I am really interested in getting into soap and candle making. I may even want to get into some other similar products later, but I can't even decide which one to start with now. I am clueless on which direction to go with: strictly organic or what. What is the best way to purchase scents and such? Should I buy a kit? Somebody help me please...I want to get started so I can build my business up. :idea: :wink:
Getting Started & Clueless
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soapbuddy
Well-Known Member
Welcome!
There is a lot of info on this forum, so I would start by reading. I would also read up on Miller soap site. http://www.millersoap.com/
There is a lot of info on this forum, so I would start by reading. I would also read up on Miller soap site. http://www.millersoap.com/
judymoody
Well-Known Member
What Irena said. I started with Kathy Miller's website. Fantastic resource for the newbie. Then once you know what questions to ask, this forum has a wealth of information and very friendly and supportive members.
This is not a good jump in and start a biz area. most of the pros on here recommend min of a year of refining recipes seeing how stable bars are ect before even considering selling not to mention insurance ect.
Soaplady22
Well-Known Member
So have you been to Miller's soap site yet??
here - http://www.millersoap.com/
Decide on a recipe - something basic, and don't worry about scent yet until you know what you are looking for. BrambleBerry is a good place, as is Sweet Cakes. But they are expensive - so decide on two or three fragrances that appeal to you to begin with. And then ask on here where the best place is to buy them. There are a ton of supply places on the internet.
It's a little intimidating to begin with - but you will grow into it. We all began with a "first batch" and have lived to tell about it. !!! Get your recipe and supplies - and watch you-tube videos on making soap -- then ask questions here until you are comfortable with the process.
Then jump in!!
Good luck! Do your research and you'll do fine.
People here are glad to help newbies.
here - http://www.millersoap.com/
Decide on a recipe - something basic, and don't worry about scent yet until you know what you are looking for. BrambleBerry is a good place, as is Sweet Cakes. But they are expensive - so decide on two or three fragrances that appeal to you to begin with. And then ask on here where the best place is to buy them. There are a ton of supply places on the internet.
It's a little intimidating to begin with - but you will grow into it. We all began with a "first batch" and have lived to tell about it. !!! Get your recipe and supplies - and watch you-tube videos on making soap -- then ask questions here until you are comfortable with the process.
Then jump in!!
Good luck! Do your research and you'll do fine.
People here are glad to help newbies.
Northland Naturals
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don't put the cart before the horse! learn the craft, perfect your recipes, research everything, test everything, practice. then you can start thinking about selling. everyone here is incredibly helpful and friendly, but if there's one thing that all of the experienced people agree on, it's that soapmaking is not something to jump into and immediately start selling. read through the forums and learn everything you can, we'll all be excited to see your first batch!
Northland Naturals
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Deda said:
by the way deda, don't think i've ever told you... i LOVE your dancing cat.
Welcome from me!!
I always get a giggle & cringe all at once when someone posts for the first time & mentions selling soap.
Duck for cover......
Just start making soap my friend... the selling part will come in time... lots of time. Once u make a few scary batches of soap you'll know why people say wait to sell.
Hope u enjoy the site as much as i do.
I always get a giggle & cringe all at once when someone posts for the first time & mentions selling soap.
Duck for cover......
Just start making soap my friend... the selling part will come in time... lots of time. Once u make a few scary batches of soap you'll know why people say wait to sell.
Hope u enjoy the site as much as i do.
cerelife
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by the way deda, don't think i've ever told you... i LOVE your dancing cat.[/quote]
LOL! I love the dancing cat too! Looks so much like my Minou. We care for a colony of feral cats (and have an English Mastiff and a pitbull that we adopted out of rescue situations and five indoor cats...if we had a goat and a chicken, we could start a petting zoo, LOL!). We spay and neuter the feral cats as our budget allows...one every month or so. We came home one day back in August to find an abandoned newborn kitten covered in ants in the backyard, but still alive. Washed the ants off, consulted the vet, made him a little house on the front porch, and bottle fed him for the next 3 weeks. Then we come home from work to find him unconcious and covered in ants AGAIN! I thought he was dead, but when I picked him up, he started kicking his hind legs and swishing his tail, but couldn't move his front legs or head at all...he was trying to cry, but couldn't even open his mouth...just a muffled whimpering. Called the vet to bring him in after-hours for an emergency visit, but after hearing the symptoms, they said that it was most likely brain damage and the best we could hope for was to make him comfortable by giving him Benadryl to let him rest until we could bring him in to the office the next morning and put him to sleep. It broke my heart to hear him purring as I held him when the Benadryl finally kicked in. The next morning we woke up with heavy hearts expecting the worst. What we found was a teeny little kitty struggling to hold his head up, and purring when we picked him up! Off to the vet's office, where everyone was shocked that he was still alive. After 48 hours at the vet, he made a full recovery with zero brain damage. We had to keep him isolated from the other indoor cats until he was old enough to be tested for FIV and Feline AIDS (we also take care of an AIDS positive kitty who lives on our back porch), and when he tested negative, it was like a party in the vet's office...all the techs came in to love on the Minou! Now he's getting acquainted with the indoor cats, who are not impressed with his youthful energy, since they range from 5 to 15 years old, LOL! And we are constantly having to reprimand him for chasing the dogs...
