Candybee

Yes I am rethinking the jojoba. I did look at meadowfoam but couldn't find enough satisfactory information to choose it as a possible oil. Re argan oil, I simply don't like it. I bought a bottle once and used it in soap, skin, hair, to try out and maybe its just me but it seemed excessively oily, slick, and non absorbant. Did nothing for my hair and skin much cheaper oils like olive or even coconut can do when applied to hair or skin. I was reading about esters but honestly it made my head spin. I am not a very good chemist and sometimes my research can give me a headache. I am one of those people that can forget something the minute I finish reading about it if my head hurts or I feel I have absorbed too much info all at once. At any rate I know I came across some ingredients that have esters but for the life of me can't recall which. You are so right about getting deodorant right. The more I research it and possible ingredients it can get overwhelming. And its not simply the ingredients but the right percentages and combination of ingredients that work together without cancelling out one or more factors I want to keep. Hope that makes sense. Anyway I had already decided I need to get some jojoba oil to try out so I might as well try it in my initial formulation. But I would like to know more about meadowfoam and why you think it might benefit a deodorant stick?

I did some research and yes I found jojoba and argan on my list of possible oils. Among several. But I have not finalized the oils just yet. I think a found a couple or so I liked better for a variety of reasons. I actually want to keep this formulation simple with as few ingredients as possible. I would be very much surprised thou if my initial test batch works the way I want. I am going to assume I may try several varieties of ingredients, combinations, oils, butters, etc., before I get just what I want. Skin nourishment I am looking for will be mostly in the oils and butters I select. I do plan to add a couple of botanical extracts and some Vitamin E acetate. This doesn't have to be a miracle formula, just as natural as I can get it that performs to my standards. Not sure about mineral oil and I am pretty sure my customers won't go for it but it does sound interesting enough to try it out sometime. Maybe on a personal formula.

Organic arrowroot is one of my dry ingredients along with a silica heavy like white kaolin clay or dimetrious (sp?) earth. Both are high in silica which the skin needs and will help with dryness and some glide. I am going to use a very teeny % of baking soda only because it really helps with the performance I am looking for but due to its ability to irritate or cause skin rash on some folks I am limiting it to small amount. I am also going to give BB's deodorant additive a try using it in combination with my dry ingredients. In my research I am also considering all ingredients that reduce inflammation, skin irritation, have anti bacterial and antifungal properties. Since sweat produces the right medium to cause odor my oils, butters, and other ingredients have to work to eliminate or reduce that which causes wetness, bacteria, and fungi odor.

Yes, shelf life is one of my considerations among many. I have to use ingredients that will last, plus don't stain clothes, or make armpits feel sticky, wet, or oily, dries quickly on skin contact, are odorless, glides on smooth, don't promote skin irritation or rash, clog pores, etc, etc, etc. This is for a stick deodorant so I am sure I will be trying out several formulations before I get it just right. I'm getting some wonderful ideas from everyone. I still have some more ingredients that are on their way before I jump in and start making this first test batch. I just keep flip flopping over one or two oils and butters combos. I think the non fat ingredients I have already selected. I do find that sometimes combos of particular oils and butters tend to work better in balms for me.

I just bought some MCT oil as I want to try it. I was going to get the fractionated coconut oil but opted for the MCT instead. I am only using a small percentage in my formulation as I want my deodorant stick to have some nice glide. The oils portion of my recipe is going to be very small, about 10%, of which I am going to split between the MCT and another oil like. Thinking of kukui or maybe your suggestion of hazel nut. I am using a higher % of butters to keep the stick hard. RE the oils, I wanted to use ones that may be absorbed into the skin without leaving an oily or slick or sticky feeling. I am also worried about oils that may draw in moisture as opposed to moisturizing the skin as I don't want any that may cause skin to become more oily, sticky, or wet feeling. Hope that makes sense.

I've been using cupuacu butter for years in my balms. It has the ability to mimic lanolin in drawing in moisture and I love its healing affect in my balms and butters. I have looked into many of the other ingredients you suggest and keeping a couple in mind while I continue my research.

I am working on my deodorant stick and have most of my ingredients I want to use. But am still working on the oils. Since I don't want it to produce moisture in the pits, feel sticky, or oily this is why I am looking for oils that would work well in a deodorant. I looked into Emu and love its description but thinking more of making a vegan version of stick deodorant.

Which oils/butters are easily and quickly absorbed by your skin? I used to know some of them but am not sure anymore. I seem to recall avocado and hemp seed oil absorb quickly but again not sure. I am working on a new body balm and would like the oils I use to be absorbed into the skin quickly. Any help would be appreciated.

Doesn't it feel good to have finished your last show and have that time off? I can't wait til this Saturday's market is done. Like you I found that sales are better this year but what I have noticed the most is how percentage wise I have about 45% of my sales are now CC sales while the other are cash. My CC sales have grown in leaps and bounds over the last 2 years from 35% of my overall sales to now slightly over 45%. Plus the CC sales are the larger ones and average $40 to $50 per sale. I have noticed during the last shows I have done that I had less cash and a buttload more CC sales racked up for the season. Not complaining, just musing. Of course it is the holiday season which is typical for more CC sales. Are you working a regular job on top of your soap & candle biz? I am doing this full time now since 2012.

The beer soap doesn't smell like beer! It's made with beer. I make mine with oatmeal, wildflower honey, aloe vera, and of course beer. They are great for dry, itchy, sensitive and winter itch skin so they are perfect for this time of year. This makes them a great seller during fall and winter months. But this year they are flying off my shelf faster than a speeding bullet! LOL

Sounds like a happy ending for all! You probably have a customer for life now.

