cbv1

I agree, the spices can make the soap scratchy if you use too much. I got a Pumpkin Pie Fragrance Oil from the sage and have used it the past 2 years around the holidays. It smells nice and does turn the soap tanish but that is OK with me.

http://www.thesage.com/catalog/FragranceOils.html

Those that superfat liquid soap, do you do it diluted while the soap is hot or do you superfat after it has cooled down? I was reading Catherine Failor's LS book and she mentions superfatting with sulfonated castor oil only because it is water soluble. The book says to superfat the diluted soap stock and my assumption is when it is hot. The last batch of LS soap I made felt a little drying to me so I would like to superfat the next batch.

Doesn't look like you got any responses to this post. Did your cream soap come out OK? I have been reading up on making cream soap and have all the ingredients but I haven't tried to make it yet. I am thinking I will take the plunge in another week or 2!

...just dont go over there and tell em you are going to sell your first soaps you ever made that are two weeks old.....:tiptoe:

HTH

tootie

Ha! My soda almost came out of my nose when I read this while drinking my Fresca!

I know this is dumb but is a slow cooker the same as a crock pot? If not, where can you find a 6 qt or larger crock pot? TIA

I believe they are the same. I got a 6 QT Crock Pot at Walmart but it was about $20. Looking in the thrift stores is a great suggestion though!

I tried my first batch of Liquid Soap after reading Catherine Failor's book. I used the double boiler method and it came out pretty good. The second time I made it I used a crock pot after reading threads here about making liquid soap. Someone pointed me to the about.com website and I read through the instructions from David Fisher for making basic liquid soap and I thought, what the heck. I went out and bought a crock pot just for soap making and I thought this process was much easier than the double boiler method, hands down! I am still working on my dilution process though. I either leave it too thick, or make it too thin!

Kangaroo Blue has these tubes. Their picture shows 3 Bath Bombs in a tube.

http://www.kangarooblue.com/index.php?main_page=advanced_search_result&search_in_description=1&zenid=efdc4f0abf1facb19810e512ed7ebb2a&keyword=mega+tube

The link below that describes DOS and causes mentions storing soap in ziplock bags then in plastic containers. I store my soap in plastic containers and last summer was the first time I had a few bars with DOS. I had shrink wrapped some bars for a craft show. The ends were exposed so the left over bars that I didn't sell I put back in my plastic containers without removing the shrink wrap. It was an unusually hot summer and more humid than we are used to in Denver. I noticed a few bars started to sweat and then they developed DOS. So, I unwrapped all the left over bars and they were fine. I thought maybe the extended time of the shrink wrap in a plastic container in high heat and hummidity caused the problem. I was also thinking maybe I need to change from plastic containers to breathable containers like cardboard boxes.

Sorry Vio, I didn't realize you needed insurance for candles too! If the Soaper's Guild covers candles too I think I would go with them. You can check out the members there and maybe even contact some on their websites to ask about the insurance.

Glycerin aids in superfatting, and sequestering. It helps clear any clouding we might have

Borax, or citric acid is used to neutralize.

For some reason I thought superfatting LS would make it cloudy. Silly me!

Yes I do... after the dilution process is finished, as per instructions in Catherine Failors book.

I have her book, I need to read up on that part again. Thanks!

Thanks Top!!! Yes it does work very, very well. A lovely lather, and most importantly not drying on the skin!!!

Thank you Grandma!! I use the soap calc at SummerBea at -10% but then I do superfat with Glycerin at the end. I'll give it another go for the bubble bath.

Thanks again everyone!! I really appreciate all of your kind comments!

I superfat my CP soap. I have only made 2 batches of liquid soap and I am still trying to get the dilution to what I like. I never thought of superfatting Liquid Soap. Do you add the Glycerin during the dilution process?

My home insurance won't cover my soap business. I have a small home based business and a website. I found RLI @Home Business Insurance that covers my soap making business liability. I would like to join the Soap Maker's Guild and get their insurance but that costs more than I can afford right now. My @Home Business policy is $211.00 a year. My contact is Christopher Alexander 309-692-1000 ext 5481 or toll free 866-741-6560. His email is chris_alexander@rlicorp.com. I have done business with them for 2 years. The were prompt, courteous and and answered all of my questions about the policy. If you contact them tell them Sudsations sent you!

I agree with everything twocentsworth said. We have had a store for six years now. First one never made a profit, closed after three years. This one broke even the first year, nice profit the second and outstanding the third. We learned our lessons after the first. The second cost us $20K before we opened the door. But now, we would not take for it. So, to add to twocentsworth's list... deep pockets. Don't plan on making a profit the first year. Good luck and may God bless.

Sounds like you are doing well. Good for you and I wish you continued success!!

ps by the way could you point me in a good direction for leaning how to make soap, thanks.

