Revisiting Natural Soap

Several years ago, when we were living in Montana, I decided to try my hand at soapmaking.

I loved it!

Lye, water, goats milk, fat, an interesting natural colorant, a little fragrance perhaps -- some elbow grease (okay maybe more than *some* for stirring) ...

Cover and let it do it's thing and voila a lovely big block of natural soap.

But like everything else I do, it got overwhelming -- the batches got bigger and bigger, my back started acting up, the storage for curing (because it has to be a constant warmish temperature and that ain't Montana) became first cramped and then non-existent. We were being swallowed up by natural soap bars!

But it did sell and I did enjoy it so ...

Here are some links I recently came across that stirred this recurring wild hair on:

• Featured DIYer - Delores Harris, natural soapmaker (she's got it bad as I ever did)
• Soapwire - a way to distribute soap articles and gain some traffic
• And this link with pictures of wild looking CP soap made in Thailand - sure does get the 'ol creative juices flowing!

This month we're planning a move to Florida and guess what ... making natural soap is on my mind again.

Even better??

Our new house has an outdoor workshop space with a sink!

All I need now are some shelves and a campstove and I'll be back in business.

Oh yeah, and some sort of handy pot on a pivot point for pouring so I don't take out my back again. But that's what handy hubbies are for, eh?

I'm excited to be getting back into the business of natural soapmaking.

Anyone else got the bug?

Make it a great day!

Comments

[Randy Kravitz]

Hi Andrea,

How long of a lead time do you have from the start of the process to the time you are able to put it up for sale? Are you looking to get back into making soaps once your settled in Florida?

Randy Kravitz
Juvenesse by Elaine Gayle
www.juvenesse.com

[Andrea]

Hi Randy -

YES!

I really want to get back into soap making when we get moved :) That workshop space is just shouting to be used for whipping up new batches while I watch the kids playing in the yard -- I am psyched!

It's been a couple of years ... but from start to finish on a batch is a couple of hours then the soap has to cure for 3 weeks+/- depending on your recipe.

Then it needs packaging.

So comfortably, a month from start to sale can work.

Appreciate the question :)

Make it a great day,
Andrea