Are people turned off by...

[my2scents]

I showed pictures of my colorful soap to a co worker & she siad I shouldn't color them so boldly & that most people who like handmade soap would not like colorful soap for worry of chemicals used to color.
She says they should look more natural.
I used Pop Micas.....they are natural aren't they?

 

[carebear]

No, they aren't natural.
http://www.teachsoap.com/colorants.html

Micas - These should fall into the FD&C colorants category because mica is a natural product, that is mined but then, the individual mica (which looks like a platelet) is coated with FD&C colorants, or pigments, or a combination of both to achieve the colorant.

But while some are turned off by bright colors, others love 'em. Go with what speaks to YOU!

 

[Tabitha]

I LOVE bright soap! My favorite color for soap is brown with black swirls.

IMHO, your co-worker sounds snobby.

 

[Lindy]

I find that some people really love the colourful soaps and I do use Pop Micas too. There are others who want uncoloured, unscented, customers run from one extreme to the other, I do try to cater to as many as possible.

 

[cwarren]

I say too , do what you want.. I love being creative and having FUN !

 

[Elly]

could you achieve beautiful bold colors with natural products? maybe not :?

 

[cerelife]

I showed pictures of my colorful soap to a co worker & she siad I shouldn't color them so boldly & that most people who like handmade soap would not like colorful soap for worry of chemicals used to color.
She says they should look more natural.
I used Pop Micas.....they are natural aren't they?

I agree with the other posts...do what makes you happy!
While I'm new to soaping, I have a black-belt in soap buying, LOL! In fact, the main reason I'm making my own soap is because my husband pointed out that we were going to have to start budgeting for our soap "habit"...since we spent over $100 on soap between June and August. I don't know about "most" people, but we personally are all about the smell of the soap and how it makes your skin feel. I don't care for brightly colored soaps myself, but it certainly isn't for worry of chemicals...they just don't appeal to me. But hey...I don't like donuts either, but most the planet loves them, LOL! Just personal preferences !

 

[nattynoo]

I believe there is an audience for both natural & for bright.
I'm a natural girl but one of GF looovvveess colourful.

When buying soap... I'm visual then smell.

 

[dagmar88]

I'm not selling yet, but people immediatly dive into my curing closet and sniff the most colorful soaps

 

[NancyRogers]

I don't sell yet, but I agree about the "do what pleases you". For me, soap making is artistic. When the artist doesn't love what she does, it shows. I personally love all of the colors and scents. I'm not at all drawn to "natural" looking soaps, but those who are probably would be turned off by my soaps. Each to her/his own.

 

[Northland Naturals]

people who make judgments like that have a stick up their a$$. do what you like, do what your customers like. and i'm relatively certain that pop micas are more natural than the commercial dyes in the clothing she wears.

 

[Sunny]

yeah, don't listen to anyone who says "you have to do this." I make soap that is super colorful and swirled, and some that are totally "natural looking." I love them all.

 

[punkflash54]

i like both and i've made both. some of my soaps are really brightly colored and others i just color naturally and i have had people buy either or. If someone doesnt like the brightly colored one they usually go for the natural colored one and vice versa. But ultimately i make the soaps how i want and what i like

 

[LadyM]

While your co-worker didn't express the idea very well it seems,
it is still a worthwhile thing to consider.

I agree with everyone else about going with what you as the artist find appealing!

I make soap with natural colorants as well as ultramarines
and definitely have encountered both sides of the coin in terms of tastes. Some love my bold bright ultramarines while others view it as a chemical soap and won't even get near it.
And this while all of my soaps are with FOs!
Somehow color sometimes tips the chemical scale for people I've found.

I've learned to taylor to where I'm selling.
My powerful ultramarine soaps sell super well in a couple of stores but I always leave them out at craft fairs and markets because they seem to give a less natural feel to the rest of my soap collection and people do get turned off.

So you just have to do what you love and then test the waters!

 

[my2scents]

Well I"m not selling yet either but for future referance. I like to make all kinds of soaps & I think I would be frustrated if I couldn't be creative & Have fun.
So....... I'm just going to do whatever makes me feel good at any given moment!
Thanks ya'll I knew there would be great pearls of wisdom!

 

[dubnica]

Yes, you should make yourself happy first, but if you want to sell one day, you should have different kind of soaps to offer - colorful and scented and some that are no scent or no color, more natural.