Cost of soap making

[paillo]

the good thing about soaping is, that most of the ingredients are available at local supermarkets. So it is quite easy to sneak those in on DHs credit card when he does the weekly shop (lye, olive oil, coconut oil, pigments.....)

At least it was before I got bigger and started selling.

oh, i WISH! it was only after i realized i COULD NOT get most of my ingredients at local supermarkets -- even whole foods -- that i started buying online. let's see, in terms of cost efficiency -- coconut, palm, all fragrances, essential oils, clays, colorants and almost all other additives --- many of which i'll never find locally, period, such as tussah silk and sodium lactate...

maybe your ingredients are very simple and pure, and more power to you if you successfully sell!

i still buy olive oil, calendula and other botanicals, activated charcoal, and powdered and whole fresh goat and buttermilk locally -- i buy these at stores at which i sell my soaps, or from friends with farms -- good will is a good thing

i can buy lye online cheaper, but have a local hardware store that loves and sells my soaps and keeps lye on hand speciallly for me. for everything else there is no comparison to what i can find online, even with shipping.

i don't want to sound like i'm phishing, but i can't imagine where you live that you can buy almost everything you need locally. if you can, i am soo, soo, envious!

 

[AmyW]

I live in a large-ish city (150k people) and can't get most stuff locally... the basics sure, and maybe some small jars of specialty oils, but it's cheaper in the long run to pay shipping and order online. I've love to be in Ohio just for all the companies there that sell soap making supplies

I got my FO order from WSP and now I'm in real trouble. The scents I got BLEW ME AWAY how good they smell right out of the jar (Coffee Mocha, Crazy Caramel Corn & Country Apple) and now I want more. Many more. I also want to make candles with them, they're just so yummy.

 

[judymoody]

I try not to think about what I'm spending. I know that soap costs me about a buck a bar in material costs. But then there's the inventory!!! If I think about this as a long term investment (hah!) it gets easier.

As soapbuddy said, there is a curve. After you know what you like, you'll realize what works for you and what doesn't and you can begin to simplify. For example, I realized that I don't like cocoa butter that much, I think shea is alright, but I adore mango butter. I initially bought about 8 different kinds of oils from Soaper's Choice including some very odd choices (wheat germ?) and what I reach for most is Avocado, Babassu and PKO. I'll use up the other stuff but probably won't replenish. I went crazy with 1 oz samples of FOs this month and realized that on balance, I probably prefer blending EOs. I'll use them and enjoy them but probably won't buy the majority of them again. I recently bought the WSP silicone loaf pans on sale but I think I prefer the wood ones I made myself. And so on.

As to what you need to buy next: safety goggles! Yeah, I'm nagging, I know. But it's important.

 

[AmyW]

Oh I know, I "should" wear gear. I probably will wear gloves someday, like right after I burn the crap out of myself and I want to make more soap, to keep the dressing dry LOL Goggles will never happen, the limited visibility over my glasses is far more a danger to my klutzy self then lye will ever be! I take after my dad... the same guy who decided to pour gun powder in a can and throw a match in for fun, it didn't light so he stuck his face over it and threw another match in. Boom! His eyebrows never looked the same.... I'm not quite THAT stupid though

 

[PrairieCraft]

Yee Haw!!

 

[Adema]

I have spent over 5.000 dollars.... I actually have an extra job to support my habit.

Kveðja
María

 

[madpiano]

paillo - I live in London, UK. I want to cook an exotic dish and don't have some obscure spice at home? My local corner shop / newsagent will have it in stock
Supermarkets are well stocked, but these little corner shops are a gold mine! I have 3 Bangladeshi, 1 Indian and 1 Caribbean corner store in walking distance, Polish and some others only a short ride away.
Of course some of the things are more expensive to buy that way. But, especially oils, are actually cheaper there than online, after p&p is taken into consideration. Mainly because delivery charges in the UK are insane for anything heavier than a couple of FOs.

Maria - yeah, I have one of those as well....Any profit I make from soaping goes straight back into ordering more supplies

 

[JackiK]

I am so fortunate to have AAAChemicals just a short ride away from home. They carry almost all of the oils I need. Since they're in bulk (10 lbs. or more), the prices are great. Of course, my EOs come from WSP, but they don't charge shipping for EOs.

