| Author |
Marketplace:  Making my own soaps and lotions???  |
|
|
MsCwick
True Blue Farmgirl
775 Posts
Cristine
Farmville
Virginia
USA
775 Posts |
 Posted - May 08 2007 : 2:02:59 PM
|
As some of you may know I'm a stay at home wife. I help my husband run our Painting Business from home. I'm 25 years old and I am going crazy sitting here. I was thinking of making all kinds of soaps and such things at home and selling them here in town and maybe opening an etsy store. I get a lot of satisfaction out of creating things with my hands, and I have all the room in the world to grow herbs and such.
Not only am I bored, but I would like to be able to have a little of my own spending/saving money, so the idea for all things home-made-grown seemed to suit my taste.
How much is involved in getting started with something like soapmaking?? I've read a little of it on the net, but I'm just curious as to whether it would be worth my time or not. Is there really a market for hand-home-made things like this?
If I were to go through with this idea, what's a tidbit of advice you could share? Specific product request? Inventory idea?
Just brainstorm with me... :)
Thanks,
Cristine
Love is to the heart what summer is to the farmer's year. It brings to harvest all the lovliest flowers of the soul. --Billy Graham |
|
|
lamarguerite farm
True Blue Farmgirl
649 Posts
missy
Battle Ground
Wa
USA
649 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2007 : 2:20:42 PM
|
There is an initial investment in supplies. I didn't have much money when starting, so I spent a few months gathering supplies and researching suppliers, recipes, etc. "The Natural Soap Book", by Susan Miller Cavitch is great. You can probably get it from the library. She discusses the chemistry of soap making which is very important if you are making cold process soap, as well as recipes and the different essential oils. Sandy Maine also has some great books. Another thing is to ask yourself is what you want from your product. Are you into soaps with fragrances and colors or do you want to stay more natural. I think the basics of soap is the same for everyone, but we each have our own flare and desire for what we want the final product to look like. There are a lot of experienced soaper here on the forum that have been very helpful. www.millersoap.com is a great website with insctructions and recipes. she has a really good chart that helps you to understand each oil and what part they play in the soap. www.thesage.com has a great lye calculator. You can enter in your recipe and it gives you a range for your lye and water. I wish you all the best and I'm here if you have any question. Once you get started you'll be addicted!!! It's a very rewarding feeling every time I use soap or another product that I created with my own two hands.
Blessings,
Missy
If you have a dream, even if you don't feel qualified to accomplish it, just try your hardest.-Maggie Jensen
http://18happyhens.blogspot.com
www.LaMargueriteFarm.com |
 |
|
|
BotanicalBath
True Blue Farmgirl
1014 Posts
Elizabeth
Ohio
1014 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2007 : 7:32:20 PM
|
First, see if you even like to make soap before you decide that you want to get into the business. Know soap, Learn everything you can first, give lots away and get feedback. Join a few soap swaps on a big soap board The Soap Dish is a good one.... and see where you stand next to soapmakers who have been doing this for 10+ years. You will learn more from one soap swap that you will playing in your kitchen for a year. But I have no clue where you are going to find lye. It is used to make drugs, so they dont make red devil any more.... and drain cleaner WILL NOT WORK
I do support my family with my soap business. I have been selling soap for 9 years. I lose a lot of sleep pouring soap and like tonight, the boys are in bed so I can start filling orders.
Ok, I would say that you would need about $300 to start soap making.
Need to buy ....
Cravitch's book. I would go with the soapmakers companion
a digital scale
a kitchen aid stick blender... I have burned though every other brand.
a stainless steel pot. Many small stainless steel bowls
A plastic pitcher (rubbermaid kind)
and a few plastic spoons (rubbermaid kind)
Spatculas
Molds.. what kind do you want?
base oils
and some EO or FO's
Brambleberry.com is a great place to start. I just checked and she will sell Lye in 2 lb lots. She also has great eo's fo's oxides, molds and extras.
Lotion... Read FDA regs... and know them. Also be sure you use a good Paraben.
Good luck,
E-
BotanicalBath@peoplepc.com |
|
|
|
therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
Posted - May 08 2007 : 8:11:40 PM
|
I got started making soap with a very small initial investment. Look at the Goodwill -- found a stainless steel pot there plus a stick blender. And I got a lot of the other items at Wal-Mart. Here's what I have to make soap with:
stainless steel pot -- at least 8 qt preferrably 12 qt
stick blender
two large stainless steel spoons -- one for oils and one to stir lye
two candy thermometers -- one for oils and one for lye
silicone spatula
stainless steel measuring spoons
scale -- do not skimp on this -- accuracy is a must. I got mine for around $30.
glass container or measuring cup to hold ingredients when weighing
disposable plastic cups for weighing lye
freezer paper and masking tape for lining molds
some type of mold -- I have a wooden loaf mold with a wooden lid
coconut oil, palm oil, castor oil, and olive oil
different essential oils and fragrance oils
The Soapmaker's Companion is a great book. See if you can borrow it from your library before buying. Your biggest investment is going to be for supplies. Start with a simple soap recipe that doesn't take lots of ingredients. That way if you decide you don't like soapmaking you don't have a bunch of money invested in supplies. You can buy lye online but you will have to pay a hazmat fee to have it shipped. We are lucky enough to live close to a large supplier and can drive to Portland to pick up lye. The websites that Missy recommended have lots of information. And the most important thing is to run every recipe through a lye calculator. The Sage has the most widely used one. If you have any other questions please feel free to email me or Missy -- we'll be happy to help you out!
I love making soap. Even if I don't sell bunches I love using it and it's fun to give away.
Visit my Etsy shop at http://therusticcottage.etsy.com OR www.annarosetta.com
http://therusticcottage.blogspot.com/ |
|
|
|
therusticcottage
True Blue Farmgirl
4439 Posts
Kay
Vancouver
WA
USA
4439 Posts |
|
| |
Marketplace: Making my own soaps and lotions??? |
|
Making my own soaps and lotions???
