Soap Makers Help!

[buffbeauty]

Ha. Wish I had time!! Sorry you batch flopped

 

[cybercat]

mom'sfolly :

I'm curious about how many people are making money selling soap. Is it a hobby that pays for itself, for you? Is it a source of income? Is it supplemental income or a sole source of income?

I'm just curious if anyone is making a living selling soap.

Well,some do and some do not. It takes a few years and many batches to get to the selling point. One goes threw a supply curve of using basic oils then going expensive then back to basic. Many of us just make for our family. I have been making soap for 3 years and never sold a batch. I just make enough for us.

Now in order to make soap for others you need SoapMaker program Pro to tell you how much it cost you to make a bar with your formula. Not to mention keeping track of supplies and suppliers and orders for soap ect. You can also find on the net many soaper forums that have business sections to them.

Selling is a big commiment of time and resources. If one sells at farmers market you can control amounts better. If you are doing craft show and conventions then you can not. If selling online you just never know what will be ordered. Most sellers have 2 or 3 formulas only they use and nothing very fancy since most want simple soap.​

 

[Renee']

Cyndi- Do you ever color your GM soap? If yes, what types of colorants have been successful?

 

[buffbeauty]

Oxides in cold process for me. Micas fade and morph.

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

I use oxides & ultra marines all the time.

Oxides work best if you mix the powder with oil.

Ultra marines work best if you mix the powder with water.

I don't do either and use a tiny bit of glycerin to mix either.

You always want to mix either so it is in liquid form. Dumping dry into your soap batch can result in specks of undissolved colorant.

The oils are no longer on top of the soap, but I'm not looking forward to unmolding tomorrow.

 

[buffbeauty]

Quote:
OH!! Forgot ultramarines. I have some but havent used them yet. Sheesh I need to make some soap. Just havent had time!! Good luck on the unmold!!

 

[mom'sfolly]

How do you figure the lye amount if you are using an acidic liquid like orange juice or apple cider vinegar for making soap? Is there a soap calculator that you can use? I just wondered because some of the lye will be neutralized by the acid. Do you just figure that the superfatting will be higher because there is less lye to react? Or am I just overthinking the whole thing?

 

[Renee']

Thanks for the GM colorants info Cyndi and Kassandra.

 

[buffbeauty]

No prob.

Was told you could "paint" micas on after initially making soap and sap process. How does that work?? I know it'll just highlight rough areas sort of but what do you put it on with?

 

[MullersLaneFarm]

They will stick. I use a small paintbrush.