 

[krzybo]

Have fun with it. After all the money I've spent over the years, I went back to basics.

What is the "basics" if you don't mind telling? I would love to find a great basic soap recipe and stick with it. I can't seem to narrow it down. I am a total flop with Goat's milk which is a shame since my son and granddaughter needs it for their skin issues.

 

[Dragonkaz]

I used stuff I had at home and purchased locally at the supermarket for months ... then after looking at many amazing photos in the 'photo gallery', I had the strong 'need' to buy colouring agents (other than the natural stuff I'd been using).

I think in the past few months I've made a three online purchases ... but I only have to share this info with my dog ... as my hubby died nearly two years ago. I can sometimes hear my hubby teasing me ... but I also know he's happy I'm having fun!

 

[Lynnz]

I have been too scared to go there with what I have spent but will have to do the tally this year as need to declare!!!!! that is going to be interesting :0). Um think I may have very well supported both the Australian and American market :0)

 

[Dragonkaz]

... think I may have very well supported both the Australian and American market :0)

Maybe you should include this in your tax dec Lyn ... you may get some money back! lol!

 

[Lynnz]

Maybe you should include this in your tax dec Lyn ... you may get some money back! lol!

Just realised I dont know how to get the little quote boxes!!!!!! DragonKaz that would be nice............more to spend on soaping gear. I am terrible I am already plannning on what new fragrances I would like to try should my next Market go well LOL

 

[Lynnz]

LOL did it just put my reply in the box as well...........guess it is a start

 

[c.a.p.]

Oh I know, I "should" wear gear. I probably will wear gloves someday, like right after I burn the crap out of myself and I want to make more soap, to keep the dressing dry LOL Goggles will never happen, the limited visibility over my glasses is far more a danger to my klutzy self then lye will ever be! I take after my dad... the same guy who decided to pour gun powder in a can and throw a match in for fun, it didn't light so he stuck his face over it and threw another match in. Boom! His eyebrows never looked the same.... I'm not quite THAT stupid though

Amy: Safety is NOT a joke. You WILL be as stupid as the gun powder man if you do not take safety seriously. I am switching from safety glasses to a full face shield. Lye can get in your eyes (ask me how I know). And I am very, very careful and it still happened. Crystals in your eye is not fun; I could have lost my sight. And always wear gloves. Really, how hard is it to put on a pair of gloves? Is it worth the burn? Are you willing to lose your sight? RESPECT THE LYE!

 

[AmyW]

I appreciate the concern To each their own. I respect, but I don't fear lye. If I ever got burned, I would take full responsibility for it. I also have a terrible sense of humor and WILL make a joke out of nearly anything

Additionally, I had a stroke years ago and since then, I've found gloves make it harder for me to feel if I have a grip on something (if I'm not paying attention, I tend to drop things I'm holding bare-handed), which is more dangerous to me and my house if I were to drop my container of lye, same with goggles limiting my visibility.

Ok, 'nuff excuses, they aren't needed anyway! Off to play with my new butters and FOs

 

[judymoody]

And while we're on the topic of safety - always unplug your stick blender before you try to wipe it down or otherwise clean it. Ask me how I know! I ended up with a minor cut, a major bruise, and a big wake up call.

 

[SudsyKat]

Very good point, Judymoody!

 

[Lynnz]

Wow Judy sounds like you got off lightly!!!!I so unplug first as have this fear of my fingers being diced :0)

 

[Bubbles Galore]

Oh I know, I "should" wear gear. I probably will wear gloves someday, like right after I burn the crap out of myself and I want to make more soap, to keep the dressing dry LOL Goggles will never happen, the limited visibility over my glasses is far more a danger to my klutzy self then lye will ever be! I take after my dad... the same guy who decided to pour gun powder in a can and throw a match in for fun, it didn't light so he stuck his face over it and threw another match in. Boom! His eyebrows never looked the same.... I'm not quite THAT stupid though

Amy, I wear my own spectacles but worried about splashes getting in at the corners or top, I purchased a clear face shield to protect the rest of the face. You can wear your seeing glasses underneath and I quite often forget I'm wearing it and smack a bottle of fragrance into it as I'm bringing it up for a sniiff. You only have one pair of eyes. :wink: