The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Food & crafts => Crafts => Topic started by: HappyHippy on June 10, 2013, 01:42:05 pm

Title: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: HappyHippy on June 10, 2013, 01:42:05 pm: Here are some of my latest creations :excited:

The shaving soaps are 'Hairy Highlander' and 'Bristly Thistle'.

I've just poured a loaf of 'herbal tea soap' and tomorrow will hopefully be making some 'Cafe Latte Soap' to go with the Strawberry jam and caramel cheesecake ones - I've been asked to supply to a local cafe/craft shop so thought a gourmet range might fit the bill :thumbsup:

The nettle and chamomile ones are for 'problem' skins - the nettle has tea tree & eucalyptus in it too, this helps with greasy/spotty skin and the chamomile & calendula is great for dry/weather beaten skin.

I'm in the middle of setting up a new 'soap shop' website, it should be ready about the same time as these current batches are cured (around 6 weeks) so I'll keep you posted :thumbsup:
Karen :wave:
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: happygolucky on June 10, 2013, 01:56:36 pm: They look good enough to eat :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: Dan on June 10, 2013, 02:04:47 pm: The shaving soaps look fab. If I shaved I'd buy some! :)
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: Bionic on June 10, 2013, 02:24:08 pm: Quote from: happygolucky on June 10, 2013, 01:56:36 pm
They look good enough to eat :thumbsup:
My thoughts exactly. Love the sound of the strawberry jam and caramel cheesecake :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: happygolucky on June 10, 2013, 06:01:22 pm: Quote
The shaving soaps look fab. If I shaved I'd buy some
??? , even I shave Dan, and I am a Lady :innocent:
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 10, 2013, 10:11:05 pm: Karen, where on earth do you find the time to make soap?
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 13, 2013, 07:40:30 pm: Nice one, Missis!! Love the colour nettle gives to soaps!!
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: heidih on June 13, 2013, 11:49:23 pm: good luck on your soap website, i certainly will have a look.! me and carl are going to make some goat soap ourselfs!
we just aqquired a "milky bar" soap recipe!
happy soapmaking xxxx
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 14, 2013, 07:54:26 am: I'm glad you found one, Heidi. Sorry I couldn't share my Milky baaa recipe when Carl asked for it but its a trade name and recipe and I spent a long time formulating it :) Have fun playing with soap making :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: ferretkeeper on June 15, 2013, 12:46:09 pm: Guys your products are gorgeous!

I really loved making soap, have done CP and M&P and I was really keen to make some to sell but I could never get my head around all the regulations.

It seemed prohibitively expensive to have a recipe tested and it looked like every recipe had to be checked. Any suggestions?

Incidentally I have got round it by making doggy soaps to sell for a local rescue, no issues there and still fun!
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: HappyHippy on June 15, 2013, 01:00:25 pm: It is expensive ::) It cost me around £150 to get my lard soap recipe certified with all the possible fragrence oils and botanical bits & pieces and insurance is around £100 a year (mine's lumped in with the rest of the smallholding/product/public liability insurance) But it's worth it when you hear folk saying how nice it is and how it's good for/kind to their skin compared to shop bought, mass produced stuff. Plus, you know exactly what's in it :innocent:

Try here http://www.cosmeticsafetyassessment.com (http://www.cosmeticsafetyassessment.com) that's who did mine :thumbsup:

If you can get one basic recipe certified (with additions, this allows you to do different varieties of the same soap) and work away making and selling plenty it'll not be long before you can think about extending your recipe range :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 15, 2013, 01:59:00 pm: ^^ what Karen says! Scott is brilliant - he offers a comprehensive Safety assessment that will allow you to sell and vary your recipe within certain (fairly broad) parameters. He's uber-busy right now as we have new EU legislations coming in and Scott is up to his neck updating our existing assessments ready for July.
I use Ian Wallace craft insurance and that's about £80 a year and covers me for soap, bath melts/bombs etc and candles too.
If you find a specific forum for soapmaking you will find lots of advice about labelling too as we have to use INCI names (eg saponified coconut oil being sodium cocoate ) and you can't get away with just sticking 'goats milk or olive oil...on a label. I think the labels are where people tend to trip up and its not long before Trading Standards do get to hear about those not fully complying :(

good luck! do go for it!! x
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: Fluffywelshsheep on June 19, 2013, 07:59:23 pm: looks good :) :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 19, 2013, 10:39:28 pm: I have thought about having a go as I have so much goat's milk atm but it seems a lot of hassle even if I just make it for myself.
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: HappyHippy on June 20, 2013, 08:58:35 am: It's fairly involved Lesley, but soooooooo worth it ;D Once you've tried it you'll want to repeat the process ;) :innocent:

If you can follow a recipe you'll be fine :thumbsup:
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 20, 2013, 09:02:46 am: Its a bit addictive too ;D then comes the urge to make goats milk bath bombs...sherbet...melts....candles...the list is endless ;)
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: HappyHippy on June 20, 2013, 10:13:56 am: Can you make candles from goats milk ??? ;D But seriously........can you ?

