Teach Soap

Just curious as to how long you test a recipe for before deciding it is good enough to sell? I've made and sold M&P before but have only ever made CP for my family. I would like to sell it when I have gotten all my recipes perfected.

Also, what kind of 'tests' do you do?

Thanks

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Aussie Soaper

I made soap for about 6 months on my own before deciding it was safe to sell. Keeping in mind that I made it along side my mother for years leading up to that. From each batch, I scrap out what amounts to about 1 oz of soap from the corners of the mold. I shape this little amount and place it on the curing rack right next to the unmolded batch it came from. 3 weeks later, I take that little 1oz piece into the shower with me to see how it preforms. Do this with newer recipes I try also. Have never sold a bar of soap without my first testing the batch it came from in the shower. It's not that I lack confidence in my ability, it's that we're all human and we have the ability to make mistakes. Anyone who says differently is an alien and wants to eat your brains or something.

6 months to a year. That gives me a good idea how the scent lasts, if it fades, if the soap discolors or gets DOS.
I live in the desert with triple digit heat. I've kept some of my samples there to see how they last in the heat.

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

if it's soap and you didn't screw up your calculations then it's good enough to sell. Even the worst CP soap is better than the best soap you can buy at Walmart and that's all most people know.

When i first started soaping I used to use all kind of different oils (recipe) but now i realize it doesn't matter that much so long as it's soap.

I always test a bar on myself first no matter what, even if it is a recipe I've made before. Like someone above said you can always make mistakes even if you are experienced.

Then I will also give sample bars away to people I know along with a "worksheet." It will include things like

1) On a scale of 1 to 5, how moisturized does your skin feel after using the soap?

2) How well does the soap lather?

3) Did the soap last long enough for X showers? (X being the amount I think is appropriate for that particular soap).

4) How would you rate the scent and appearance?

And there are a few other questions on there. I've been making soap for about a year and a half and I still don't feel 100% confident in selling my soaps.

Ha ha ha. My second batch of soap I am selling. Or trying to sell. No one buys my soap much. Only bc I am to lazy to put it in the mail. I post on Facebook i have soap for sale then people want to buy it, but that means i have to actually go to the post office and buy boxes and, like, mail it. That's actual work. R u kidding me? So I just give it away mostly. If I count on my friends and family to buy my soap then I am going to be the homeless soap guy. Anybody have a good method for streamlining the mailing the soap part of the business? Bc that's what I need to hear.

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

Thank you, Irena. For the one millionth time. Appreciate 'ya. Note to self to get set up to do that.

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