RobinInOR

It's hard to get past the ingredient cost and price for market and image, isn't it. It's branding - having something cohesive where you can say "I've got a brand" that someone can recognize, instead of saying "I've got all these cool products in popular scents".

I've never run across any. Since it would be regulated under the FDA drug laws, most regular suppliers probably wouldn't want to touch it. That being said, Snowdrift sells an unscented one (2#s), but changing it in any way invalidates the SPF. Doesn't look like they really sell it bulk wholesale. But you might want to see if that supplier (Alba Botanica) sells wholesale.

August is almost over - how can days go slow and months go so fast? I feel like I'm running out of time for the holidays, and I only do one holiday show This weekend is florals - gardenia, honeysuckle, linden (well, that's a tree, but it smells kinda floral). And tangerine and lavender in lip balms that I didn't do last weekend. Market on Saturday, then a 3 day Labor Day weekend fair. Yikes! What's up in your pot? Hope none of you are being beat down by awful weather..

There really isn't any antibacterial qualities once you've diluted honey. That only works when you've got honey at high concentrations.

When you start adding other oils and superfatting at such a high level, you're tending toward DOS again. The high superfat works cuz coconut doesn't oxidize (no double bonds to break)

They are upholstery fabric. I velcro it to the table, and the back is bare. I made separate end pieces and velcro them on as well.

Honey is water soluable, so I've found that the easiest way is to heat it with a little bit of reserved water, and add it at trace. I've gone up to 1 tablespoon per pound of oils. It can heat up your batch (the sugar), so watch your temps.

I just do peppermint. I want it to stand out with my other products and for me, adding in extra scents would just muddy the waters. I've got a gel, a fizzy, and a lotion. Not sure what other scents would feel refreshing - maybe a lemony or eucalyptus something?

Yes, it's a standard 10x10 tent. There's 2' of space behind the back table - my tables are 4 footers. And Saturday was a record breaker for a non-holiday fair - didn't break $1000 but I was close. Sunday was slower - what I'd call average/slow for me. For the whole weekend I did 10x fees+expenses, so I considered it well worth the time

You are correct. What he did was "this fatty acid is this % in this oil and since this fatty acid contributes to cleansing properties we'll stick the number in that category..." and so on. It doesn't take into account unsaponifiables, lye discount, etc. Everyone but me I can't stand avocado in soap lol... It didn't like me at *all*. But then again, I don't like olive, so I guess I'm weird.

That's great! Sounds exhausting

Thanks Go ahead and steal the chalkboard idea, it really does catch your eye. This one was made out of a 1/4 inch birch sheet, and it's really too thin - it warps. I wanted it light, though, and easy to make. DH just had to cut the square out to make legs, painted with chalkboard paint, and sealed the legs. Now all I have to do is learn how to write on a chalkboard The other think that catches customers eyes - the twirly flower thingy. The movement at least makes them look instead of walking by without even a glance. Only thing - after 2-3 hours it squeaked! Drove me nuts. The logs do OK, and from comments, I think they'll really do well at Christmas. I've sold 3 of them in the last 2 weeks. Yes, these are half logs - I cut my full logs into 2 8" logs and one bar.

My favorite fair The river makes a nice backdrop. DH made me a new chalkboard sign to announce specials, and it worked really well. Sold out of anything that was on the sign. The view from my chair in the back of the tent One of these days I'll decide on "my look". Now I've got every imaginable design I think. Lip balm display My new display for my logs

Congrats! Yow on the entry fee - I'm not brave nor big enough to swing in those circles

That's great news! Glad you were happy with your results. We had an outstanding weekend at our first 2 day show of the year - the weather cooperated - I was in a new spot right in the middle of all the vendors - and I had a record day for a non-holiday show. These are the type of shows that make it all worth while. I think you're right - the "fly by nighters" are finding things a bit expensive for them, and people are being more "thrifty" and looking for high quality items.

Di, the TKB kit is *nice* It has all the little jars you'll need, spatulas, a face mask to wear while you're mixing powders - all it's missing is a brush. I think you'll be pleased with it. You can get foundation, blush, and eye shadow out of it - it comes with all the basic colors as well.

Yes, I've started making it. In the very early process, I don't really know what I'm doing yet I got the kit at TKB trading and it has a bunch of recipes. I've also found recipes at makeyourcosmetics.com and sweetscents.com

Once you get there and get your booth set up, you'll lose a lot of that nervousness. It was fun to finally be on the "inside" of a fair, seeing how they work, what the personalities of the other vendors were. You'll be surprised - I bet you know a *lot* more than many of the other vendors - they probably don't have the support of a huge forum behind them Just have fun decorating - remember rule #1 - different levels! It can be as easy as a cardboard box with a nice fabric thrown over it. And don't take it personal if people walk by without seeming to even notice that you exist - there *are* people who just aren't candle people (amazing, isn't it?)

Hopefully $$$$ for me This weekend is my first full fair - 2 days. It's the one on the Rogue River, and it's such a nice setting. Last year I did great, so hopefully this year will be the same. This afternoon is setup. What's up with you - anyone making something new? Any interesting tests? Have a great weekend!

I'm a LLC as well - it's easy in Oregon for single members - name, address, and $50/year. Wasn't that much more expensive than a DBA. I keep it as separate from my personal life as possible - the separate bank account, the business plan, yearly notes on progress, new product introductions.. Now I guess I need my annual members meeting - shall I take myself to Tahiti? Tax deductible, right?

For soaping, getting an account at the Scent Review is extremely helpful. http://scentreviewboard.obisoap.ca/ One person has reviewed CandleScience, and there are a bunch of reviews for AromaHaven.

Ha, I'm a simple girl too - gotta love clothespins. But my favorite are my frozen washcloths. Couldn't make my pillars without them

Remember, shipping one small item doesn't give you a break on shipping. Those first pounds are the most expensive of all. My shopping cart lets me enter a tare weight - how much my average box costs. I use .5 pound for that, and I always add an ounce or 2 to the weight. You just have to keep adjusting and checking orders vs real costs as time goes on. That's also why some people go flat rate - it can be a pain to get a shopping cart set up right.

Contact dermititis is very real - neat fragrance oils and essential oils are not a good idea. That's an understatement - I should put it in capital letters since it's something I feel strongly about You might get away without problems, and you might hear others say they've never had any problems, but you could be setting yourself, and others, up for major problems. You never know what someone will be sensitive to, or when a problem can occur. Why take the chance? Fragrances are one of the main causes of irritation in b&b products. A perfume, diluted to 30% alcohol, leave a LOT less chemical on your skin that dabbing a single drop of it neat. It's all in the dilution. It is *extremely* important that you don't use these neat. I don't even use lavender and tea tree essential oil neat anymore - and those are supposedly safe. I've become more sensitive to scents - I've gotten a rash from a few before. I never do anything with straight fragrances without gloves or a mask. Contact dermititis: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000869.htm http://www.emedicinehealth.com/contact_dermatitis/article_em.htm Safety of EOs (relevant to FOs as well since FOs can contain EOs and their individual chemical constituents) http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/NaturalPerfumery/message/14666 http://www.naha.org/articles/aromatherapy%20undiluted.htm

The closest in look and feel is coconut oil. A bit different SAP so you'll have to run it through a calculator, but it does have similar properties.