rachelb5499

I JUST got my SFIC "samples" from Wisteria Lane. Yay! I purchased 1lb of SEVERAL different kinds, but already just poured low sweat white to start testing. As far as melting, pouring, etc., this behaved WAY BETTER than EBC's natural white base! I'm SO EXCITED to try the others. Bliss, I MAY just be the co-op connection you've been praying for! Obviously have to try melting and pouring the others, see how they behave AND how they feel, but just pouring this one has me excited! I think SFIC is going to be "the one." I have a couple of people on one of the other forums who have emailed me so if I DO go to SFIC to purchase product, I already know I can meet the minimum easy between what I know I will want personally and with what they want. (At least two people have committed to 50-100lbs each). If anyone here is interested in buying a minimum of 30lbs when and if I go and make SFIC my "source," feel free to email me at owner@jbinspirations.com, and I'll email you before I place my order to see if you need/want anything from SFIC. Can you tell I'm hyped? LOL

You're welcome! Wow, even your lotion? NONE of my vanillas have ever turned my lotions, scrubs, or bath salts brown! Just soaps.

I do "vanilla bean" bath salts (not foaming, but I don't think that would really matter) and the vanilla bean FO I use turns CP soap brown, but it does NOT turn my bath salts brown so I think you should be just fine!

Can't say as I blame you!

Thanks, SWD! I'll certainly keep that in mind about additives......some people seem to have great success with additives while others suggest the same as you. I'll certainly have to play with it both ways I guess. I'm really interested in the "natural" bases so leaning all the more towards SFIC's bases. I'm still anxiously awaiting my "sample" order to arrive from Wisteria Lane to try out SFIC bases. I've done a test with the natural white EBC base....and, it's got better lather than the natural WSP bases I tried, but really sticky....develops a skin very quickly and was still pretty drying. I sure hope SFIC will be the "winner" with a base that I just adore and that maybe, just maybe, I'll love enough to not even "play" with adding things to "improve it." Except for possibly "mixing bases" because you are at least the second person who has mentioned combining some "shaving" soap base with another to get better lather, etc. GREAT help! THANKS again!

Thanks, Teri and Faery! Neither one of you finds the Goat's Milk too soft? Faery, I tried to look at what you make/what you have for sale and there was nothing listed at Etsy or ArtFire. Do you have another site? Do either of you sell at farmer's markets, shows, etc? How do you promote your M&P soaps? Do you make CP also or just M&P? Have either of you used EBC? (essentials by catalina?) I just tried some of their natural white.......the only other I've tried is WSP's natural white. What a difference! WSP behaved very easily and nicely. EBC is really brittle when trying to cut it down....when melting in microwave (at 10 second intervals), it still bubbled up all over the place so I lost product with my first test....and it was SUPER sticky like marshmallow goo. Just curious what you thought of SFIC in comparison if you ever compared/use the two? I'm waiting for my order from Wisteria Lane for SFIC bases. I can't wait. I HOPE I like them best because if I do, I'm going direct! (even though I have to order 250 lbs minimum.) Deb, I certainly live in a "hippy area" so I thought about the hemp base too. I didn't order a sample of it though. Where do you live to hit the "hippy market?"

Just curious....if you use SFIC bases, which is your all-time favorite or which is your best seller, etc. And what do you do with their bases? Meaning do you add a bunch of additive, leave it alone other than color and scent, get real creative with the design of it? Mix it with other bases to come up with something really cool and different? Etc. Sky is the limit with answer to the questions. Curiousness might just kill me! LOL

I just wanted to apologize if I've confused some of you. Sadly, I cannot share my lotion formula with you. I was just suggesting buying a sample to try. I apologize once again for being confusing.

Awww, you're a gem! I'm SO interested in their B grades. I like AAA, but I always like to know what other sources have to offer, etc.

