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Also, consider testing Fragrance Buddy. They are mixed for me in performance, but they have some winners. Their Lavender and Spring Apricot (more fruit than lavender) has been my best-selling soap for the last two years. I haven't used Midwest Fragrance but like you have considered testing...

Do you remember whether SW Tonic was a dupe of a perfume? Micas and More have a "The Tonic" that is a dupe of the perfume Hedonic Tonic. I have been thinking about ordering it to test. I still have a small amount of a dupe of the SW one that I am still using in lotion bars. I don't have...

Mixed. I think you need to test to see what level you like. I suspect the statement about their concentration was probably truer years ago before so many reformulations to meet IFRA amounts. I don't use them as often as in the past because of price and high shipping costs. I like their heavy...

I like to use 1/3 PKO and 2/3 Coconut for my lathering oils in my soap formulations. I find my soap has a waxy feel I don't like if I sub PKO completely for coconut oil. PKO isn't quite as drying as coconut so I can use a bit more lathering oils and don't feel like my soap is drying. I use...

I was fortunate to retire in 2006. I thought my soap making would be a 2–5 year hobby. Today, I am blessed with so many friends and acquaintances I have made from customers and fellow vendors that even if it is work some days, it is worth it. This was one of the best decisions I made for a...

Totally agree. In addition, it is super easy for you to really know if you are spending more or less than you are making and by how much. Keep the receipts in a box to support the deductions and calculate your end of the year inventory for taxes. Add complexity when you need it, not before.

Crayons have been a novice idea for years in colorants. If you don't sell then go ahead and try. However, some colorants cause a colored lather and there are plenty that stain wash cloths, reds and browns especially. With crayons it will be a guessing game on how much and whether it affects...

I asked about some coconut oil once and was told that probably popcorn oil was being produced with the same equipment. Coconut popcorn oil can have beta carotene added for the yellow color.

The table looks nice. How/where will you take payment and package? I would give myself a designated spot to stand, package, and take payment. It might need to be at the end of the table or behind the table but I like for a customer to be able to place their purchase items somewhere...

If there is any chance of ricing or separation, I like a whisk and pour the FO into the pot in a small stream. Being able to whisk the FO into the entire pot as soon as the fragrance hits the surface helps me a lot in preventing and correcting any ricing/separation. I find one of my biggest...

Beautiful. However, the best thing I see about this photo is that it looks like a workshop where more than one person probably works. I hope you had a helper. I don't think my body would hold out making this many soaps within a 4-week curing period!

I second baseball card boxes. Cheap, many sizes and the boxes can stack into a fairly compact area. I mostly use a long single box that will hold a log of up to14 bars. I add a card holder at the end to record scent/date made. I either order them on-line or pick up at a local baseball card...

I did a master gardener convention once with hours similar to yours. I had more customers than I could manage for an hour and then nothing as the dinner and speaker part of the program was going on. A few after the program because someone was impressed with another's purchases. Definitely be...

I am a firm believer in spreadsheet tools. If I might want to sort, summarize or group data then I want a spreadsheet. I also keep a soap log with soap name/fragrance, type, date made/cured, whether beveled, labeled, photos, bar count. Easy to do, fast to search and I don't have to have the...

I was a spreadsheet user for work so that is more flexible for me that software. At the beginning of the year I had 161 bottles so I completely understand. My goal for the year is to try and either use up by themselves or in blends the Elements fragrances I have that are no longer available...

I consider myself a small seller, do a few large craft fairs each year and ship to regular customers. Most years I purchase about 30 pounds of fragrance/essential oils. I finally had to get control of my purchases because I had way too many fragrances and the amount kept getting larger and...

I like Oregon Trails peach de vigne. It is light but it sticks well. I mainly use in blends. I really like Lavender and Spring Apricot from Fragrance Buddy. It isn't a true apricot, not super sweet but still enough like the fruit that I plan on blending as such. For the last two years I...

I use Sam's because it is close. The closest Costco is 2 hours away. Unless you live in a large city, I suspect most people don't have both close by to compare. I used to order from Costco for a specific cardstock I used in printing. Great service but they no longer carry the item I want...

I use Rubbermaid pitchers for my lye/water solutions. I like the handle and there won't be a problem with a heavy-duty plastic.

I like stainless saucepans. I think they were made much better years ago with thicker bottoms. Sticking doesn't seem much of an issue. The Revereware, Faberware and Ekco from the 1940's-1970 are great and can be found in garage/estate sales as well as EBay. Just make sure the handles are...