Teach Soap

Jhop4- I just went and looked at the "show off thread" to see your post because of the comment that Linda posted. If you just started making cold process soap it is not a good idea to start selling right away. There is a lot of stuff to learn and a lot of stuff that can go wrong when making soap that may not be noticeable at first. For example, when I first started making cold process soap I made my first batch of scented soap. I believe it was my third batch. It was a small 2 lb batch. It looked so pretty. After about 3 days I tested one of the bars for zap. There was none. I let it cure for 8 weeks and then gave the few bars that I had to my family. Well my sister took her new bar into the shower and started to use it. After about 30-45 seconds she said she had stopped cause she felt a kind of burning/stinging sensation. She was a little red where she had used the bar on her leg. She brought it over (she only lives 9 houses away) and we looked at it. Somehow (even after I had everyone else return their bars and I fully inspected them, cut them up, used them, zap tested tested them and they were fine) her bar had a lye pocket it in it. I was mortified!! I tossed the whole batch. I felt so horrible. I thought I had done everything just fine (and it had looked like I did) I had messed up and done something wrong. Luckily, my sister was okay and was not upset. She was and still is very supportive of what I do. After that I made about 10 -15 more batches before I even thought TWICE about handing any out or letting anyone else use it for that matter. Some of that soap never did get used but that was okay and I needed lots of practice and that was all that mattered. I very, very strongly urge you not to sell your soap until you have made a lot of batches. If you do want to sell soap and other products maybe to start off try melt and pour. Also, if you do decide to sell cosmetics you should always test a recipe's shelf life and so forth before starting to sell. And Irena is right. You really need to get your paperwork and insurance in order before you sell. If something were to go wrong and a customer sue and win you could lose a lot. Find books to read and research information online. A great book to start with is Soap and Cosmetic Labeling. Also, if you are making cold process soap in hotel rooms I would really check the hotels you stay in. When you stay with them you sign a contract and almost every hotel has a ban against bringing in biohazardous chemicals and using them on the premises. (i.e. sodium hydroxide). If you were using it in a hotel that doesn't allow that you could get fined.

I'm not telling all this to scare you or frighten you away from soap and cosmetic making. It really is great fun and rewarding but I tell you all this to caution you. If you are going to sell cosmetic and soap products that other people will be using there are a lot of areas that you need to be careful about. A lot of reading of books and online research and of course a lot of question asking is always a must! The ladies and gents on this forum are great and are always excited to jump to answering a newbie's question to help them out. That's also an added bonus for you. You know this forum exists! When I started making soap a few years back I did not know that this forum existed and there were tons of people out there more than willing to answer my questions. ( I only had my friend's mom. I didn't know anyone else.)And keep in mind that when making cold process soap even when you think you are good at it something always surprises you. Like I said I started making soap a few years ago and just this past August I had 2 new things happen to me that had never happened before. I completely freaked out when I somehow had a couple of tiny specks of lye in the bottom of my lye bowl that wouldn't dissolve and then I had a batch of soap that separated on me! All in the same weekend! It was insane. So even when you think you're good you can still make mistakes and have accidents. I know being able to sell the products you make is exciting but please wait till you really feel you're ready. I have been into making soap and toiletries for about 3 years now and I just started selling my products this past May. Up until that point I just didn't feel that I was quite ready. Relax and take your time and just have fun and learn for a while before you dive into selling.

Thanks Toni- I have been keeping an extra cupcake just for testing. So that I can test it before I sell. I have been zap testing once a week and routinely checking and documenting their progress. So far so good. After I posted on this subject, I did end up getting reasonable rates from our insurance. YAY! I'm also in the process of getting my small business license. I'm glad I didn't have labels made before I read about the FDA guidelines. I am going to have to take the lick on the address, even though I would care not to share that info. I did try and sign the petition that BB started for the address thing. I didn't know what to put in the boxes before my comment. Do u? ex-organization, representative and govt. agency. Thanks so much. I have already tested my first batch on my skin, it's still 2 weeks away from total cure but I love it! No harshness and it makes my skin feel so moisturized. I know too, not to make cosmetic claims or it changes the ball game. I have very sensitive skin and I get winter eczema (cracked, brittle, patchy and dry skin). Dove and caress are the only soaps I can use. So I was relieved that my first batch turned out good. I hope that the recipe I am using and will always use doesn't give me probs. I just love this site! So much great advice! I wish I would have been directed to this forum sooner. Learn something new everyday!
I got the most important ducks in a row so far.

