rachelb5499

So....WSP seems to be working okay, but they changed their base right around the time I ordered 2lbers so now I don't even know WHICH base I got and if all my testing will be in vain if I were to re-order.....plus, prices are going up April 1st anyway. I have a "sample" order in at EBC and am now considering SFIC bases as well because I like their ingredient listing...and they, too, are in California...but to start, I think I'm going to order a small order from Wisteria Lane to test 'em out. If I like them, I may drive up there (to save on shipping) since my Grandma lives in Concord, CA where they are located and just go full speed ahead with their 5 case minimum. Maybe someone else on here will want some. Anyway, IF you use SFIC bases, what base do YOU generally order/like/use?

I DID realize that Wisteria Lane sells SFIC product....you can buy small portions from them to "test" and/or buy a "sample" pack from SFIC directly. I'm thinking I might do that.....then, if I like them, maybe buy in large quantities (they live in the same town as my grandmother.) and/or see about doing a co-op. (I've never run a co-op so not sure I'd be good at that myself. heh heh) I like the ingredient listings for SFIC products including their liquid bases! And their direct response to my questions has been FANTASTIC!

Has anyone tried SFIC LIQUID bases like their liquid soap, lotion, etc.? Has anyone ever done a Co-op on these products? Anyone doing a CO-OP for their products again anytime soon?

Thank you for the responses....I suspected it was best to mix with water (distilled), but finding out from someone who has done it is a huge help in the beginning process!

So I just ordered some samples of Essentials By Catalina's natural soap bases last night. I'm so anxious for them to get here! I just finished testing out WSP's natural white, and it was nice...so much fun and so "easy" in comparison to the CP I do so that made it EXTRA fun! My testers and I LIKED WSP's, but it WAS a little "drying" in comparison to my CP, and they really recommend to not add a bunch of additives to it so I didn't add any. I have enough left to still "play" with it a little, but I've seen more happiness from people on here with EBC than WSP....and WSP is raising prices again. Anyone else use EBC natural white or just natural and have any pointers, tips, additive suggestions, etc? (I've read PrairieAnne's (sp?) recipe, etc. That's what made me more prone to give them a shot.) Do ANY of you add POWDERED goat's milk to your bases? (I've seen a lot of "liquid" goat's milk added.) If so, how do YOU do it? Meaning, when I make lotion, I just add the powder...no fuss, no muss, but when I make CP, I mix the powder with some of the oils to get it to mix well, etc. before adding it back in to the main batch....since M&P takes all those mixing steps out of the process.....thus, the question. I KNOW that to add Fragrance, you should add/work within that particular fragrance's suggestion, but do any of you have a general set percentage you work off of? I do for CP, but I never really calculated it as a percent. I just did this morning, and it actually looks like it's about 3% of the entire batch. Well, THAT's what I did for my first M&P test. Duh, no wonder it smelled so much stronger! (I liked it so not a complaint just realized that may have been part of the "drying" factor, AND that I should try a little less next time around.) Just curious what others typically do.

Yeah, Thanks! I'm curious about NG's so may just have to order some from both places and check 'em out.

That makes sense. I certainly have more than 30 days so it must be 30 posts or some other magic number. So I tried some WSP detergent free white M&P yesterday. It was so much fun and so "simple" in comparison to CP so I LOVE that, but just saw they are doing a price increase on April 1st. Of course, they can't say even today what the increase will be. And, it worked just fine but definitely is not as moisturizing as my cp so not sure about that. Guess I'll have to "play" around with it and other bases and just keep checking things out. I'm curious about Nature's Garden, but the shipping (even when buying bulk) makes it quite a bit more than WSP's price TODAY....we'll see what it's like with their price increase. Anyone have any experience with NG's? Also, do you know if it is "Made in the USA" or not? I'd LOVE to get into a co-op or figure out a way to save because shipping just kills me in CA...and/or CA vendors' prices are so high that shipping is cheaper but the overall cost is more than far away companies!

Thanks, Everyone! I'd love to get in a Co-op, etc. but can't seem to even see "classifieds" on this board yet...maybe just not enough posts or something?

Thanks for all the advice/reviews. I think I'm going to just order from NG this time around and see what's what. I have "carts" at WSP, NG, and MMS right now so thus the debating about Flavors.....now is the time to add to any and all the carts to save on shipping. LOL (Minus WSP, of course since shipping is now included in the price.)

Thanks, Tall. I just can't decide WHAT to do. LOL WSP has a "banana coconut," but I really don't want to go with banana. Have you ever used any of WSP's Flavor Oils? Their pricing on some is good, but I've never tried any.

