's a list of the oils I used: Coconut Oil mango butter Palm Kernel avocado hazelnut rice bran sesame walnut thanks!

Somewhere I have read in here what the dimensions need to be for a 2lb & 3lb mold. My sweetie pie is willing to make me one but I can't find that posting to know what dimensions to use.......of course this would be for a log mold. Can anyone tell me? thanks!

thanks for your input! I'm gonna take the plunge and see how it turns out. I'll post my results. Thanks again!

Can anyone help me?

I've tried every kind of combination with including Mango Butter in the recipe itself and it doesn't give me the results I'm looking for with hardness, conditioning and cleaniness. How much would be too much @ trace for a 2lb batch?

Hi Everyone! I've been reading everything I can on soaping for the past 4-5months. I'm not one to jump into anything unless I research it thoroughly. I started out in this world with my candles......love my formula! Then I wanted to expand so I got into lotions and body washes. This still has fulfilled my addiction so now, I want to take the plunge with CP soap. What I was wondering and hoping for, was some input to my recipe and any suggestions on what to do different if it doesn't look quite right. Hardness 36% Cleansing 19% Conditioning 58% Fluffy 19% Stable 16% Iodine 77% Also, I thought I'd add my mango butter as an additive @ trace. I was thinking somewhere between 2-3oz. How is this going to impact the overall quality of my soap (harder? softer? too oily?) I realize I need to just make it and see what happens but would appreciate any help or tips on what I should do different, if anything and what else I should be aware of? Thanks!

I'm curious as to how those lotion bases compare to their "head to toe" base? I like their head to toe however, I do find it just a tad bit too greasy for my liking.....was wondering how the three mentioned are in comparison, they are: milk & honey, silk body butter, and the aloe lotion bases are? Any help? Thanks!

Has anyone tried this new wax? If so, how does it compare to the J223?

Hi Everyone........has anyone used this software to create their websites from? If so, does it work well? I'm very new to the website stuff.......I'm just realized I had this software on my pc @ work and discovered it can build webpages but don't know how compatible it is with the real world of webs. If this doesn't work well.......what is the best yet easiest to use (and somewhat cost effective) software to use to build your website from scatch? Any help would be qreatly appreciated.....thanks:cheesy2:

Why not make your own? I use 1 part Lav to 2 parts Van......both FO from peaks.....smells very nice to me

candlecauldron.com has an excellent fundraiser form you may want to take a look at. It's located on the righthand side of the site. Good Luck!