LOL! I love the dancing cat too! Looks so much like my Minou. We care for a colony of feral cats (and have an English Mastiff and a pitbull that we adopted out of rescue situations and five indoor cats...if we had a goat and a chicken, we could start a petting zoo, LOL!). We spay and neuter the feral cats as our budget allows...one every month or so. We came home one day back in August to find an abandoned newborn kitten covered in ants in the backyard, but still alive. Washed the ants off, consulted the vet, made him a little house on the front porch, and bottle fed him for the next 3 weeks. Then we come home from work to find him unconcious and covered in ants AGAIN! I thought he was dead, but when I picked him up, he started kicking his hind legs and swishing his tail, but couldn't move his front legs or head at all...he was trying to cry, but couldn't even open his mouth...just a muffled whimpering. Called the vet to bring him in after-hours for an emergency visit, but after hearing the symptoms, they said that it was most likely brain damage and the best we could hope for was to make him comfortable by giving him Benadryl to let him rest until we could bring him in to the office the next morning and put him to sleep. It broke my heart to hear him purring as I held him when the Benadryl finally kicked in. The next morning we woke up with heavy hearts expecting the worst. What we found was a teeny little kitty struggling to hold his head up, and purring when we picked him up! Off to the vet's office, where everyone was shocked that he was still alive. After 48 hours at the vet, he made a full recovery with zero brain damage. We had to keep him isolated from the other indoor cats until he was old enough to be tested for FIV and Feline AIDS (we also take care of an AIDS positive kitty who lives on our back porch), and when he tested negative, it was like a party in the vet's office...all the techs came in to love on the Minou! Now he's getting acquainted with the indoor cats, who are not impressed with his youthful energy, since they range from 5 to 15 years old, LOL! And we are constantly having to reprimand him for chasing the dogs...
Wow!!! Thank You Everyone!
I found the responses to my post to be very helpful... Thank all of you for time and consideration in them. After I posted my "Cry for Help," I came across a post letting us soap puppies know that soap takes time and ya gotta like it. Sooo I realize that the most important thing for me to do is to research and perfect my recipes before I go gung-ho trying to sell soap. I new I would need a reasonable amount of time invested, but I wasn't expecting "a year atleast." I don't feel discouraged though, I feel better knowing what task I'm lookin @. Happy soapin and thanks for again for all the Kindness and HONESTY. LOL.
I found the responses to my post to be very helpful... Thank all of you for time and consideration in them. After I posted my "Cry for Help," I came across a post letting us soap puppies know that soap takes time and ya gotta like it. Sooo I realize that the most important thing for me to do is to research and perfect my recipes before I go gung-ho trying to sell soap. I new I would need a reasonable amount of time invested, but I wasn't expecting "a year atleast." I don't feel discouraged though, I feel better knowing what task I'm lookin @. Happy soapin and thanks for again for all the Kindness and HONESTY. LOL.
cwarren
Well-Known Member
and in the mean time enjoy yourself and make family and friends happy with your soap..
I started out to be all natural too ... but there is sooooo much out there to have fun with !
I started out to be all natural too ... but there is sooooo much out there to have fun with !
Deda
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cerelife said:
LOL! I love the dancing cat too! Looks so much like my Minou. We care for a colony of feral cats (and have an English Mastiff and a pitbull that we adopted out of rescue situations and five indoor cats...if we had a goat and a chicken, we could start a petting zoo, LOL!). We spay and neuter the feral cats as our budget allows...one every month or so. We came home one day back in August to find an abandoned newborn kitten covered in ants in the backyard, but still alive. Washed the ants off, consulted the vet, made him a little house on the front porch, and bottle fed him for the next 3 weeks. Then we come home from work to find him unconcious and covered in ants AGAIN! I thought he was dead, but when I picked him up, he started kicking his hind legs and swishing his tail, but couldn't move his front legs or head at all...he was trying to cry, but couldn't even open his mouth...just a muffled whimpering. Called the vet to bring him in after-hours for an emergency visit, but after hearing the symptoms, they said that it was most likely brain damage and the best we could hope for was to make him comfortable by giving him Benadryl to let him rest until we could bring him in to the office the next morning and put him to sleep. It broke my heart to hear him purring as I held him when the Benadryl finally kicked in. The next morning we woke up with heavy hearts expecting the worst. What we found was a teeny little kitty struggling to hold his head up, and purring when we picked him up! Off to the vet's office, where everyone was shocked that he was still alive. After 48 hours at the vet, he made a full recovery with zero brain damage. We had to keep him isolated from the other indoor cats until he was old enough to be tested for FIV and Feline AIDS (we also take care of an AIDS positive kitty who lives on our back porch), and when he tested negative, it was like a party in the vet's office...all the techs came in to love on the Minou! Now he's getting acquainted with the indoor cats, who are not impressed with his youthful energy, since they range from 5 to 15 years old, LOL! And we are constantly having to reprimand him for chasing the dogs...[/quote]
What a great story! I'd love to see some kitty pics
