soulm8socal

YIKES! Thanks for the heads up.

no problem, that's the one thing I like about AVG anti virus program, it scans websites and will not let you go in if there is a problem. One of many cool features for a free program.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/catherinefilippelli

these are some of the prettiest, coolest MP soaps I've ever seen.

She has some really cool products....

Have to give a warning here, I went to her website, www.aniselle.com, my AVG antivirus pops up a warning:

The page you are trying to access has been identified as a known exploit, phishing, or social engineering web site and therefore has been blocked for your safety.

Without protection, such as that in the AVG Security Toolbar and AVG, your computer is at risk of being compromised, corrupted or having your identity stolen.

Please follow one of the suggestions below to continue.

URL: google-nalytics.info/urchin.js

Name: Rogue scanner (type 962)

the URL above is a fake google analytics file to infect your computer. I have already notified her of the file, hopefully she will fix it soon, since I want to see the rest of the stuff on her site. I'm not pointing fingers or blaming anyone who inserted the file, just mentioning it so it gets fixed.

Just be very careful when going to her website.

check out snowdrift farm, they have a recipe I use all and it gets great reviews.

http://www.snowdriftfarm.com/form_handsan.html

The city probably thinks you're opening a store at you place, that's why he mentioned it was residental only. If you push the point of an online/mail order business, with no customers or sales happening at your residence, they should have a license for that. I came across that same thing when I started, and after explaining what I was going to do, they were extremely helpful in telling me the exact license I needed. The annual fee was over 50% less than I thought it would be... A win/win.

Also, a session with a qualified tax pro (lawyer, CPA, not H&R Block) to discuss issues with starting a business, fees, taxes, etc. Here in California (which is very small business unfriendly) any corporation must pay a minimum of $800 per year in taxes whether or not you made any money. ( they are "nice" enough to let you do the first year without paying the tax), So I'm currently researching getting a corp in another state, Nev, Wyoming, Deleware. Take your time, write everything down, research, research and research... oh btw did I mention research? One last thing, make sure everything is done right, have your Lawyer look over everything, yes, it will cost some money, but in the long run, will save you even more. Three simple letters to remember: CYA (Cover your A**)

Is it possible it isn't allowed where you live? I looked into all this months ago, but did a lot of it backwards. Registered a business name, attended a small business start-up seminar, and bought a lot of supplies. The last thing I did was go to my municipal building (nothing is online in my town), where he basically said "NO way. Your street is zoned residental only". So, I just accepted that. I was upset about it, sure, for a while, but I figured that was that. Recently, though, I was talking to a friend about it, and they said they never heard of such a thing. Anyone run into this?

I rent (not homeowner), but he told me it made no difference. It's how the street is zoned.

Melissa

I've used PS20, but with some FO's no matter the ratio it's still cloudy, so now I use the modifier from WSP, stays clear, so now it the only modifier I use

I like them both, but I see a better profit margin with body sprays

Ok, I am trying to decide which route to go for body sprays. Anyone care to chime in why they prefer one or the other? TIA

Congratulations, I started in M&P, it's alot of fun, I learned quite a bit from playing around. My advice, make notes on everything.... how much FO, the strength of the scent, colors and any bleeding, any changes you made and the result, pretty soon you'll have a binder full of your testing. You will be amazed how useful that info is for future products.

Have alot of fun and be sure to share photos of your products will us

Never heard of them, but looks like an interesting site. I currently use Optiphen which is Phenoxyethanol and Caprylyl Glycol.

Congratulations, I enjoy making Lotions. Even when the ziplock bag opens as I'm filling bottles and 3/4 gallon of lotion spills on my leg, feet and all over my kitchen floor. Have the softest leg (only one) and feet (both) and floor in the area. It's amazing how creative one's language can get in that situation

I made my first lotion today..and scented it with Eo's..

My husband came in, I told him I was having more fun than

a person should be allowed to have..lol

I started out with candles,,then soap,,and now I'm venturing

out to bath & body...I am loving it..

It is the most enjoyable hobby that I have ever had..

Here's a question I have for those of you who use BTMS.

I've used IPM in my regular lotions to get rid of the greasy feel, however, now I'm starting to experiment with BTMS. My question is, when using BTMS have you also used IPM in the formula or do you eliminate it all together?

If you do use IPM along with BTMS what percentage do you use?

thanks

Ed

Yes to both.

Now to be very serious, a rash is the smallest problem you can have. There have been cases where "bad" lotion has allowed the molds/bacteria to enter the body through a cut or other break in the skin causing a staph infection. At least 2 cases I've read about resulted in death.

Scary, huh??? The price of adding a good preservative is a whole lot less than the alternative. Remember, you just aren't gambling with your health, but your loved ones and others who may use your products.

There are numerous resources here and online where you can learn more about preservatives and checking for nasty things in your lotions.

Questions:

1. Should I use a preservative and not even sure what to use or where to buy

2. Could my rash have been caused by mold or something from not using it?

Thanks for any advise

Ok, she's right in saying intangible service items are not eligible for disputes and claims, chargebacks are through your credit card company and not paypal. This is from paypal's site:

These programs only cover payments for tangible, physical goods. All

other payments, such as payments for intangibles, services, airline flight

tickets, Classified Ads on eBay or licenses and other access to digital

content are not covered by any Buyer Protection Program that we offer

(but may be covered by Chargeback rights).

According to paypal, you can still file a dispute, but if you make it into a claim, they will wait until the time period to file chargeback with your credit card company is over before moving forward on the claim. If you file a chargeback at the same time, paypal will cancel the claim/dispute, since it is considered "double claims" My suggestion is to just file a chargeback and not even worry about paypal claim process.

You can go here to see paypal's policy

https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=xpt/UserAgreement/ua/USUA#pbp-policy

Scroll down to paragraph 13.1 to see the above comment & to paragraph 13.14 for paypal/chargeback rights

I hope you can resolve this without more grief, it seems that paypal protects sellers more than buyers, so your CC company will be on your side.

Thanks for the suggestion. Just did that and here is the reply from PL as to the dispute.

PayPal Dispute‏

From: Penney Layne Graphics (penney@penneylayne.com)

Sent: Sat 8/09/08 4:50 PM

To: Rae Elliott (rae_rutherford@hotmail.com)

Rae:

Just so you know, intangible service items are not eligible for chargebacks at PayPal. Only items that are tangible and are shipped. They'll let you open up a dispute, but it is ineligible. Since you use paypal in your store we thought you should know that.

Rae

You can find them here:

http://southernsoapers.com/cart/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9_25&products_id=419

lip balm containers .. that the lid .. slides open not the metal ones .. I teach a class every year at my daughters school bath n body or candles .. this yr is bath n body ..

i'd also like some for my school's xmas show that i do an i can not find any .. when doing a search all i can find is the metal sliptins for lipbalm/gloss

my kids loved the ease of opening them for the beads that it comes with so i wanted to make them with lipbalm for my class and show .. but having a bugger of a time finding them

Never sweetened the flavor before, always did the base then added the oils. I think the strength of the straight flavor would dilute the sweetness, so you could have a lip balm too sweet. My stevia is in a solution of coconut oil, and when combined with the flavor oils into the base, it causes the base to be softer than I wanted. I just added a tablespoon of additional beeswax to the mix to harden it up a little more. People have been going nuts with the new flavors I introduced.

Good luck,

Ed

I just ordered over 100 bucks worth of flavor oils and bought a large bottle of liquid stevia (yes I am NUTS)! Having not made lip balms in a couple of years and never sweetening before I have crazy question. From my searches I see that most of you add sweetener to your base and then add the flavor. Has anyone ever tried sweetening the flavor in the bottle before adding it to your balm?

depends on your cost and the amount of time it takes you to make it.

Usually if the competition charges 12.50 retail, I'll sell at $8 - $9 retail, and my distributor buys them for $5 -$6 each, and around $4 each if they purchase a quantity of a single scent. but then I also take into account the cost to make them and usually double that as a minimum starting cost for distributors but usually more)

a 1oz bottle of cologne. I just finished testing and my distributor needs a price. My competition charges 12.50 retail. Is that to high. I think I need to charge less to under cut them. I know it sounds bad but we have under cut seberal of their products and now our distributor orders directly from us now. I dont feel bad since they are a larger company and they are not able to keep up with orders.

if you want to scent the entire container use 1.28oz of FO/EO by weight.

if you want to do less, weigh out what you want and move the decimal point to the left 2 places for 1%. I.E. 16oz of base, you would add .16oz of FO/EO by weight.

Other handy dandy measurements (by weight):

Base------1% FO/EO

8oz---------0.08oz

16oz-------0.16oz

32oz-------0.32oz

64oz-------0.64oz

128oz-----1.28oz

The container says to use 1% fo or eo to 128 oz. (the entire gallon container) of Body Frosting Base.

I have the plain mold and the one with the slots and cutter. The plain mold is great for M&P with no need to use a liner since mine do not leak. The other one you have to use a liner ( for apparent reasons) but Since M&P is harder than CP the cutter really doesn't work. If you use a knife, you can expect the soap to slide and you won't get a straight cut. it's great for soaps other than M&P. I say get one and give it a try.

I was wondering if anyone has used one and what your opinion is. I do strictly M&P at this point and I'm looking for a cheap loaf mold with a cutter. I came across these on Ebay but I've never heard of them.

http://stores.ebay.com/NO-LINER-SOAP-MOLDS-AND-CUTTERS

I've ordered from Vista Print and had no problem. I know how most online shops are spiked with the checkboxes, you really have to read every little detail now. Another solution and one I use often, My credit card offers a virtual CC number, so my actual information is never known. The virtual CC number, is a valid Visa number, and it only authorized to a certain amount which I put at $1 over my purchase, and valid for only 2 months. So if any other charges try to get put on the card it declines them.

I use this anytime I order from an online or phone store that I may have reservations about their honesty.

So check with your CC company (usually online) and see if they offer this service. It really saves you from pulling out your hair

Looks great! I think it looks like a really cool slab cut from a rock.

Maybe you should think about leaving it in its rough state since it is a "manly" soap.

You can check out this site, great customer service and decent prices.

http://www.cleopatraschoice.com/dead-sea-mud.php

Well this really sucks, Lindsay posted a note on her home page that she's closing the store... Rats.

There goes my supply of Decadence Cream. Now to try to duplicate it. Yeah, like I have the time to do that

But anyway, I wish her the best and hope everything works out for her

not sure about the "pens" you are speaking about, but I see the 8ml spray bottles like the one below. I've used these for Dry sprays and testers, and they have a very fine spray, so the sanitizer has to be very liquid almost the consistancy of water.

You can find these by searching for 8ml spray bottles

Does anyone know where to buy the hand sanitizer spray "pens"? I have seen them in promotional companies but want to fill my own....also can you use the normal hand sanitizer consistency?

I haven't had much luck swirling M&P, had some swirls but nothing like I wanted, the closest I came to something cool, was some psycadelic chunks I made for some soap.

here is what it looked like before I cut it.

I just got some SFIC Low Sweat MP and want to swirl 2 colors. I tried doing the other night with disasterous results.

The problem I find is that it forms a skin really quickly. How to I get it to thicken to swirl. Is it even possible to swirl MP. I feel like I'm missing some technique here.

If I had to hazard a guess, you would pour the white layer first and insert the stick, then I would put it into the fridge and let it get cold. color the rest of the soap a nice chocolate color using oxides, add the chocolate fragrance. I would then spray the white layer with witch hazel or rubbing alcohol, quickly center it in the mold. (by this time the chocolate part should be cooler, but still be able to be poured, this will minimize any melting of the white part) and pour the chocolate into the mold.

you would then place it back in the fridge or even the freezer to have it cool fast to prevent melting of the white, plus it should help you take it out of the mold.

The bite, is probably from a cookie cutter.

just a thought about how I would do it.

have fun

Ed

Hello!

I have just recently begun working with soap. I have worked with wax for years.

I would like to make my kid’s those popular dreamsicle/popsicle soaps on a stick. The ones with the chocolate on the outside and the white ice cream in the middle. Like the attached photo…

http://www.scents-n-such.com/candles/popsiclebite.jpg

Does anyone know how to achieve this look, or know where I can get the directions to master this technique?

Thank you so much!

Corey

I have the same problem, need supplies and no idea when and if she'll be back up.

Anyone know what is going on?? She isn't answering emails either. I know there was a family emergency before Christmas but when I talked to her through emails around Christmas I was under the impression that was over. I was also under the impression my product was being shipped right after Christmas. I see others are in dire need of some of her products also..... Thought I would check if anyone had heard from her and could shed some light.