soapmaking and other bath and body products

[pibblestiltskin@ma]

Anyone make these items just for personal use? I am now addicted to homemade cold process soaps and body butters that I buy from crafters on etsy and other such places - such wonderful scents and all natural ingredients :. It seems like this isn't very difficult to make (especially the body butter) but I am wondering if it is worth trying to do myself. I have seen sources for bulk oils and shea butter, but I am not sure it will save me any money if I have to buy this stuff in quantity along with other supplies and essential oils etc.

Any thoughts?

[erin a]

Check out the Millar's soap site. http://www.millersoap.com/

There is a lot of information there and recipes too. Homemade soap is sooo much nicer!

[Belleweather]

Originally Posted by pibblestiltskin@ma

Anyone make these items just for personal use? I am now addicted to homemade cold process soaps and body butters that I buy from crafters on etsy and other such places - such wonderful scents and all natural ingredients :. It seems like this isn't very difficult to make (especially the body butter) but I am wondering if it is worth trying to do myself. I have seen sources for bulk oils and shea butter, but I am not sure it will save me any money if I have to buy this stuff in quantity along with other supplies and essential oils etc.

Any thoughts?

This is exactly the reason that I started making soap. I love how it feels on my skin and all the great scents and it just feels so decadent to use soap that's got natural and awesome ingredients! Making my own is way cheaper than buying homemade or natural soap, but it's not as cheap as the crappy mass produced stuff.

I'd say a 5 lb batch of soap (which is the size of my mold) makes about 15-20 bars and costs somewhere around $20, depending on what I'm putting in it. I probably spent $30 in start-up costs -- a big stainless kettle, a wooden soap mold from ebay and a scale. Lotions and balms and salves are probably even more cost effective than soaps, since I didn't need to buy anything to start making them.

[pibblestiltskin@ma]

I do love the handmade stuff (dh thinks the mass produced stuff is so much better ) but I worry that I will want a big variety and will end up making batch after yummy batch, with more than I can possibly use!

I had a bunch more questions but the millersoap link seems to have answers for them all! I just ordered some nice soaps so I have some to time to read and prepare before I run out! Thanks!!!!

[captivatedlife]

If you buy individual or small soap molds, you can make extremely small batches of soap- you can change your recipe at any lye calculator - I use this one - just pop in your recipe - click submit and then rebatch at the bottom of the next page.

My wonderful, yummy goatsmilk soap comes out to be about $1 a bar if scented - 80c or so without scent. I strongly suggest that people make their own soap - it is a wonderful experience.