Soap Making 101

[punkin]

Do you have any chemical companies in your area? That's where I found mine. It was about $64 for a 55 lb bag. Overkill, I know, but that's the only way they sold it. Plus, I didn't have to pay the ridiculous shipping prices.

Do you mean companies who manufacture and sell chemicals? I don't think so. A printing factory, a metal factory and a couple other industries. Maybe they use lye in their processes, but it's hard to imagine them selling me lye on the side.

Sorry to be dense, but is lye used in any illegal activities? It seems like someone does not want it to be sold very easily or in bulk amounts. Or is it just not a very commonly used product?

Lye can be used in making meth. It is a very caustic chemical.

 

[punkin]

I'm curious about a bag of lye. Doesn't it harden? Spill?

I keep the bulk of it in a sealed plastic barrel in the garage. I only bring in maybe 1-2 lbs at a time. That is kept in a baggie in another sealed plastic container.

As long as it is sealed properly it should never harden. I would think moisture would cause it to harden.

 

[Farmfresh]

I live in the meth capital of the US (yea for me ) I swear they can make meth out of anything! Stupid people might as well just eat the lye straight up.

 

[me&thegals]

So, I went a little nuts. I'm promising myself that I will cover my costs through sales. Hmmm.... I got my oils:

olive
lard
Crisco
sunflower
corn
canola
safflower
grapeseed
vitamin E

I got my lye--only 2 lb from a local hardware store--safety goggles, measuring cup, immersion blender. The whole ball of wax. I have coconut and palm oil on order, to be picked up early next week.

Of course, I have MORE questions!! I have the books The Soapmaker's Companion and The Everything Soapmaking Book, but I'm not finding answers for these questions there:

1. What do you use for packaging? I love getting homemade soap with a brown-paper band around it with a sticker label. Any ideas on where to find this/how to make this?

2. How do you have to label soap for sale? What MUST the label include and how (in order of volume, weight, etc.)

3. How do I substitute oils? I have found some incredible recipes and may have all the oils except 1 or 2. How do I figure out how to substitute those, as I imagine they have different traits for soapmaking.

Thanks much!

 

[freemotion]

Packaging.....I used a rustic paper I got at Staples or somewhere, and printed labels that I cut in a strip and attach like a band around the soap. You could also use address labels as stickers, either print your own or get the nice but cheap ones from one of those colorful checks places online. You can also tie a bit of raffia or even something like baling twine around them and make a tag. Depends on the look. You can attach a sprig of something, too, if you want....a little pine sprig and cone, alder cones, paper roses from the wedding section of the craft store, etc. But keep it very simple if you plan on making a lot. I made very plain bands and attached with tape so it would be very simple and rustic. I didn't even trim the soaps other than taking the washing soda off. I called it "homestead-style!"

Don't know about the legal aspect. That would likely vary by state. You could go see what commercial soaps include, since they have the fancy lawyers.

To substitute oils, run what you have through the online recipe calculater. It is really easy!

 

[Farmfresh]

My soaps that are for sale are just displayed in a basket in a shop of a friend of mine. We have a list of ingredients posted on the basket with the price.

I don't sell the soap by the bar I usually barter finished soaps for her to sell for shea butter, since she has an African import business she gets shea butter very cheaply.

I know you are not supposed to make "claims" about your soaps, like soothes acne etc.. Just sell it as a soap.

 

[punkin]

I make labels by wrapping printed bands around the soap. I print on some scrapbooking paper that I have left over (lots).

I always print the ingredients.

I don't trim mine either. I rather like the "rustic" look.

 

[me&thegals]

I make labels by wrapping printed bands around the soap. I print on some scrapbooking paper that I have left over (lots).

I always print the ingredients.

I don't trim mine either. I rather like the "rustic" look.

Thanks! Can I get even more specific? How do you seal the band--2-sided tape, glue, other?

Do you run the sheets of cardstock through a printer to print the ingredients, put those on a label or other?

You guys are great! I melted down my beeswax tonight and have almost 1/3 lb, so I cannot wait to get going on some soaps! I have one recipe called E-I-E-I-O with goat's milk, lanolin, beeswax, oatmeal and egg yolks that I just cannot wait to try!

 

[Bettacreek]

Lol. I live in crack central. I ordered my lye, a scale and a few other things from different sites. I then found out that lye could be used to make meth. All I could think of for the next few days was a big "drug bust" at my house, lol. I just hope that I don't need cough syrup any time soon, lol.

As far as packaging, I was thinking about using wax paper to wrap individual bars, then use a strip of paper to tape around it like a sleeve (but not covering the whole bar), then just use a piece of tape.

 

[Mackay]

How about wrapping in fabric and tied with a ribbon or string? a little paper insert on the inside can list ingredients. Post your ingredients on a sign.