Allergy to coconut oil

[Lillian_K]

I am new at soapmaking and while at my first craft fair, a customer asked me about coconut oil in the soap. She said her husband has an allergy to coconut oil and wanted to know if he could use a soap with coconut oil in it. Wondering if anyone has come across this before and knows the answer? Thanks.

 

[BrambleNBumble]

I asked the same thing just a few days ago Here's a link to the thread. Oh, and my friend can't even use lotions or skin products that have coconut in them or he'll break out.

http://www.soapmakingforum.com/showthread.php?t=39940

 

[paillo]

This is one out of many good reasons not to start selling too early. You WILL get questions like this, and you need to be able to give accurate, honest and complete answers. You have to be able to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about your craft. You have to be able to steer the customer to a product with different oils, advise them not to buy it, or at least explain the potential consequences of using it, and suggest alternative oils. If I were buying soap and could not get a good answer to a relatively basic question like this, I would never buy from that seller.

 

[user 12568]

No stupid questions, only stupid responses.

I think this is a very good question. I've been soaping for 7yrs and have never been asked such a question... so obviously, this has little to do with how long someone has been working at this craft.

To be safe, I would advise the customer not to chance it and direct them to a product which is coconut free, but that is just my common sense approach. If anyone has anything definitive to add, I'd be very interested in the answer as well.

@ paillo: Perhaps a less judgmental tone and a more informative answer would promote more learning than a verbal bashing. Please remember that we are all still learning, and no question should be considered too "basic" to be asked.

 

[judymoody]

goteeguy, I think Paillo's response is embedded in a broader context of having seen many, many people come to the forum, make a batch or two, and start selling before they have adequate experience. In my opinion, this is one of the very friendliest forums for the newbie soaper. I have seen novices belittled on other fora for asking basic questions like "what is gel?" I don't think this is about turf or gatekeeping or the soaping police run amok. It's about sound advice falling on deaf ears far too often. Counseling patience to the new soaper is done so that person has time to develop a quality product and will be judged on their best efforts, not their initial attempts. While soaping isn't rocket science, it does take time to determine the shelf life of your soap, the extent to which a fragrance is going to last, etc.

At least, that's how I see it.

 

[paillo]

@ paillo: Perhaps a less judgmental tone and a more informative answer would promote more learning than a verbal bashing. Please remember that we are all still learning, and no question should be considered too "basic" to be asked.

Yes, I do sound judgmental, because over and over we see soapers who need more experience and knowledge under their belts before they begin selling. Quite frankly, it's discouraging to try to point out best practices to people who want to run before they know how to walk. There's a huge liability factor in a relatively inexperienced soaper steering a customer into something with potentially negative consequences. Perhaps the first question I should have asked, is "Do you have insurance?" It's the holiday season, and lately it seems we have a crop of soapers who should ask themselves, "Am I ready to start selling?"

There is a lot of good information in the sticky on "Are you ready to sell your soap?" and I would encourage every newbie soaper who wants to begin selling to read it very carefully and do some soul searching.

I don't mean to bash any individual, and maybe you have been fortunate not to have been asked difficult questions. I got such questions as a newbie seller (not newbie soaper), and know how humbling that can be.

 

[Stinkydancer]

This is one out of many good reasons not to start selling too early. You WILL get questions like this, and you need to be able to give accurate, honest and complete answers. You have to be able to demonstrate that you are knowledgeable about your craft. You have to be able to steer the customer to a product with different oils, advise them not to buy it, or at least explain the potential consequences of using it, and suggest alternative oils. If I were buying soap and could not get a good answer to a relatively basic question like this, I would never buy from that seller.

I have to agree with this. But the problem is- in the last year- everyone is selling soap without learning that much about it. It gives soap makers who have honed the craft over years a bad name in some respects. In other respects, I get customers who say all the time - they cheated on me and bought other soaps and they sucked- so I guess some of us can make money from newbie selling soapers. Not to mention...no insurance which is asking for trouble.

@goateeguy- I have had this question asked many times- so many I added a Coconut free line..so mileage may vary.

 

[paillo]

I get that frequently at markets too. "Omigod, I just bought from another seller whom I happened upon before your booth, and I had no idea."

 

[user 12568]

Oh, don't get me wrong. I completely agree with everything paillo stated, as well as everyone else. I just felt the 'tone' of the post came across stronger than the advice.

I, for one, have only just started to think about selling my soaps -- but am likely a long way away from that still. Yet, I do have several different base recipes that I tend to use; some with animal fats, others all vegetable, and others still without coconut. This helps give selection to the customer, while also considering their medical, religious, and social preferences. (It's also a fun challenge trying to balance the oils in a new recipe to give me the results I want.)

So, again, I do agree with everything that has been stated... I just felt like the initial response could have been more cordial than it was. However, from my many years on other forums, I do understand that advice given over and over to newcomers can become quite grating at times. :smile:

 

[Lillian_K]

Thank you for your answer Gotee Guy! It was very helpful.

 

[shunt2011]

I too carry a selection of soaps as I've come across several customers allergic to coconut and other components as nut allergies etc...always good to be able to direct customers to something that will work for them.