Andee

I've released more news about our move. Visit our blog for complete details.

http://blog.thesage.com/2010/05/04/more-moving-news/

Are you staying in the Logan area?

Yes, we will be moving into a building about 6 miles to the south.

This is a copy and paste from our blog, but I thought you would like to know all that I know.

I’m very excited to announce that Majestic Mountain Sage will be moving in May. We anticipate that it will the the later half of May, but we will keep you posted with all the details. We have completely stuffed our current space and we are needing to expand again. Our new facility will include a large classroom space that we will use for short classes and long intensive classes too!

As our moving date creeps closer, make sure you get the supplies you need to last through our move. When I know more details about our move, I promise I will release them quickly! At this time our plan is to be closed for two weeks to facilitate this move. Please check your supplies to make sure you can survive through mid June. This planning will help you save money (no rush shipping methods) and will assure you are Boy Scout prepared. This closure includes our graphics department.

Thank you for planning ahead and your continued support.

While many butters are mixtures of fixed oils and a hydrogenated oil like soy, they are not infusions like you have described.

A butter is a fixed oil, not an essential oil. A butter is a solid at room temperature fixed oil. A butter is most likely a blend of stearines (solid parts) of an oil and the hydrogenated soy.

Lavender extract is either a water soluble or oil soluble infusion of lavender and the carrier (water or oil). Lavender Essential Oil is the volatile oil (essential) that comes from lavender buds and flowers. Neither of these would be used to make a butter.

Lavender extract and/or lavender essential oil can be used to make a body butter like a lip balm.

Does this make sense?

I've used the Tina's Lanolin Butter recipe on hands for the last several years and I love it. My hands used to be so cracked and would bleed every time I flexed my hands.

Here is the blog post I wrote about it.

http://blog.thesage.com/2009/12/14/tinas-lanolin-butter/

Here is the recipe.

http://www.thesage.com/recipes/recipes.php?.State=Display&id=165

You don't have to scent this, but I like to scent it. If he will wash his hands at night and then apply a small amount to the knuckles, his knuckles will look better after a week of applying it nightly.

Hope this helps!

Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy

Jane Eyre and Edward Fairfax Rochester

Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler

Catherine Lynton and Heathcliffe

Maid Marion and Robin Hood

Beatrice and Benedick (Much Ado About Nothing)

Aragorn and Arwen

Tristan and Isolde

Queen Victoria and Prince Albert

I think about scents for them.

No. I would only add unflavored, unsweetened yogurt to soap since the sugars will feed all sorts of nasty little critters to soap. I'm not completely sure about adding it to M&P soap as I've only added it to CP soap. I'll do a little more research to see what I can find.

yeah I've used Rooto for years without a problem, but the cost is whats driving me to start buing 50# bags.

How do you guys store your 50#'s of lye? I was thinking plastic buckets but I'm worried about moisture.

If you live in a dry climate, you won't have too many issues by storing your lye in buckets. I store my lye in buckets both at work and at home. Naturally, I use more lye at work, but my bucket at home doesn't have any issues either. I occasionally get clumps, but those are easy to break up and they can be there when I first open the bag.

Andee

blog.thesage.com

PS I've also talked to people who live in humid climates and they don't have any issues with storing in buckets either.

I blend vanilla FO with Orange EO, 75% orange 25% vanilla

Ditto! Sometimes I bring a little surprise into it by adding some Lemon EO.

I read somewhere that ultra refined shea basically has no nutrients left in it and is not as good as refined. Have any of you tried both (or all) in products and noticed a difference?

I have tested various products with the different shea butters and I have found that the main difference is the odor that is contributed to the final product. Ultra Refined and Refined are great for lotions and creams that are needing a scent that cannot blend well with the aroma of Unrefined Shea. I found that Unrefined Shea has a better reception in "healing" balms that use various herby essential oils.

My personal opinion of the scent of Unrefined Shea is that it has a warm nutty odor (toasted pecans to my nose) combined with Anise.

In soap, I haven't been able to tell a difference, so I usually stick with Refined Shea for cost efficiency.

In the end, I think it comes down to personal preference.

Andee

thesage.com

As adillenal said, glycerin is a humectant. Some recipes call for up to 5%, but most I use stay within the 1%-2% range. If you live in a dry climate, glycerin can pull the moisture out of your skin instead of the air. Here in Northern Utah, our humidity is mostly in the single digits and if it is higher, it is probably raining or snowing! I prefer to use Hydrovance as my humectant in lotion just because I prefer the feeling hours after. Hydrovance can also prevent the sticky feeling that glycerin can give. Both glycerin and Hydrovance can be used interchangably without affecting the overall texture of a lotion or cream.

Good Luck!

Andee

blog.thesage.com

It is similar to the 76° and the virigin. It has a bit more body than the 76°, but it isn't like palm oil. I use it in lip balm, lotions, creams, and body butters. It will make a softer product if you replace shea butter with aloe butter. If you adjust your formulation, or it is too viscose to begin with, then the replacement is fine.

Andee

blog.thesage.com

Cool, dry place. I don't recommend the refrigerator UNLESS you have a very warm house AND you can guarantee that food items are low in odor (don't store with cabbage or onions).

We recommend that you use them up within a year. This way you have fresh material all the time.

Andee

blog.thesage.com

For 8 ounces, I would start with about 0.04 ounces(0.5%) and work up to 0.16 ounces(2%).

Andee

blog.thesage.com

Yes, the main difference between the two is the source plant and the tendency to foam. PS 20 does not foam as much as PS 80, so if you are making a whipped body cream or foaming soap, PS 80 is the best choice. If you are just wanting the emulsifying abilities, PS 20 will work.

Andee

blog.thesage.com

I have talked with our front counter staff and expressed the concerns that I have read here. They do apologize and they will try to work towards helping customers better. I am hoping this will help resolve future issues.

My offer for assistance will remain open for anyone. My e-mail is andee at thesage.com. I'm also in the office every day except Tuesday and Thursday mornings due to school classes, so you can also call and talk to me.

I love the products at MMS but have to say that I don't order very much from them anymore because of the way I was treated when I called to ask questions. It was a real turn-off to me.

I'm not sure who you would have talked to and I apologize for the experience. If you do have questions, you can call our offices and ask for me, Andee, or you can also e-mail me.

I'm so sorry to hear about your experience. I always hope that our customers have a good experience with our staff. I will talk to our front counter staff and make them aware of your experience.

If you would rather, you can request that I help you when you pick up your order and I will be more than happy to help you.

Andee