Can someone give me an example of a feasable hi-end bar?

[dandelion]

I really appreciate everyones replies!!!!

Look at your current soaps, choose a target market and try to create a bar that meets the customers needs, not your needs. Then price accordingly.

I think that's what he's trying to do, thus asking for advice... (just sayin')

yeah what kitty said for real... did you even read the first part? If I am servicing high end clients I want higher-end merchandise to meet their elevated expectations.more muted tones have always seemed more "expensive" to me.

Thank you all for the help and input! Keep it coming! ... Im going to have to keep tinkering with stuff [/i]

I read your post, I guess I didn't have an ideal of what your baseline soap was like, from which you were now shooting for an upscale bar.

I definately wish you well in getting that money

 

[IanT]

hell yeah...hopefully the next jet you will see will have me unpacking my table, stool and all the other goodies i need for practice and loading it into the back of their stretch Hummer....lol

 

[Jaaret]

Silk

Hi, Ian,

Agree with the posts regarding using organic oils if you can. I'd also recommend you add humanely harvested tussah silk to your soap. The silk angle is unique and definitely conveys an upscale feel. I added a bit of silk to the last batch I made and I'm hooked. The small portion of silk I purchased will last me for years and years. It's a good investment.

Jaaret

 

[IanT]

no worries dandi ... its easy to miss stuff (or on my end... not make things clear enough...) when your typing/reading stuff lol...

Jaar-

excellent idea... THAT is one I will be saving for the book... How do you market those bars to your clients?? like would the silk be the main emphasis of your bar or would you be like "Organic good stuff yada yada + humanely harvested SILK!"

alright so in summation so far... minimal requirements for a hi-end bar would be:

-All-Certified-Organic ingredients
-Subtle but defining scent (EO)
-some deep color tones in the packaging and bar itself as tess suggested
-a nice soap stamp
-elegant bar shape "bevelled and beautiful"
-NO GOLD...or minimally to accentuate... (lol for you kitty)
-and something that will possibly pair well with a high-end designer parfume
-humanely harvested tussah silk


Did I miss anything??

Any other ideas!?

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

no worries dandi ... its easy to miss stuff (or on my end... not make things clear enough...) when your typing/reading stuff lol...

Jaar-

excellent idea... THAT is one I will be saving for the book... How do you market those bars to your clients?? like would the silk be the main emphasis of your bar or would you be like "Organic good stuff yada yada + humanely harvested SILK!"

alright so in summation so far... minimal requirements for a hi-end bar would be:

-All-Certified-Organic ingredients
-Subtle but defining scent (EO)
-some deep color tones in the packaging and bar itself as tess suggested
-a nice soap stamp
-elegant bar shape "bevelled and beautiful"
-NO GOLD...or minimally to accentuate... (lol for you kitty)
-and something that will possibly pair well with a high-end designer parfume
-humanely harvested tussah silk


Did I miss anything??

Any other ideas!?

The packaging idea is correct, but the soap itself should be pale colours, more "natural" or neutral looking. Some people are really put off by deeply shaded lather (which might not look good next to salon tanned skin anyway

 

[IanT]

lol ok so no brown mystery lather

 

[IanT]

no worries dandi ... its easy to miss stuff (or on my end... not make things clear enough...) when your typing/reading stuff lol...

Jaar-

excellent idea... THAT is one I will be saving for the book... How do you market those bars to your clients?? like would the silk be the main emphasis of your bar or would you be like "Organic good stuff yada yada + humanely harvested SILK!"

alright so in summation so far... minimal requirements for a hi-end bar would be:

-All-Certified-Organic ingredients
-Subtle but defining scent (EO)
-some deep color tones in the packaging and bar itself as tess suggested
-a nice soap stamp
-elegant bar shape "bevelled and beautiful"
-NO GOLD...or minimally to accentuate... (lol for you kitty)
-and something that will possibly pair well with a high-end designer parfume
-humanely harvested tussah silk


Did I miss anything??

Any other ideas!?

The packaging idea is correct, but the soap itself should be pale colours, more "natural" or neutral looking. Some people are really put off by deeply shaded lather (which might not look good next to salon tanned skin anyway

whoa i just realized your avatar was a witch! i had thought it was a dragon all this time lol..

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

whoa i just realized your avatar was a witch! i had thought it was a dragon all this time lol..

ROFL. This one is for Halloween. My regular one looks more like a dragon :wink:

I like the idea of "humanely harvested" silk as opposed to "wild silk" or Tussah silk for the label. It is also called "peace" silk. I have been using it for years and as Jaaret says, a little goes a long way. I make a Milk, Silk and Honey (all organic). It is my best seller.

 

[TessC]

For a really upscale line, you could do something with cocao absolute or amber resin or something else that's outside the realm of the usual FOs and EOs.

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

For a really upscale line, you could do something with cocoa absolute or amber resin or something that's outside the realm of the usual FOs and EOs.

I covered some lovely soft Amber resin with Grapeseed oil (odourless) and let it sit in the sun for a few weeks. The infused oil smells glorious, very strong, but sadly does not carry through to the soap.

 

[TessC]

I'd have to look for it, but I've seen an amber soap that has the resin itself in it, was melted into the oils.

I'll post the link if I can find the thing, had the instructions and pics, too many things bookmarked and filed away mentally, oy.

 

[phpworm]

I personally feel a high-end bar would be something very rare that not just anybody could get. Get your hands on some exotic flower or fruit or something, and make your soap around that...

For example, if you've got the funds, make your own essential oil that's too expensive for anyone else to make. I read that they once made an essential oil from a pear, but it took something like 20 tons to produce just 3 ounces, which would put the cost around 20k per lb... No way we'll ever see it on the market at those prices, but if you can back it and offer it to the Trumps, then I'm sure they would buy it.

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Re: Silk

Hi, Ian,

Agree with the posts regarding using organic oils if you can. I'd also recommend you add humanely harvested tussah silk to your soap. The silk angle is unique and definitely conveys an upscale feel. I added a bit of silk to the last batch I made and I'm hooked. The small portion of silk I purchased will last me for years and years. It's a good investment.

Jaaret

Hi Jaaret, with the silk, do you use a woven fabric and cut it up or do you use the silk tops (fibre) which is ready to spin?

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

Re: Silk

Hi, Ian,

Agree with the posts regarding using organic oils if you can. I'd also recommend you add humanely harvested tussah silk to your soap. The silk angle is unique and definitely conveys an upscale feel. I added a bit of silk to the last batch I made and I'm hooked. The small portion of silk I purchased will last me for years and years. It's a good investment.

Jaaret

Hi Jaaret, with the silk, do you use a woven fabric and cut it up or do you use the silk tops (fibre) which is ready to spin?

Not Jaaret, but I can answer.

I use the Tussah silk tops. Woven fabric is more likely to be Mulberry silk which is commercially farmed and not humanely harvested. It would also probably have dyes and/or other chemicals in it.

ETA - This is where I sourced it

http://www.gracefruit.com/scripts/prodV ... roduct=223

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Thank you MagiaDellaLuna (I love your name). :wink:

 

[MagiaDellaLuna]

Thank you MagiaDellaLuna (I love your name). :wink:

Thanks.

 

[ChrissyB]

For the absolute most decadent soap ever, you could use some Rose Absolute EO....ouch!
Seriously though, I think a well balanced soap recipe, and if you don't normally use them, sub in some butters, like shea or cocoa or some such, and highlight that on the packaging...eg. Natural Soap with 20% Shea Butter.
Shea butter is a big buzz word in the beauty industry at the moment, a lot of the cosmetic houses are using shea in their mineral powders, eyeliners, lipsticks, you name it.
I think a nice bar of soap, a nice size, nice bevelled edges, left a natural colour, nothing bright or gaudy, and a nice stamp with your logo or something and a little gold mica brushed into the stamp would look a million dollars.

 

[Jaaret]

Re: Silk

Hi Jaaret, with the silk, do you use a woven fabric and cut it up or do you use the silk tops (fibre) which is ready to spin?

Hi, Jennie,
I purchased some raw silk fibers ready to be spun. The fibers are quite long. I'll see if I can dig up my source.

Jaaret