Thanks to both of you! Well, I live in a humid climate so I'll just have to see about that. LOL I run a dehumidifer in my closet where I store my CP soaps when they are curing or just being stored so would do the same with MP until they were packaged. I ALWAYS package in cello bags because it doesn't remove the scent, etc. so I'm already set for MP for that at least. Good to know about the FO scenting percentage! Thanks. I'll go easy to begin with and add more if needed!

Thanks for EVERYTHING....EBC is still much more with shipping than WSP...so I'll probably just try them first and see. Gotta start somewhere. I'll just keep in mind that their base is either loved or hated depending. LOL And certainly won't give up on MP based on their particular natural bases. Being in California, everything has to be "natural," "organic," or blah blah blah. LOL I'm THINKING about using MP as an alternative to doing so much CP so wanted to find something with "similar" ingredients, etc. but more than likely will want to add additives so I'll just try and see....worse comes to worse, I'll make pretty soaps with not as many skin loving ingredients until I find a base that works for me. Thank you for ALL the info and help!

Thanks, Kris! That helps oodles!

Thanks! That's a drag about the Coconut! Coconut is one of my top selling flavors...though I don't notice much scent of it in my balm either. I've used MMS...have you used theirs? (if so, any comparison?) Is this the "new flavoring coconut" they have listed at NG? Do you "sweeten" your balms or just use flavor oil? I don't even see Chai Tea...they must have discontinued it. That's fantastic to know about the Black Cherry Boom. I was debating about that one.....I better give it a try! Anyone else have any feedback on their Flavor Oils?

Thanks! You're Awesome! One more question....regarding labeling....I assume you list ingredients like the supplier does for their base, then calculate and add into that listing whatever you've added. Also, I've read a lot of issues/complaints about M&P not lasting long in the shower, etc. Have you found this to be true? Obviously, a LOT of factors come into play.....how many people were using the soap, did it sit in a rack or in a puddle of water, etc. etc. etc. But if you have any experience with CP of your own...how would you compare M&P and it's "lasting" power to a CP bar you've used...just GENERALLY speaking...too many variable to be precise I know.

Thank you to the three of you for your latest responses! Candybee, thank you for answering so many questions in one response! GREAT answers! So clear, helpful, etc. Are you a teacher or trainer by chance? heh heh That's great to know about the "cook/warm" settings on the rice cooker and when to switch from setting to the other. I read A LOT more of the threads again last night. I noticed that everyone is so split on what base they like that I definitely need to just order and check different ones out. I WOULD like to add some additives down the line into the base so it's very helpful to know that not all bases work/accept additives in the same way. I noticed you don't seem to like WSP bases for that very reason....which is too bad because that's who I'm leaning towards. I figure I'll order some "sample" 2 pounders like you suggested and just give it a go though. Four things attract me to WSP, all bases I've looked at are "Made in the USA," good customer service, "natural" bases with recognizable ingredients, and the cost...even with shipping included into the pricing, they are much less than any other supplier I've looked at. (I must confess that I didn't completely "check out" at C&S to see how much shipping would cost me per 2lbs though....I "hate" it when websites make you do that.) I live in CA so shipping is usually always a ton and there aren't any local suppliers around here. Even the suppliers in Southern Cali cost MORE without even adding shipping charges in than all the other suppliers who ship to me when adding IN their shipping charges.

I would also love to hear more about their Flavor Oils and people's experiences with them. I'd like to try Coconut and Mango flavor oils specifically. Has anyone used MMS AND NG that could give a comparison perhaps? ANY reviews/help would be appreciated!

Thank you to both of you for your replies! The only reason I'm not thrilled about the microwave because all my reading has suggested that you do short bursts...like every 30 seconds, then stir. Where my microwave is at is a PAIN to get at (little house) so not thrilled about that routine annoyance and really can't move my micro, but I might just figure something out. I certainly own a lot of big glass measuring cups (for CP measuring) so that's certainly taken care of already. It sounds like a lot of you have been ordering from WSP for awhile and the price hikes have really hit some nerves. For me, I always calculate the shipping cost into my products and so I started ordering from WSP for quite a few things this year because I "always know" what the total cost will be...even if I buy the very minimum I might need last minute or whatever. Plus, for most things, when I've gone to my other suppliers....put something into the cart, then pre-calculated shipping, I noticed WSP still came out ahead or the same probably 75% of the time. I know I'll still be checking to be sure that stays true off and on, but I'm excited about WSP myself. But I HATE it when I count on a price from someone and every time I go to order, it's jumped up in price so I totally understand what you're going through! Faery, WSP also has a no detergent, "natural" MP base...and when I went to SFIC (crap...did I get those initials in the right order...hehehe), it looked like they had fairly big initial minimums, but I've seen a lot of people recommend them. Since I've never done MP, I don't know how "quality" varies from base to base. Is theirs, a lot higher quality or? What are the reasons people specifically keep suggesting them?

