Teach Soap

I thought that unless you are making a claim that your soap will cure wringles or somthing it is not considered a cosmetic therefore the only thing it MUST say is that it is soap and you contact info?

Technically, yes. A lot of soapers are proud of their ingredients so they list them on their label. Also people that have allergies can pick up the soap and know whether it will bother them or not.

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

Ditto what Soapbuddy said. Although legally you don't have to, listing your ingredients is always just a good idea.

Ditto, ditto...
I label my products fully and I believe that customers appreciate it. Plus, I feel better by doing so.

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HEAVENLY SCENT SOAPS

I would say it also makes it hand. What if a customer asks whats in your soap? If it's on the label no worries. Otherwise yo uahve to try to remember or might give them the wrong info (assuming you use different recipes)

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~Jola

Now don't get me wrong,when I make soap and have taken the time to add a little rosehip seed oil or any of the other ingredients that I have invested my hard earned money into you bet I put it all on my label along with an *may contain nut oils warning if need be.
But do you list all of the ingredients that are in your M&P base? I do not do this if only for the space I would need on my labels,however I do carry with me to all shows info about what M&P is and the ingredients of each base I am using.I take ALOT of pride in my work and I want all of my customers to know what a great product they are getting. I only asked because I obbsess about getting everything right. I honestly felt like I pissed off some of you and I am only looking for info,I don't pretend to know it all
and I hope to learn and share from this forum. Maybe I am just sensitive today but some of your answers felt like an attack.

Yes, it sounds like you are sensitive today. Maybe tomorrow will be a better day.

Definitely not meant as an attack or to be rude at all! Just wanted to answer your question and let you know what we have come across and what we think will work the best. The info was meant to help.

=) We all have sensitive days, myself included so no worries there.

If you're putting an awesome ingredient in your soap and you'd like to tout it on the label as a subheading, you can do that. It's a good marketing technique.

"XYZ soap with Rosehip Oil"

You don't need to list all your ingredients on your label if it's soap as long as you're not claiming that your soap cures psoriasis or inhibits wrinkles (and if you have some that inhibits wrinkles, I'll be the first to line up for that). It's a matter of personal preference to label or not to label with full ingredient disclosure when you are making and selling soap.

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Happy Soaping!

Anne-Marie
blog: www.soap-queen.blogspot.com
supplies: www.brambleberry.com

OMG I spent the whole afternoon yesterday crying MENOPAUSE SUCKS. I apologize for being cranky yesterday,thank you for bearing with me. Carolynp

No worries! Glad you are feeling a bit better today! =)

I totally understand the labeling dilemma. In the beginning of my business I did not have a full listing label on my melt and pour soaps, but after awhile, after thousands of questions from my customers, I decided it would be better to put a full listing of ingredients on my soaps. I print my own labels and have a label database on my computer with full listing labels pre-programmed.
Labeling can be utterly overwhelming to say the least, and the labeling dilemma has caused me to go into tears more than once, but in the end, I labeled. (after 2 years of no full listing labels)
If you do decide to label....
I found that starting in my "off" season with my labeling venture was the easiest way for me to start labeling, and in this way I had plenty of time to plan and do it right. Labeling during a busy season is next to impossible, and can be overwhelming.
A great resource in proper labeling is a book by Marie Gale
"Soap & Cosmetic Labeling: How to Follow the Rules and Regs Explained in Plain English"
Good Luck, Whatever you decide...

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Susan Rizza
Ticklebones Soap Company
Winterport ME

I get that I can't make medical claims about my soaps... but how dangerous is it to use certain words in the individual names of your soaps?

For instance one of my CP soaps has red tea as an ingredient and I named it "Reddy's Red Tea Remedy" after my grandmother's nickname. It just sounded fun to add the word "remedy" especially since red tea is touted for many medicinal uses including many skin issues.

I am not yet selling my soaps but if/when I do would I have to avoid soap names like that or just be very clear about not making any specific claims aside from the fact that it is pretty to look at and smells good?

To use Anne Marie's example... could I label it "Reddy's Remedy with Red Tea Infusion" ?

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- Mickey!

I don't know the official answer about Reddy's "remedy" - but the word remedy to me implies medical claim for something. Personally, I would avoid it, but it is such a cute name, I can see why you woudln't want to! I'm not an expert, so let's see what others say about it.

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Janet
The Studio a la Mode
www.thestudioalamode.blogspot.com