Well I'm glad to here all that. And as for labeling like I suggested before Soap and Cosmetic Labeling by Marie Gale (couldn't remember the author before) is an excellent book that makes labeling your products a lot easier. Just remember to have fun and not rush into anything. Rushing causes mistakes and sometimes mistakes in this area can be hazardous. I would definitely get a lot more soap made though before you start selling. Have fun and ask questions!

There is so much info out there on different blogs, it can really be confusing. Soap is actually regulated under the Federal Trade Commission and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, according to my research. I was unable to find any information about in what location the weight of the product has to be placed on the label, just that it should be obvious, whatever that means! I have to do this by hand on each label, as my bars tend to vary a bit in weight. I provide a list of the ingredients in my soap in order from most to least as the ingredient was when I mixed it in. Another confusing aspect of labeling; how do we know what exactly is in our fragrance oils? I looked over my supply, and not one of the labels conforms to the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act. Some have the name of the oil, some have the amount, usually just in ounces, some have the complete address of the company, but none of the ones I have purchased have all the info. And none of them tells what kind of carrier oil or chemicals were used to produce the fragrance. I know that in agriculture, there is an allowable amount of certain things, such as insect parts, that can be in a product without being on the label. Think about that next time you bake! I am wondering if that is true for other products. It would be so great if there was one official site with the all legal info we needed.

The weight of the product is normally on the bottom of the front of the label. Fragrances are proprietary, so you list it as fragrance. Fragrance formulas are a highly guarded secret.

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

I guess if regulations weren't confusing, we wouldn't need so many government agencies! I was trying to make the point that, with the best of intentions, we are unable to really list all the ingredients in our soap. If we use fragrance oil at all, we are adding ingredients. I just do the best I can to be up front and informative about what is in my soap.
My other point is that someone's opinion or preference is not the same as the actual legal requirement.

Well I took this lady some of my products monday and she is already calling me for more ( YAY!!!!!! ) The soaps that are doing well are the Black raspberry vanilla ( of course ), Bamboo White Grapefruit, Mango sorbet, and the eucalyptus mint. Unfortunatly one of my favorites doesnt seem to be so popular as a matter of fact her customer response to them was " it smells like old lady" It is the lotus blossom. It is perfumy but I like it and im only 33. oh well guess she wont be getting anymore of those. I guess around here the customers are going to stick with fruity smells. Any recomendations for some great fruit scents? Will have to make more soaps at this rate!

My favorite fruit scent is 10x Orange Essential Oil. I think it smells amazing in soap. I also really love apple scents. I also just bought BB's Crisp Apple Rose. I bought it for bath truffles but I can't wait to use it in soap too. It has a very nice apple in it. I also just made a blend with BB's Kumquat and Red Apple last night. It smells awesome! I love when I make soap. My house always smells fantastic!! I haven't made it yet but I'm gonna make soap with BB's Exotic Fruit Smoothie. It smells so good out of the bottle I can't wait to make soap with it.

You did not state: Saponified Oils of: blah blah blah therefore you must list lye or NaOH. Also, you should add the INCI stuff for your colorants.

Since I only retail my soaps in person by the ounce at time of purchase, I do not list the weight. Others in this forum can better assist you there. As to recipes . . . well, I started out using different oils, including palm kernel oil. As time has passed, I've narrowed it down to just 2 recipes to which I add my different extras such as fragrance oils, essential oils, colorants, and goodies (calendula petals, pumice, etc.)

My main recipe contains: olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, and either shea butter or mango seed butter, fragrance, and colorants.
My gardeners soap contains all the same things, but in different porportions.
My goat's milk soap is a 3rd recipe.

Consistency is important. I don't worry about the size of the bars being consistent since I sell by the ounce.

I hope this helps. Congratulations on the possible store! That's awesome.

Jill