Does anyone have any tips about M&P? Even just basic things that as a seasoned M&Per, you take for granted as a "duh."? I know part of it is just testing and trying yourself and I SO plan to. I just like to get as much helpful info. as possible before jumping in to something. :smiley2: How much M&P would you recommend for an absolute newbie to buy? Do you think 2 lbs, 4lbs, 6lbs, or? I read on here that a good portion of folks seem to use a soap melter from Michael's. I was there yesterday and my Michael's didn't have one (I live over an hour away from "civilization" so just thought I'd check since I was all the way "in town" anyway. I just wanted to see what it looked like, etc., but I'd also seen on here that someone suggested using a rice cooker and they said it was basically the same thing except cheaper. Does anyone have any advice on how to use either appliance? Is there a minimum of M&P you should put in one, etc? Do you have to watch it to keep it from burning typically or is it low enough on a melter or rice cooker to not have to worry about it? How do you pour from it or get the soap out.....let's say if you were doing different colors or something along those lines? Different colors, reminds me, if I wanted to do a "layered soap," is there a general amount of time to wait for one layer to "set up" before pouring the second? (I do CP so I have to have my colors colored at almost the same time and pour almost immediately but leaving a little time or one color will just sink into the other so just curious about the difference with M&P) Thank you once again to everyone who reads and responds to even just one of my questions!

Thank you to both of you! I'll certainly read that thread! I'll also have to check into the chemistry store. I'd like to with WSP for a few reasons and because of their detergent free base, etc., but I'm certainly not "stuck" on them per say either so that was helpful. So was "white, white" not achieved so much with WSP or how was the Chemistry store's better exactly? (I apologize if I'm having a blonde moment.) Pink sugar is a beast! But "yellow" would be better than the brown you get with CP as it cures....maybe go for a purple or a blueish tint or something...I don't know..yellow just seems more workable but bummer it doesn't just stay WHITE so that you can color pink like we'd all like.

Ok, so I've got an "itch" to do some different things. I basically only do bath and body and already make cold process soap, lotions, etc. I've thought about learning how to do "tarts," but think that I'd really like to stick with bath and body type products right now. I've NEVER done Melt and Pour and really don't know much about it...... 1.) Are there any particular threads you would recommend for me to read? (I've started reading, but I have a lot more to go and would love any recs.) 2.) Has anyone used WSP's "natural" M&P base? If so, issues, tips, suggestions, likes, dislikes, etc? 3.) I'm obviously going to buy some and just start testing/trying things out, but what types of colorants? I use "select shades" for cold process. Would that work just fine? Looks like depending on the FO, 3-5% is the recommended usage, right? 4.) So FOs with vanilla like Pink Sugar as an example......do they still typically discolor M&P and turn some shade of brown like they do in CP? 5.) What are the things you like most about M&P? IF you do CP or have, which do you prefer if you have a preference? TIA for everyone's responses!

Thanks so much! I had a BUNCH of FO's I was going to order from Bert's last week and then went to the site and saw how much trouble she is having getting scents from that one supplier so that killed almost my whole order, but I like Bert/customer service/pricing, etc. so was looking for "new" things to add to my line from her and especially wanted the Angel type for bath and body. That's outrageous at sweetcakes! LOL Too bad....guess I'll just have to buy Bert's put it in bath and body and check it out. At least, I know it's pretty close in waxes....seems like if a review is good in wax and oob for a dupe, it's usually at least decent all the way around.

Okay, so it's two years later. I did a search and found these posts with the same questions I had but unanswered. Anyone have any answers now by chance?

I, too, have thought about making these for over a year. For people, NOT in a "farm" area, how are they selling for you? How much are you charging for them? Packaging them? And when you put them in your car, drawers, etc., there's never been an issue with leaving an oil residue at all? TIA for your responses!

Hi Jennifer, I wholesale. However, I am NOT near Oklahoma (In California actually)...but if you're still looking/interested, please contact me at owner@jbinspirations.com. I'd have no problem leaving CP bars naked and/or printing labels for any other products you might like to carry. I also have "sample sizes" so you could check out my different products, etc. I look forward to hearing from you, but understand if you want to stay more local as you've indicated. Good luck regardless! -Jenny