I know what you mean, VirginiaStreet. I actually wasn't promoting for you to do CP...I was talking about adding additives to your MP and what Candybee said is the consensus. Different people like different things. Different people find different things moisturizing. Different people like different bases. LOL You get the point. Congrats on the little one. I'm a "single mom aunt" to my 12 year old nephew...and part-time "mom aunt" to my two 17 yr old nieces. I'm only 32, by the way. LOL Plus, I work full-time and am slowly working on growing my bath and body business "on the side" so I can certainly relate to being busy, not having enough time, etc. I, too, like to "get it right the first time," but that usually doesn't happen with bath and body. LOL I mean, to be honest, I've never really had something "be horrible/or flop," but "perfection" takes time. heh heh In my cp, I personally always add goat's milk and shea butter and love what they add to my soap so I plan to add these to whatever base I buy and see how each base "accepts them," etc. until I find the perfect "blend" for myself and my customers. Happy Testing!

That's too bad, but glad I don't care about the lotion. I'm still curious about the "natural" liquid soap. Haven't had time to order some to try yet though. I DID email Wisteria Lane because they didn't have an 8oz. size listed to buy, and I was going to buy some SFIC m&p bases from them to try anyway. They said it was an oversight and were going to add an 8oz. size of liquid soap to their site so now I can buy all "trials/tests" of SFIC at Wisteria Lane....I'm excited!

You're welcome SB, if you want a link/more information, feel free to PM me! Also, you do NOT have to pay for vistaprint to "move" your domain...it's YOURS! You pay for the rights to it every year no matter WHO hosts it. Everyone else is right! Whoever you want to "register" your domain, just contact them and they'll help you go through the transfer. You should never pay more than $10 a year for your domain aka...your url link like: www.jbinspirations.com It's kind of like having a "business sign" whereas having "website hosting" is like renting a building for your business to be in. You need BOTH....but they are sometimes charged separately.

Hey Java, I'm part of a FREE group that earns cash back...and 1&1 is one of the providers. I just transferred all my domains to them and earned ovr 20% cash back. PM me if you want more info...cash back is killer! and 1&1 has been good for me too. That's not who I "host" with but that's who my domains are all with now.

I pay about $60/year for hosting and they include a free domain. You can use a free site builder or upload your design, etc. with frontpage. But depending on what you want to do...you can do a basic FREE website on Microsoft Office Live.

I got the same response, Envy. No worries about the 1oz. I wish they did 1oz in Grade B. Faery, are the ones you use Grade B? How would you feel about sending me "sniffies?" (Dipped Qtips in separate bags.)

I use a rectangle label for the front, but also add either ingredients and/or my contact info onto a an even smaller label on the back so they can still see product, etc.

Well, I was going to but.....some of their products have detergents, etc., and I'm genuinely only interested in the liquid soap...and maybe shower gel, but really just the liquid soap because where I live "natural" is a big thing.

Thanks, Everyone! I might have to beg for some sniffies from you guys! (hint, hint) Hmmm, I only see 1oz bottles of "A grade" listed on their site, and I swear I emailed them about "B grade" and was told no....they only sell B in 16oz. I hate the lack of description too...(they'd make my job on my site so much easier if I didn't have to totally come up with a description for each scent on my own so I know what you mean,) but I've used some of AAA's oils and they put me in the same boat....heh heh They don't seem to want to change anything either. But nerve wracking to buy 16oz. of a "B oil" just to see if you like it, if it's strong enough, and if it works in your product(s).

