Teach Soap

Is it just me or have there always been so many new soap dabblers? Had a craft fair this weekend and I lost count of how many people came to my booth and either said they make their own soap then proceeded to ask me a million questions about soap making, or plied me with questions about my soap making techniques (like how I made certain swirls or stripes) until I asked them if they are making their own soap and they admitted it. I had 3 or 4 people ask me if soap making "is hard" because they are thinking about giving it a try. I don't mind chatting and sharing what knowledge I have as long as it doesn't take me away from my purchasing customers, but it just seemed excessive this weekend. Lots of them asked if I give classes or sell the supplies to make soap. (I don't) I did point many of them to the Soap Queen website so they can learn correctly.

It's not just you. I've had more requests to give out my recipe, or show them how, so they can sell tomorrow. My recipe will go with me to my grave. People want instant answers and are not willing to do proper research. There was a person at the market that proclaimed to everyone that her soap is lye free. She didn't know me. I asked her how her soap is made and she said just oils and glycerin. None of those nasty chemicals including lye. I kept my mouth shut and just smiled, but I soooooo wanted to give her my 5 cents.

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

I've been getting questioned a lot lately, too! I usually just say, "While it's not particularly difficult, there's some chemistry involved, as well as a ton of research so you know what makes a safe bar of soap." The word "chemistry" usually sends them running.

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

I'll have to remember to use the chemistry line, and maybe throw in something about math too, lol. I told the ones who asked if it was hard that I don't think its hard per se, but there are safety precautions that must be taken so I encouraged them to research and check out Soap Queens video instructions.

Irena, I would love to know how someone can make soap without lye! I think I would have had to ask her to describe how those oils and glycerin became soap.

A bigger annoyance that I have found at my past two shows were the snake oil sales people (DT and YL) coming to try to sell me their expensive essential oils. I'm nice and listen to their spiel but I throw their cards in the trash as soon as they're out of my line of sight. I had one give me a sample and tell me to put it in my food. I said thanks but no thanks.

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

It's just mind-blowing to me how ANYBODY thinks it's okay to ask a crafter of any sort for their recipe or technique, especially with such specificity. What thought process leads you to say, "Hey, I'll ask that business person how they make their product, so I can start making it and competing with them?"

I love speaking to soapmakers at craftshows. I especially love talking to the folks who have their own goats and make goat milk soap. But I don't ask for recipes! Sometimes I'll say, "I have the worst luck with milk soap - I can only do it with canned milk." And I've had soapers tell me how they do it, and I've had soapers offer to show me if I ever want to visit them at home, and I've had soapers say, "Yeah, it took me a while to master it too."

In today's society, younger people want instant results. They are not willing to do the research necessary. I realize that I'm generalizing, but in my case, the people that have directly asked my for my own recipe were young and were not willing to do proper research. They wanted my recipe so they could make it and sell the soap as soon as it was made. There are sooooo many sites online that tell you how easy it is and you will make lots of money in short order. They will sell you their e-book on how to make soap. They are the ones that are making the money and giving those of us that have done the research a bad name.

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

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The Black Currant- Shipping within the US!

My shop: The Black Currant on Etsy!
My blog: http://www.theblackcurrantshop.wordpress.com
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Artesanal skill & experience seem to be less appreciated in these days of instant gratification. My hand-written recipe book will never be seen by others! I put too much sweat & blood & fretting over each & every recipe into it. Even after I sold my old business, I carried the danged thing round the world with me. I've always made my lotion for myself & have a few other things I still do just for my own enjoyment...

Now those scent blends I worked so hard on long ago can come to life again!

I've been approached twice in the last week to do a workshop & said, "No, or at least not yet." I have 1 stainless pot & a tiny, 2-burner stove. The ONLY way I would do it would be a plain lard/coconut/olive recipe, no "additives," and the "student" could do all the stirring. She could come back the next day and take 1/2 the soap... But I'd charge 1,200 pesos ($100) for the one-on-one.

Surely, after that much work (4 hours, plus washup), they'd lose interest. I found out the other day from a friend who is looking into soapmaking, that I'm the only one in Uruguay who starts with lard & oils & lye. Everyone else does just glycerine base or buys hobby kits of MP.

Seems like the indigenous people are so long gone down here, replaced by Europeans used to importing everything. They're AMAZED that humans can actually make soap. They're AMAZED that anyone knows how to card wool & spin & dye it...

IF I can get a big enough stock built up, I think I'll put my soaps on Mercado Libre, South America's answer to Ebay... Then, I just have to struggle with the luscious description in Castellano & wait for orders. But somehow, methinx I'll find plenty to keep me busy between my little village & the near town of 30k peeps. I sure don't want it to turn into WORK - not during my 2nd childhood...