kidsngarden

In the past I used what has been termed the "Martha Mold" It a three compartment Martha stewart silverware tray found at K-Mart. It has square corners and sides. It is huge. Grease it with mineral oil. If you make a batch using 7 lb of oils and divide it into three you can fill each cavity to the top. (so each cavity uses a 2 1/3 lb of oil batch). It takes a couple of days to get the soap out of the mold though - unless you oven cure it a bit. If you cut the bars into 2 1/2 inch widths you get 7 bars that weigh 6 to 6.5 oz. Mine warped with a really hot batch of OMH though so I don't use it anymore. That batch REALLY Gelled hotter than any thing I have seen before. I had never done an OMH in that mold before so I think it's the honey that gets it so hot. No other batches warped it even with oven curing. Bethany Bethany

You're right, I know. But I think I want to play to find something just for me. Then maybe if others try it and love it I can sell BOTH. Bethany

People are snatching up my Body butter, but I have to say I find it a little lacking. I formulated it to be non greasy and is it ever! It seems to just suck right up unto the skin. I'm wondering if there isn't something I can add that would aid against moisture loss. Like leave a protective film that's not too greasy? Right now with the e wax and other regular stuff I am using Mango and shea butter, hemp, jojoba, ako, aloe vera juice, goats milk, water. Is there a liquid oil I should sub in or something? Olive maybe? I was considering mineral oil - just a bit, but I've read the MO thread so I don't know! My husband says "leave it - it sells" but I have a hard time selling something I don't totally love. Thanks, Bethany

Container and supply Elements bath and body SKS Specialty bottle Those are the companies I have used so far. I really like container and supply because you can really mix and match lids to bottles, etc. And since I'm in WA and most of thier things ship from ID I get them really fast. The majority of my packaging though has come from Elements bath and body. They have limited selection, but they are the only place I have found .5 oz twist tubes for my body balm. Great customer service too. Bethany

All from Aroma Haven: Macintosh Apple Monkey farts - not just banana - but banana is the top note - wonderful scent! Bethany

Hey! Actually it is! I never thought of it that way - I guess if it didn't get used we would just dump it somewhere. See, that's why I come to Candletech - all you smart people out there! Bethany

I am seriously considering adding a bit of it to my lotions and body butters. People buy them, they rave about them. But I'm not sure I love them. something is missing - I made them to be non-greasy and boy are they! I feel like there is no "protection" there. The reason I have so many questions is so I can back up "it's ok" and like the above poster said - it's pretty hard to avoid them. I think a lot of the "purists" would be surprised to find out what is really in FO's. I have no idea really - but it would be interesting to find out. And I do have little issues with non-renewable resources. There's a part of me that wishes we could package in paper! The little hippy inside I suppose! Bethany

I have been reading this thread with interest and started reading just a little bit about mineral oils. I have some questions that I haven't found in my research exactly thus far. Isn't mineral oil derived from petroleum which is a non renewable resource? (As it is right now I find using plastic packaging a neccessary evil - but at least you can recycle those.) What about glycerin? What about Fragrance oils? They are all synthetic right? I wonder if they contain mineral oils (or the like) anyway so wouldn't people who use them already have it (though in a very small quantities) in thier products? I do use Mostly fragrance oils. I have just begun to use EO's - And I wonder if they have mineral oil in them as well as a carrier? Thanks, Bethany

Both - I have converted many to handmade soap! Bethany

I gave out samples of my lotion bar in a lip balm tube and everyone kept accidentally putting it on thier lips! that was ok I guess - they liked it! But I am going to the .5 oz tubes that Elements bath and body carries to avoid the confusion! Bethany

I do like the idea of a "sampler pack" Something you could sell for between 5-10 bucks. That's a good idea. I do give out TONS of samples. At the bank, at the store, at church. And I do get at least 2/3 of the folks buying from me. But that's all just in my day to day. I don't have to make a special effort mailing, etc. Someone told me that the other two soap vendors at the farmer's market I'll be at this summer NEVER hand out samples - what a mistake! Bethany

I made this and found it a little drying. I didn't use shea, subbed it for more Cocoa butter, used all SAO for the liquid oils. I think I will try it next time taking out the coconut oil and subbing shea or mango, OR doing all cocoa butter for the hard oils. Bethany

I don't think I would send out samples without a real purchase, mostly because I don't want to spend the time on that. I do however ALWAYS send out samples with orders. Bethany

I use .7 oz for ppo as well, some strong ones like AH neroli, lemon verbena, and anything with lavendar I use at .5 oz ppo. Bethany

NOthing - just thought full fat would be more conditioning - but I think I will be sticking to non-fat. Thanks, Bethany

Did you check out the free label Templates at www.onlinelabels.com they have templates for nearly every kind of label - circel and oval! Nice labels BTW! Bethany

I don't think you have to for US sales. Bethany

Thanks for the replies. I agree with EmpressC - My body butter is fabulous and VERY different from any of the big guys so why not charge at least what they do? I think I will stick to my $8.00 - hey, I can always go down! Bethany

I was thinking of charging the same as the body shop - $8.00 for a 1.67 Oz container. Bethany

Do you really use nonfat dry milk for milk bath? Can you get dry milk that isn't non fat? Thanks, Bethany

Consignment on the short term and not a huge amount of stock is my plan. I'm totally going to tell them I will not heistate to pull out at ANY time, but after a specific date I will pull if they don't go straight wholesale. Bethany

I'd much rather just use common names, less to write and more easily understood. thanks, Bethany

It's family - that's the only reason I am consigning with them. I know I know, business and family like oil and water. They are about 2 hours away. They have a computer program I can check to monitor my sales. For me this is a trial. The demographic is completely different than where I live. This is a very upscale clothing store in downtown Seattle and in Bellevue (burb of Seattle). I live in a farming community. They may go into an exclusive line if my stuff sells in thier store - which then of course would be straight up wholesale. Even if they don't want me to do an exclusive I'm think of saying 2 - 3 months consignment then after that if they want my product it will be wholesale. That is plenty of time to see if it flies there. So I foot the bill to ship - right? Bethany

I thought I read somewhere that in the US we do not have to use the technical terms for our products - shea is just shea, jojoba is jojoba, etc. Is this true? Bethany

I realize that consignment is not the best way to do things, but if I do it and the store is not local to me, I foot the bill for the shipping right? this might affect my wholesale price and how many I want them to take on consignment.... Thanks, Bethany