So, I too, am new to melt and pour so I don't have a lot of advice at this point. Other than read, read, read....research, research, research. Look into additives you might add to your base to make it better (if you're willing.) I make Cold Process soap, and it's always been really moisturizing (not drying), but am just now getting into MP myself. The first MP I've tried is natural white aka detergent free white from WSP.....so far, it's been hard enough to me, and just a "little" drying, but I haven't started adding ingredients like: goat's milk, shea butter, etc. I DID castor oil to one batch to see if I could get better lather and it worked. There are quite a few helpful suggestions already on this thread about things to try. A lot of people recommend SFIC or Stepehnson bases. I'm looking into trying SFIC and EBC next......SFIC has a clear low sweat and a goat's milk that I've seen many people suggest, but you can't buy from them direct without buying 250 lbs, joining a co-op when someone does one again, or finding a reseller of SFIC product. EBC is essentials by catalina. You can buy samples from them and then it comes in 20lb blocks with a much better money "savings" at 40lb blocks. I prefer "natural" soap bases because I will be selling when I get something down I really like...but that's something else you have to decide and look into too. I'm sure others will pipe in here too, but I'd definitely do some searches and grab a cup of coffee or tea and spend some time. Now, on another note, DOVE LOTION?! You're killing me! If you ever want to try a GOOD lotion (hee hee), send me a pm. I get rave reviews...even my manly woodworker, jack of all trades, Dad had to quietly pull me aside....."Mom had me try some lotion she had when my hands were cracking and really dry from doing concrete....It was AMAZING...I asked where she got it......and YOU make it? Can I get some for myself with a lighter, more manly scent?":yay: Just sayin. LOL I wish you much success on the melt and pour adventure!

Have you guys used any of their "B" fragrance oils aka "manufacturer's grade?" What have you thought of the quality, etc? (I ONLY do bath and body so inquiring about how they do in those types of products.) I'm HATING that they don't offer sample sizes or sniffies in their "Grade B"

Yeah, I looked after I posted and noticed the same thing and was bummed. Thanks for the second potential! I totally would like to start with a base....plus, if I buy the minimum of "5 cases" from SFIC......and I liked the liquid soap...I could make one of the "cases" that. I, too, wondered if it would be good since so many people like their M&P...I certainly like their customer service!

THANKS! That's GREAT to know!!!!!! Have YOU ever tried it?

Hmmm, that's too bad. I make a "bomb" lotion so, personally, am not too interested in that one...heh heh...they have a cream, shampoo, "natural" liquid soap (which I'm most interested in), etc. I still want to get a smaller sample of the liquid soap before buying a 5gal bucket of it! LOL.....unfortunately, I can't find a smaller size of that at Wisteria Lane to buy to sample so I'm still "searching." Thanks for the heads up about the vanishing lotion though!

Bliss, you just made me crack up! I'm awaiting my EBC samples to test them out...and haven't tried SFIC yet but am thrilled that I might be able to save even MORE money by buying direct and picking it up. AND I've seen that a lot of people like/use them and LOVE their ingredients' listings. IF I did a co-op (after trying the product and hopefully loving it like so many others), I'd probably have to get people to order in fairly large quantities.....I have a full-time job, raise my nephew full-time as a "single aunt," etc....plus, my bath and body business so I wouldn't really be able to do a TON of little shipments, but it might be worth looking into/checking. For me, living in CA, Wisteria Lane's price plus shipping isn't too bad either...but I love saving any and every way I can. Have you checked them as a vendor and what the shipping would be for you? Since I've never used SFIC (yet), I have what might be an "odd" question......have you mixed any of their bases? Say something like half "low sweat" with half goat's milk? If so, what were your results? I, obviously, would love to and need to try some SFIC, but with shipping, I imagine, it would be just as much as for me to buy it from Wisteria Lane as to pay you? Right now I have 8lbs in a cart for approximately $2.50 each (various kinds) and the shipping is $12.26 so basically $32.00 for 8lbs....this breaks down to $4.00/lb for me to "test" 'em out which isn't great but certainly isn't bad. What were you thinking? (PM me if you don't want to say "publicly." LOL)

Shipping isn't bad (at least it wasn't for me in CA)...not for the sample pack. Their minimums are high if you try to buy from them direct, but that's why so many people seem to do co-ops or buy from their sellers. As far as the ingredient list....you can see most of them at Wisteria Lane's website OR....I just emailed them and they gave me the ingredient list. They don't like to have it "posted" on their site for some reason so I don't feel comfortable posting it all here without permission, BUT if you wanted me to forward you the email with all the ingredients lists, prices, etc..just PM me your email address, and I'll gladly forward it.