Congrats on a great show! I had a really good one last weekend and one more this Saturday then I am done until next year. My number one sellers this year are my beer soaps and lotions followed by Christmas scented candles then soap. But everyone wants beer soap and I can't make it fast enough. Who knew that would be this years big ticket item?!!! LOL

Funny you mentioned this. I just ordered disc tops to give out to customers that buy the lotion. It IS an additional cost to have to deal with but I'd rather have happy customer that comes back than have one frustrated and disappointed and just disappear forever. KWIM?

By the way your liquid soaps are TDF!! I love liquid soap but quit making it cause I can't sell it to save my life! Over the years I have tried a couple times and no luck. Maybe its for the best. I already make too much soap for selling and can't make it fast enough. Adding another product is like suicide in the form of over working myself. LOL

I know I have that recipe in one of my soaping books because I remember the name. Awww.... found it. It's her making natural liquid soaps, p. 76. I see it calls for cocoa butter. I won't be doing a liquid or gel soap. I intend to make bar soap so may have to make some adjustments. But the cocoa butter may be one of the key ingredients that makes the difference in the way the soap makes your skin feel. I have used cocoa butter before and remember I loved it in soap bars. Thanks for the tip! I will reread her notes for more ideas.

Most of my pumps do work, its just that there seems to be a few in each order that I have noticed failed to open after twisting. There were 24/410 size lotion pumps btw. So I am not looking to replace the whole order as recent orders in the past have had the same problem. It tells me that the pumps just may not be the best way to go. I could of course test each pump out before using. But I just don't have the time or patience. But either that is what I have to do or change to a different top. Argh!

The difference is big enough it seems I mostly get charges rather than people paying cash. However, cash is still above 50% of my sales and that is pretty significant too.

I try to buy the best pumps for my lotion bottles. They are not cheap and cost more than the other pop-up type tops. I buy them for customer appeal and they look and work nice as long as they work. Occasionally I have been finding the pumps fail to pop up when twisted in order to start pumping. I have experienced this on more than one occasion and just today received an email from a customer that had two pumps fail to twist open to use. On top of that they were lotions she purchased as gifts. Has anyone else had this problem? I need to know where to buy reliable pumps that work 100% of the time. Otherwise I will go back to using the pop-up type tops.

Does it feel different then nonsoluble fats/oils when you wash with it? I ask because I do want to retain that feeling of moisturization a touch of oil leaves on the skin instead of it dissolving away because its water soluble. Have you tried other oils and do you get the same feeling on your skin or does it wash away? Hope that makes sense.

I have got to try these out!! Thanks for the tips.

This year my credit card sales for the year so far are 45%+ of my total sales. I know in the past couple years CC sales were from 35-40% of my total earnings. I think this increase in CC sales this year for me is pretty significant. So, are people charging more, is the economy better, or is it an increase in debit card sales? I have noticed more debit card sales. I personally only use a debit card so I don't accumulate credit debt. Anyway, I am just a little jazzed about the increase in CC sales. It speaks volumes of how important it is to be able to take CC sales for your biz.

I guess I am the odd one here. The first thing that pops into my head is dark cherry or blackberry. A dark berry blend with maybe some spice like cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger. With maybe a note of citrus like lemon, and then something to make it heady like notes of patchouli, sandalwood, or something woodsy. A hint of sweet like vanilla and a touch of musk like white musk. Your strong notes should be a dark, sweet, spicy berry blend with the other notes being more subtle and lending to a rounded out fruity, spicy, berry blend.

*UNLESS it is an ester that you are using as your "superfat". Technically adding an ester as a "superfat" is a misnomer because an ester CAN NOT BE a fat, because it isn't a fatty acid. I understand how superfatting works both before and after the cook. I just like doing both ways. The second superfat for the oil/fat that I know for sure I want unsaponified. Plus the initial superfat will leave a teeny bit more or less of unsaponified oils from each of my recipe oils. Yes I realize it is not necessary I just do it as a preference and feel both add to the feel of the finished soap and its properties. I may change that in the future but for now I want to do it both ways for specific soaps. What got my attention was your thinking about how a specific oil like olive oil feels on your skin as the unsaponified superfat oil. Hope that makes sense. I may try in the future your method of going to "0" superfat and just trying out various single oils for superfatting and see if I like others. So far I have only used lanolin and cupuacu butter. RE lanolin, yes I am aware it does not saponify and that is one reason why I choose it as a superfat for particular soaps. It just feels amazing on the skin when added. I just like to add it in after the cook and refer to it as a superfat.

I don't like it either. Too slimy for my taste. Not what I would call lotiony but thats JMO.

I like your shortening in your recipe and that was also what I was considering. I don't see what you used as your superfat unless you are referring to the yogurt? zOr were you just saying you use 68gm of oil for your superfat to get 5%? I already did a 5% superfat in my calculations so my recipe will end up with 5% of my oils unsaponified. I am doing an additional superfat after the cook. The reason I do the additional superfat is so I know that particular fat will not be saponified. So I can choose which fat/oil I want unsaponified. I typically add in 1oz fat/oil per lb of the total oils recipe. So for a 2 lb batch I would add in 2oz of fat. I have done the additional superfat using either lanolin or cupuacu butter. Lanolin feels outstanding as an added superfat and works well in my shaving soaps. For those that want a vegan shaving soap I use cupuacu butter which is the closest in retaining moisture properties as lanolin. Adding in glycerin adds another dimension to moisturizing and adds glide and easier mixing and pouring of the batter too. But the feel to your skin is really nice. I just have not made a soap specific for a hand soap so thinking out load about what I may use to formulate my recipe and technique. Keep the suggestions coming. I learn a lot by what others have to say or add.