Teach Soap

I finished my second batch of soap tonight. I made it with Sea Water, Kelp, Canola Oil, Olive Oil, & Coconut Oil. I poured a bunch into sea shells that I've collected and then the rest of the batch into a mold. My plan is for people to use a scrubbie or their fingers to use the soap as I'm going to leave them in the shells.

Here's a picture of some of them.

Is this the one that you're selling on your web site already?

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

Hi Soapbuddy,

Please recheck the website - because of the advice I received I am not going to do any retailing until I have more experience.

Good for you! I'm glad to hear that.

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

Hi SuperSoaper - soapbuddy was just following up from another forum where I was reminded that until I have significantly more experience making soap I shouldn't even be considering selling any. I am a very enthusiastic type of person and since I already sell arts & crafts I was going to start selling very quickly. Fortunately I was reminded that experience creates the expertise to create a reliable product and that this is a must for someone selling their products.

The website is at and you'll see many different things that I create, sell and teach. The soap page is set up showing the difference soaps I plan to sell - eventually.

While the other forum is notorious for ganging up on newbies, I reluctantly have to agree. Because of the damage a bad batch of soap can wreak, it's better to get a bunch of batches under your belt and gain some experience before selling to the public. Give samples to friends & family and ask for constructive criticism.

This is probably overkill but.....I pour a small 2 oz sample mold of every batch of soap I make. I sample each batch personally prior to selling them. It may sound like overkill but I take the 2oz sample after using it, dry it off then put it in a ziplock baggie, write a batch number on it, and stow it in a large tupperware container I have under the bed. I also keep track of which batches I sell at craft shows. I'm liability conscience.....not sure if that's a good or bad thing.

Thanks SuperSoaper. There is no way that I would sell a batch that I haven't tested and had my testers try - that would be stupid and simply asking for those proverbial alligators to strart chewing on me. I have a lot of experience in making bath milks, salts and body scrubs which I do sell on a very small basis so that when of my regular clients asked me to start making soap I jumped all over it.

I have a lot of allergies and I can't use "regular" soap and have been using my body scrubs for years now. I've tried some of the hand-made soaps around and found them too heavily scented for me so I had already been thinking about trying to make my own soap so I could control the fragrance factor. I've been reearching this for about 6 months now because I didn't want to try making it until I felt confident enough in my knowledge base.

My customer knows that hers will be based on a batch that will be one of my first PROVIDING I feel that it is safe enough for her to have. I've also enlisted her to be a tester on my soaps.

At any rate - perhaps I didn't give enough information on what my FULL background was to avoid the flaming.

Thank you for making me feel a little less uncomfortable.

Hugs
Lindy

Wow Lindy!! With all the other things you're doing soaping will be a breeze for you. It's really quite admirable being able to manufacture the entire line you provide. I'm not that venturesome yet to try all those things but when I do you'll be the one I turn to for some advice!!! Seriously, if you can handle the rest of that soaping will be easy for you. I'm looking forward to seeing some of your creations. Go gettum girl!!!

_________________
Smile. It makes people wonder what you're up to!
www.hobbieaddict.blogspot.com

So, you just go and scoop up some sea water and mix it with the lye? Are your bars kinda salty?

_________________
Smile. It makes people wonder what you're up to!
www.hobbieaddict.blogspot.com

Yup - the ocean is about 1/2 a block from my house so I just go and scoop it up. Ocean water is about 3 1/2% salt so there will be a light trace of salt in the bars but not as much as would be in a salt bar.

We'll see what it's like once it's cured - at this point I really like the look and feel of it.