I've made candles in the past (pre-soap, when I was put off by the 'red tape' of soaping ;)) and still have a HUGE bag of wax...... :thinking:
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 20, 2013, 10:48:44 am: Lisa found this for me.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/make-goat-milk-candles-74284.html (http://homeguides.sfgate.com/make-goat-milk-candles-74284.html)
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: HappyHippy on June 20, 2013, 01:18:04 pm: :thinking: :thinking: :thinking:
I'm gonna need more goats ;D :excited: :innocent:
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 20, 2013, 09:46:00 pm: Everyone needs more goats. I know I do but can't due to:-

a) not enough space unless I give up growing veggies

b) struggling to manage the two I have now I am disabled

c) OH would leave home. He's fed up with having to help with the two we I have.

Maybe I will try soap-making. Where do I buy lye and ~~flavours you~~ you know what I mean?
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: shygirl on June 20, 2013, 09:56:04 pm: Quote from: Mad Goatwoman of Madeley on June 20, 2013, 10:48:44 am
Lisa found this for me.

http://homeguides.sfgate.com/make-goat-milk-candles-74284.html (http://homeguides.sfgate.com/make-goat-milk-candles-74284.html)

do they go mouldy? has anyone actually tried them?
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: shygirl on June 20, 2013, 10:32:33 pm: Quote from: Mad Goatwoman of Madeley on June 20, 2013, 09:46:00 pm

Maybe I will try soap-making. Where do I buy lye and ~~flavours you~~ you know what I mean?

here is the lye -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SODIUM-HYDROXIDE-CAUSTIC-SODA-x-5kg-SOAP-BIO-DRAINS-/321093748184?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&hash=item4ac2adc5d8 (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SODIUM-HYDROXIDE-CAUSTIC-SODA-x-5kg-SOAP-BIO-DRAINS-/321093748184?pt=UK_BOI_Medical_Lab_Equipment_Lab_Supplies_ET&hash=item4ac2adc5d8)

www.bathbbomb.biz (http://www.bathbbomb.biz) are quite good for other things. or search on fleabay.

im just getting the courage together for CP soap, will start searching for the equipment i need and hopefully try in a few weeks time. how do you know if spoons and bowls are not aluminium? :thinking:
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 21, 2013, 07:54:47 am: Mad goatwoman - go to B&Q or Countrywide for your LYe - so much cheaper than buying online and having to fork out postage :thumbsup:

Soaposh, Bathbomb biz, gracefruit, fresholi are all good online stores. Essential oils need to be good quality or they will fade (grrrr!) Palm oil is a taboo for Its Baaath time due to ethical reasons you need to find a good recipe and check it on a lye calc (online) just give me a shout - I'll guide you through ;D
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: shygirl on June 21, 2013, 11:01:20 am: Quote from: plumseverywhere on June 21, 2013, 07:54:47 am
Mad goatwoman - go to B&Q or Countrywide for your LYe - so much cheaper than buying online and having to fork out postage :thumbsup:

Soaposh, Bathbomb biz, gracefruit, fresholi are all good online stores. Essential oils need to be good quality or they will fade (grrrr!) Palm oil is a taboo for Its Baaath time due to ethical reasons you need to find a good recipe and check it on a lye calc (online) just give me a shout - I'll guide you through ;D

are there any trade suppliers in the uk? all the sites i find seem so pricey.
what do you literally ask for in b&q for lye- im scared of buying the wrong thing - or wrong percent. :-\
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 21, 2013, 11:22:59 am: In B&Q its the one in the white pot, orangey red lid. Its pure caustic soda. So long as you don't buy a drain preparation that only contains 'some' caustic soda you'll be ok = ie. you need it to be pure CS.

BB biz have a wholesale trade site allied to their hobby one now.
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 21, 2013, 09:29:56 pm: Thanks, Plums. When we get back from holiday, I'll get in touch with you. I'm going to have to make some now aren't I?
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 22, 2013, 08:46:53 am: YES!! ;D
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 22, 2013, 11:17:45 pm: ;D ;D :thumbsup:

I'm getting an ice cream maker as well.
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 23, 2013, 08:39:14 am: I bought a yoghurt maker and we use that sometimes - Ice cream I make by hand and just stir it a few time while in the freezer :)
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: Lesley Silvester on June 23, 2013, 11:23:00 pm: I tried that but I always forget and it goes rock hard so I need to defrost it before I can stir it. :roflanim: I make yoghurt in a wide necked thermos flask even though I had a yoghurt maker.
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: Cheviot on June 24, 2013, 10:41:27 am: Hi,
You have inspired me to have a go at soap making, I was thinking of maybe giving some as Christmas gifts, if it turns out OK :fc:, when would be the best time to start a batch, so it is ready around Dec 25th or does it keep for a long time without going off?.
Regards
Sue
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: plumseverywhere on June 24, 2013, 11:31:13 am: Hello Sue

I leave mine to cure between 4-6 weeks (not sure about Karen - about the same?)

some artificial fragrances can go 'off' even if wrapped but if you are going for 100% natural should be fine :)

LIsa
Title: Re: Some new additions to the soap range
Post by: HappyHippy on June 24, 2013, 04:04:32 pm: Yup, 6 weeks for mine too.
But we usually end up using it at home before that :innocent: It's still perfectly safe to use, but lasts longer after a proper cure because the bar is nice and hard :thumbsup: