Teach Soap

Me: "hey everyone! Guess what I just did? I made soap from scratch!!"

My family: "Why? You can buy it for like $1 at the supermarket."

My excitiemnt was quickley shattered by my non-supportive family. (NOTE: Dad and my husband are huge fans, my brothers are interested and mum wont use anything unless it is Dove soap, its my aunts and grandparents that lack any support)

Thats why I think it is so awesome to have a place to chat about soap, and not get the whole weird looks like im crazy, or a real cheapskate because i make my own stuff.

Does anyoen else have any negative people in their lives who just dont uderstand why we do what we do (be it make soap, or any other crafty thing) or am I just the only one?

Ive tried to explain to them that what I make is much better for you than the crap you buy at the shops, but my argument still needs work.

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Watch out! I have discovered the magical world of CP

"Founding member of Facebook's "Australia & New Zealand Melt & Pour Soapers"

awwww! I'm sorry you're getting that! I guess some people are crafty minded and like the original, fun soap while some will always wonder what the point is. While I haven't personally experienced it(at least not to this extent), I can imagine it doesn't make you feel great. You make me feel lucky that my parents have always told me to go for it, even when I think it's probably an 'out on a limb' risk. I would never have even started a soap business if my boyfriend, best friend and parents didn't encourage it. My dad did craft fairs selling his woodwork when I was a kid, and I loved it....so wanting to do it myself gave me the courage to give it a go! I give all my family(aunt, uncles and friends) soap for Christmas, and now they're always wanting more. Maybe give them some to try and they'll get on-board!

For the naysayers...ignore them!(I know it's easier said then done). When there's one person who would say "I can buy a $1 bar of soap at the grocery store", there are 20 other people who smile and get giddy over fun & cute delicious smelling soaps. =)

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AubreyEApothecary.com
facebook.com/AubreyEApothecary

Well that stinks
My family was very interested when I first started soaping and all volunteered to be guinea pigs. My mother's very crafty and always was pushing us towards using our creativity. My In Laws attend about 30 craft markets during the year because they love hand made anything, so they love my soap.
I do get the occassional non family members say something about getting soap at the dollar store, but then those same people will ask to buy one of my crocheted hats, which cost 25-30 times what you'd pay at the dollar store.

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Genny

I totally feel your pain, same thing here. No one in my family with the exception of my grandchildren use my soaps. My friends and co-workers loved them from the start and are the ones that asked me to start selling so they could gift them out and that is how it all started back in 2007. Now I do well and still enjoy making soap as much as I did back when I made my first batch. I think it is great you made yours and do not let anyone take your joy we are here for you

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Four Seasons Fine Handcrafted Soaps
& Specialties, Inc.
Laugh, Love, Live!

Yes you can buy bars cheaper at the store, but what you are buying is probably not real soap, like what you can make. Fillers or detergents are probably used in commercial bars. You can control what goes into your handmade creations. Don't let the naysayers get you down. I have a friend that swears by my aloe cream soap. She says it soothes her skin. If you consider the price of the speciality soaps, then yours is not that expensive.

I don't worry about the negatives, because the positive responses more than make up for it! I know my handmade soaps are a gazillion times better than the syndet bars that you can get for $1.

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Linda
I know the voices in my head aren't real, but they sure have some great ideas!

pssst... and even Dove is made with synthetics!




no commercially made soap I have found is or can be 100% natural....thats where you (we) come in! We can guarantee, with 100% accuracy, what went into the batches we made with our very own hands.

Another aspect that got me into making my own soaps is that I found through research that the additives and chemicals most companies use usually end up being testing on animals in some way or another (and Beagles specifically for the cosmetic industry). And, on another more slightly out there concept, but one that is so important - the process of making these so called soaps can actually be detrimental to the health of the workers who make them in the factories,the communities they live in due to water, air, and soil pollution.

It is not our duty to educate the rest of the world on every environmental concern out there known to man kind, but if we can get people to realize that their actions are directly related to the health of the planet around them, even in something as simple as buying and using soap, then we have at least tried to make the world a better place. And we can feel good about that, no one else needs to agree with us.

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Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com

Thanks for the dove link, i finally got out of mum as to WHY she insists on only using dove, its because its unfragraced, and moisturises! Muuuuuuuuuuuuum!!!! I can make something like that for you!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so my mission now is to make her a moisturising bar to show her that my stuff is better!!

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Watch out! I have discovered the magical world of CP

"Founding member of Facebook's "Australia & New Zealand Melt & Pour Soapers"

Dove starts out like real soap. It has soapmaking oils just like handmade does. The difference is they use already saponified soap noodles which get extruded, then add extra ingredients. None of handmade soaps can be 100% natural, since we use lye that's made in a lab. Yes, handmade soap is better though.

I find the site above uses a lot of scaremongering, so take it with a grain of salt. If you want the truth about ingredients, go to this site> http://personalcaretruth.com/

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Irena
Closed minds are like faulty parachutes; they refuse to open.

When my husband saw me sell $300 worth of honey and lotion bars at a small fair, and then make another $500 or so in the month that followed from repeat sales, he became a supporter.

I wasn't officially "in business" at that point. I'd just been asked to work the Chanukah Fair at our synagogue because the organizer thought honey would be a nice addition. I made some lip balms and lotion bars as extras.

It wasn't just the money, but the enthusiasm: people walk up to me in public and tell me how much they like what they bought, whether it's the "best honey they've ever had" or "the lotion bars are fantastic!" After a few months of people coming back for more, I went down to city hall and got my DBA ("doing business as" for the non-USA-ians), opened a business checking account, and got crackin'. I'd always intended to turn my beekeeping hobby into a business, and it seemed like fate had given me a shove.

All of which is to say: people became supportive because they love me or were friends, but some after they tried the product, especially if they had a problem, like dry skin. So forget the people who can happily use Irish Spring and never notice the difference, and concentrate on the people who will really notice the difference!

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

great advice, thank you mellifera

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Watch out! I have discovered the magical world of CP

"Founding member of Facebook's "Australia & New Zealand Melt & Pour Soapers"

Yeah, heck, I surprised myself when I took an $80 investment into oils and materials, only used about half of it, and turned it around for $200 just to friends for the holiday season!!

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Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com

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Lesli Sagan
Avital's Apiaries
Like us: http://www.facebook.com/AvitalsApiaries

Absolutely! I also think of making soap as just like making food for your family and friends. All of your intentions and thoughts are poured into the essence of the soap. Just like making sure that you have all your materials needed around you before you start making soap, I also like to make sure that my attitude is right to be making a product that is so intimate for the user. If Im feeling rushed, or stressed, or mildly annoyed, I will wait until I feel better and can think clearly before making a batch of soap. The Sunday gravy always tastes better when its made with love in mind, and pure thoughts of home and happiness, than one that is just put together because you can and know how to do it.

My boyfriend used to make futon mattresses, and his boss, being a spiritual kind of guy, really knew his business plan was essential on the quality work of his employees. If someone was having a bad day or stressed out about some kind of situation, he would ask them not to work that day, because those people were putting their very hands and energy into a piece of furniture that other people will be sleeping on and living life on.

Making one's own soap is very practical. But it can also be uplifting to the soap maker in many ways. If you find your zen with making soap, it doesnt matter what your family or others think about it. if it makes you happy, you can in turn help make the world a happier place!

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Kristen D. Vineyard
visit my blog http://washwithvegetables.blogspot.com

Kristen, very well put. I agree completely!

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Susie
Sometimes A Mistake is so much fun, You just have to do it again!