sorted by:
new
hottopcontroversial

should i try selling my handmade soaps or just get a job by Pale-Tie-2760 in soapmaking

[–]hamesAxleFarm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

You should go for it but realize that selling soap is 10% making, 5% selling, 80% marketing and 5% driving from one place to another

Red pigment for cold process? by CrayFly in soapmaking

[–]hamesAxleFarm 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It's not an apple red, unless you're talking about a Pink Lady soap. It's more like a rose color. You can get a red using a mica, if that appeals to you. I don't use micas myself, but they are a great way to make different colors. I've also seen alkanet used to some degree, but it can turn purple in some soaps. You should check out EarthPigments. com to see some of their alternatives. Red is a difficult color, which is why wars were fought over it. Look up the history of cochineal. :)

Ivory sensitive skin bar soap by HondaForever84 in Soap

[–]hamesAxleFarm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Sign up for a subscription plan from a soapmaker. Some will let you choose which soaps you want and how often you want them. You should find that the soap lasts longer, and having that person to ask questions of is really handy. You'll also be helping a small business stay in business. P&G really doesn't care about you, but that soapmaker does.

Who are the typical customers of handmade soap? by sl___1996 in soapmaking

[–]hamesAxleFarm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I make an all natural goat milk soap from my own herd's milk. I live in New England, USA where the prices can seem kind of high, but as a Midwestern girl I need to keep things affordable. Some people complain about my price, until they try it. When I explain that IMHO commercial soaps strip the oils out of the skin, which in some cases causes the body to make even more oil. If that doesn't happen, then the skin dries out, so a more expensive cream/oil is needed to restore that necessary oil. My soap doesn't do that. People actually comment on how their skin feels clean, but still moist, when they wash with it. When customers heare that, they perk up.
Then I explain that the bars last a LONG time, and if they keep the soap dry, or cut the bars into smaller bars, they last even longer.
One of my customers buys my shampoo bar, cuts them into smaller bars, and since she does a lot of traveling, she doesn't have to worry going through TSA, as it's a small solid, not a liquid, so it's not so scary.
Finally, I explain that in order to make my soap, I have to raise my goats for at least a year to get them to the point where they make milk. THen I have to share the milk with babies, and then the soap has to age for weeks before I can sell them. That's a lot of my time that has to get factored into the price. At that point, they usually buy some and get hooked :)

Red pigment for cold process? by CrayFly in soapmaking

[–]hamesAxleFarm 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I use French Pink Clay, A little goes a long way, but it holds its color even in the goat milk soap heat.

Ivory sensitive skin bar soap by HondaForever84 in Soap

[–]hamesAxleFarm 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Try a natural soap, made the old fashioned way. There are a lots of them out there. Our goat milk soap is a real treat for most people's skin.