kssoaper

I'm pretty sure it's the palm oil. I've had this happen when I open and use a new bucket that hasn't been stirred (how do you do that when the bucket is full anyway?) My batches always get better as I get deeper into the bucket. Always tell myself I'm going to stir the next bucket! But, once summer gets here and it arrives all nice and melted off the UPS truck that solves the problem. HTH.

Would anyone know where I could find this fragrance oil? TIA, Judy

Thanks for your thoughts everyone....I know if we have a loaf of bread here in the shop it will taste like soap after a couple days-- we even had some tortilla roll ups (whatever those flat flour things are!) in the fridge; took them home and YUK, tasted just like soap!

Not sure if this is the appropriate place for this question, but it is fragrance related :smiley2: For those of you who make your soap (candles) at home do you find the fragrance gets in everything - like your food? We currently make our soap "offsite" but are thinking about moving the business back home but I don't know if we can live with fragrance 24-7.... any thoughts/comments? TIA, Judy

I use it in CP soap.... people say it's a pretty good match to the perfume. Dang, I just ordered from WSP.... but I will try a sample of theirs...I've tried Snowdrift (I'm almost positive they sent me the wrong FO labeled as Angel) and I just got a sample from Majestic Mountain Sage.. out of the bottle it's not close. Here's a link to my Angel soap (don't know if the link works http://www.sunrisesoap.com/Angel-Handmade-Soap-p/01-angel.htm

Am I the only one who buys this at $66.00/lb.??? I was just going to order more,,, I've ordered samples from other companies but cannot find anything even close to this one they have. It just KILLS me to spend this $$ but my customers love it............................................. should I voluntarily commit myself?? :rolleyes2

Wasn't Soapers Choice at $50 for a 50# bucket for quite a while? Noticed yesterday it was at $59.... I buy from a local restaurant supply; was paying $50 for 50#; today it was at $53 - - so the price is going up.... bought 5 buckets! (Watch, it'll drop since I invested the $$)

I'll go and check out BCN - sure, take the idea; wish I had more to share! I did find a 'golf ball' packaging tube that might work too (I can't remember the website name but they make the clamshell packaging too).

Just wondering if anyone knows where one could buy plastic tubes that the 1 oz. portion cups would fit in..... thinking 5 or so would be so cute in a tube for Christmas gifts.... Looks like 2" diameter and 61/2" tall would do it... I'll continue to search, let you know if I find anything :smiley2:

Geez, that actually looks like a pretty good deal - just for all the equipment and the trailer.... don't know how long they've been in business and what their customer base is like............

That is so sad I can understand, but I've got rent to pay! If I walk away today my landlord would come looking for me. My SIL asked me the other day what exciting new things I was planning for the holidays and when I heard myself say 'Nothing' it just reinforced the fact I think I'm ready for a change... energy/enthusiasm is lacking.

I have to admit I do like the name but you guys are right, it doesn't fit the fragrance at all......I know I've smelled this fragrance before,,, maybe something from Sweetcakes; I'm thinking masculine musk.........

I think it must be a vanilla component - - it's hard to describe the fragrance; but I think there is a hint of vanilla.... hopefully it won't go totally dark, I could live with a creamy tan :smiley2: If I can find my camera's cable thing I'll post a pic tomorrow when I cut it - even tho I know the presto chango may take days! Oh, speaking of presto chango I thought I had the pumpkin FO I've been looking years for - Pickin Pumpkins from AH - stayed orange for probably 14 days before it started to darken! Drats, thought I had it! It still isn't as dark as some I've tried in the past but I thought I was finally going to have an orange pumpkin soap.

Before I made my batch of soap I poured a little of the FO in my measuring cup,,, looked clear; thinking ok great, will not turn tan/brown. Did a 2 color swirl - looked great going into the box - - - - but now it's getting that gold color soap gets when it's going to have the vanilla effect, dang it... oh well, we'll see what it looks like tomorrow Other than the potential of discoloring it was VERY friendly and smells great. Actually reminds me of something but can't put my finger on it. (CP soap with goatsmilk, fyi - I know that can affect the end color too)

We're actually thinking about having a small round table that sits in the open space of our booth area and just putting piles of soap on that table while having our usual table displays in an "L" shape.... I think the table with piles will attract people (don't you find women love to 'dig' and explore :smiley2:) then we hope they will make the commitment to come all the way in. Thanks again for all the thoughts and ideas

Thanks everyone for your input. I think we are going to try the 'L' shape set up and see how it works. Here's hoping for a great fall show season!

I was wondering if everyone would throw out their opinion re: best way to set up your craft show display - Walk in type of set up - where customers actually walk into your space, or Displays set up in line with the isle (does that make sense?) We've had ours in line with the isle for years thinking customers would be intimidated to actually have to enter a booth space making them think they 'must' buy something since they entered... but I'm thinking we might change it up this year. Any thoughts? Judy

I never got an answer from that number, just rang and rang.... I disputed the charge on my CC = will gladly pay for the unbroken product I just would like to hear from them (JD Wholesale). I have since, successfully, ordered from OBI :smiley2:

Hi Judiee (love how your name is spelled) - Thanks so much for the info and advice... I will definitely check out the website you suggested... no problem on the 3 years financial data, been at this almost 15; am getting a little worn out from being a hostage to the business Going to check out the brokerage site now, Thanks again, Judy

We need some advice on selling our business - - hoping anyone who has done this can offer some advice. The first issue we run into is: How do you identify a real potential buyer? I don't want to just hand out our sales info and other details to just anyone who inquires about the business.... or do you just 'have' to do that as part of the selling process? Obviously a ton of other questions but this is one we just can't get past so thought I'd see if anyone has any thoughts on this :rolleyes2 Thanks in advance, Judy

JD Wholesale does not publish a phone number - - I posted my problems with them earlier and someone graciously informed me that they are a subdivision of OBI Imports (who does publish a phone number on their site)... however, I had already disputed my charges too and am waiting to hear from them. We have ordered from them, oh .. maybe 4 times and have had issues with missing/broken parts on 3 of the orders..... they did finally e-mail me back re: one of the original problems but absolutely nothing with the last order. Sooo, I'm thinking OBI is where we will order from now on and hope for better customer service.

It is very nice to have a husband who supports the business and can build just about anything he can imagine! I admit I am very lucky. He did, however, just retire from his 'real job' and I sense a definite slow down in all things..... :rolleyes2

Ok, I said it wasn't pretty and I probably should have cleaned it up for the picture, but oh well :smiley2: My husband welded the 'tray' and it has wires running chris/cross... it has a car jack (!!), I put the stick thing in and crank it up and down, up and down - they tray lowers and the wires cut through the soap. He has threatened bad things if I ever break the wire; which has happened maybe twice in 10 years. I was cutting a batch and heard this "chink" noise; I literally froze ...was that the wire breaking???!!!! It was, I'm still here !

Thanks for the nice comments - I do really like the swirl effects I've seen in the pictures other have posted... Barbara - I'll post a picture of my cutter, it does the job but not very pretty to look at :smiley2: I'll do that tomorrow. Judy

I just ordered some soy wax in the 'pastille' form.... I guess I'm thinking bead shape... not a flat dot. Huh, maybe I'm way off in left field! Wouldn't be the first time... I find myself thinking these can't be as easy as the aroma beads - - ???