Teach Soap

Okay, I just read an MP soap book that received glowing reviews from other readers. To make a long story short, the author suggests: that 1. using "the cheapest MP base and liquid soap is okay because the customer won't know the difference" and 2. it's okay to buy X brand liquid soap from your nearest grocery or big brand store, mix with MP and other additives and resell under your brand name. I know from experience that hobby store MP bases are inferior compared to premium bases like the ones you can buy from BB. But aren't there possible violations (possible copyright infringement?) if you resell another company's product as your own even if it's been "changed" if it's not sold for that purpose?

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Armi

I would think so! I don't think you can legally use a companies product without saying you are. I could be wrong though.

That person still needs to be smacked on the back of the head (Gibb's style, if you watch NCIS).

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

besides the copyright issue, why would you want to add commercial products with detergents to your product? seems like it kinda defeats the purpose.

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Dawn

wow... course, if it received "glowing reviews" from other soaps, that would explain why there's so many crap soapers out there, selling even crappier soaps and thinking they are better than the discovery of sliced bread!

Cheap base is cheap base. Customers don't know the difference? Um, lol no... Customers only think all soaps must be the same when they've never tried other soaps from better soapers.

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

I used to use craft store base, in fact I used it for around 19 years! Then I met BBs bases. The difference is incredible! The funny thing is that BBs bases cost less than the crap bases from Michaels! Less than 1/2 the coast actually. Ugh, I've been wasting money for so long!

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~~Heather~~
Mad [soaping] Scientist

See, I had all the same thoughts too! That's why I was screaming at the author the entire time I was reading this book for all the erroneous statements and all her typos and grammatical errors. To make matters worse, the author of this book said that she only did her soap business "on a whim" and "per a friend's request" but "had never soaped before but was a craftsy person" and her ice cream soap was such a success that she turned it into a business and did the book ( but is no longer in business). Hmm, I wonder why? If I had known all this before I bought the book I would have never bought it. Thank goodness I was able to return this book for a refund. I plan on writing a review on Amazon to counteract all the excellent reviews it got but just wanted to get my facts straight first about the possible legality of the liquid soap & MP. Thank you all for your replies.

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Armi

People that only know the pricey, but low quality base from places like Michaels would not always know that there is something better out there. They think all bases are the same, which we all know that's not the case. They are most likely hobbyists and are not in it to make a living. There is a seller here that makes and sells MP soaps and buys her base from the craft store. She prefers to just pick some up when she needs it instead of ordering it online in advance. Up until recently, she was adding scented baby mineral oil to her base and people were oohing and ahhing over her products. She's no longer talking to me because I explained to her what mineral oil does and what the FDA could do if they found she was making medical claims.

Sorry; just a rant.

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

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The Soapinatrix! *whip-crack*
- Posting the trials and tribulations of my Soaping Journey!

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Armi

Ohh, ladies! You pinched my inner core
I have met people making not only suggestions but statements all over the interenet like:
+ You can intake any essential oil in any quantity.
+ You can add essential oils to the products of intimate hygiene.
+ Make a tea from this herb and you'll get rid of the headache forever.
+ Pregnant women may freely take a bath with calendula, geranium EO, etc. (brief research will show that it may cause miscarriage);
The most frightening of this that newbie can find it, read it, believe it, make it and harm people.

As for the labeling I am so damn cautious about harming people, that now I am a little suspicious to the soaps where the essential oils are not listed. You can see there "essential oil blend". I know people try to keep their secret fragrances and I can understand that. But on the other hand I am like what if she's allergic to citrus? what if she's allergic to lavander?

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I am Lora

Yeah, I know what you mean about not believing everything you see or hear on the internet unless it's from a credible resource. Anyone hear about the newest UK sensation Prends-Moi Eau de Minceur?? I find it interesting that it isn't available for sale here in the US nor has the FDA okayed its claims as a weight loss perfume yet....

Well, I posted my book review on Amazon. I guess it's a case of buyer beware everytime I buy a book now. That's why I hate books that get raving reviews that never live up to the hype.

Speaking of mineral oil, I have at least 3 MP books by 2 different authors that recommend making a "paste" of mineral oil and petroleum jelly for lining your molds so the soap is easy to release and that the quality of the soap will not be affected. I bought these books when I first started years ago and remember thinking, "Hm, won't that make a mess and make my soap greasy"? And I know a company that specializes in making CP soap with mineral oil as one of its ingredients (it's not here in the US).

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Armi

Last week I downloaded an ebook on making CP soap in a blender. There was such a lack of safety measures when working with the lye, nothing at all about using a lye calculator, and false info such as "don't use fragrance oils as they contain alcohol and can ruin your soap, as well as being bad for you." She also says you can add cinnamon & cloves at up to 1 tbsp at trace (this is for a 1# recipe) I rarely write book reviews, but I had to for this one. Almost all of the reviews were 4 or 5 star ratings except for one other experienced soapmaker that had written a review and she had the same reaction I did - Don't make soap using this method!

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

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

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