I read a lot of books before I even attempted to make my first batch of soap. I found the site below to be helpful when I was first learning how to make liquid soap. They also have a section on Cold Process Soap Making http://candleandsoap.about.com/od/coldprocesssoapmaking/ss/sscpsoap.htm

I read The Natural Soap Book and The Soapmaker's Companion both by Susan Miller Cavitch. I also read The Soap Book by Sandy Maine. I think they are all excellent books. I am the type of person that has to read and study up on something before I even attempt to create something new. I wanted to make sure I had all the information I need to be safe first. I didn't want to have a horrible experience because I wasn't prepared. The Soap Book by Sandy Maine has some basic recipes in it. You can also find recipes on this Forum under the B & B Recipe section. You may also find tutorials on here. I know I found one a long time ago when I learned how to do the swirl in the pot method when I wanted to make swirls in my soap that were a different color. The tutorial I found was great and my first swirl turned out perfect. Use the 'Search This Thread' or Forum option on this board and you will be surprised as to how much information is out here. Here is a link to Robin's tutorial for making CP soap that was also out here http://watersgulch.com/howtocp.shtml

What a wonderful update Kris! Congratulations!! It sounds like things are going well for you and I wish you continued success!

I will keep dreaming... and who knows? For the time being though I did something today that hopefully will start me on my path to my dream. I stopped into a local Antique Mall today. I hadn't been there in a year or so. I have just be so busy with my full time job and then making soap etc on the weekends. Well, they were changing things around and I noticed they had some signs up for displays for rent. I started a conversation with the owner and asked how much the rent was. $50 a month for a the smaller display and $75 a month for the larger. Both had a light in them with about 7 shelves. I asked her if she only wanted antiques and she said no, so I told her about my handmade soap. She said she would LOVE to have soap in the store and said if I was interested the display right by the front door was available. OMG! I jumped on that and signed a lease for 6 months, $50 a month. They take care of the sales and tax and send me a check each month for the product they sell for me. I was so excited!! So, the display will be ready for me to fill on March 1st. It isn't as good as my own store but I thought it was a good start!!

Thank you! I will keep my dream alive for now!!

I work a full time job in software technical support and boy am I burnt out. I have raised kids, worked in banks, worked in software support and training and now at 53, soon to be 54, I want to see my dream realized before I am planted 6 feet under!

Right now I can't devote as much time to my soap and b&b products as I would like too. My real job sucks all the life out of me! But I keep plugging along. I have some of my products in salons and gift shops. I don't do too much internet sales yet but my website hasn't been up that long. I am the type of person that has to dream, then start to actually visualize, then research, then implement, so I am still in the dream stage! :rolleyes2

I was searching this site for information about finding a store front to rent. How do you find a good location etc? I was dreaming about someday having my own store front and then I came upon this thread and boy did my bubble burst! The information in here is great, and getting this from people with first hand experience is priceless. I am still dreaming though... not sure if it will ever become a reality!

Well, I have left a message and sent an email to the bride-to-be and so far no response. Maybe she found someone else who responded faster than I did. Oh well, if it is meant to be I will hear back from her, otherwise I will chalk it up to experience and be better prepared next time.

Thanks for the feedback everyone. I will file this away for future use! :smiley2:

This is merely my opinion and partially what happened with my wedding (before I even knew I could make anything of my own).

I would tally your product cost first, and ask for that upfront, so at the very least, you won't be out supplies. ETA: And of course, don't tell her what you are charging up front is cost of supplies.

Set a deadline when you intend on making them and let her know that once that date has passed, no changes can be made without a full recharge of products changed, and no refunds on material cost will be given after that time.

I would offer a 10% discount also. Buying 10 is one thing, buying 100 is totally different and personally, I would give a small discount to ANYONE buying such a large quantity for whatever reason outside of wholesales. You never know how word of mouth on a wedding will get around AND you are getting advertising to 100 people at once.

For wedding stuff, I did have to sign a small contract, to protect from bridal fever me thinks, when I paid 1/2 up front. Sorta like a promissory note/invoice in one, that basically was a receipt for what I paid, that I promised to pay in full, and that I understood that no changes could be made without an additional fee, and that I verified the order form.

Considering how many brides are willing to sue these days over a couple of wilted flowers, a cake that is 10 minutes late or whatever for *thousands* of dollars, I don't see it as an unreasonable request.

Thank you MissMary... sound advice. I was thinking the same thing about my product getting into 100 different set of hands. Pretty good exposure I thought!

Brides aren't expecting a big discount - or at least not on any orders I have done. If you want to give a discount.. I would think 10% is fine. They expect to spend alot for their big day.

HTH,

Chele

Thanks for the info Chele. I guess my first instinct is for everyone to expect a huge discount for a large order!

I got a voicemail from a potential customer, asking if I do wedding favors with my handmade soap. She is getting married in May and is inquiring about 100 wedding favors with handmade soap. OK, I have never been asked this before so I thought, sure I guess I could do this. I emailed her and asked if she was interested in my regular size soap or smaller bars, what scents, different for male vs female, how to package etc. I have no idea how much I would even charge because I am sure she won't want to pay my full price which would be $550 for 100 bars of soap at full price. Has anyone ever done wedding favors with your product and if so, how much did you discount? Did you run into any issues you didn't expect, like a bride-to-be changing her mind etc? I think I would like at least half the cost up front. Any advice, suggestions or warnings would be appreciated.

Welcome back! BTW.... LOVE your website! :smiley2:

I haven't purchased any displays for lip balm or lotion bars, but I have purchased soap molds from Candles and Woodcrafts and they are a good quality with reasonable prices. Julie is also very good at answering questions about her creations:

http://www.candlesandwoodcrafts.com/woodendisplays.html

This site has different sizes too:

http://creeksidesoaps.com/supplies/dishes.htm