SeattleMartin
Embracing the wonderful madness of soap!
Seriously though, as of the time of this post, the rainy season has started.
I'm Martin the Mad Scientist! My wife, Anna, and I are starting a business making soaps, oils and balms. (More on that later.) I've worked a number of jobs in my life with nearly 20 years in programming and some graphic design (both mainly focused on web dev), nearly 10 years in the service industry (restaurant and retail), and side work typically involving manual labor like remodel, painting, and demo work. Several years ago I began developing severe tendonitis in my arms (wrist to shoulder) which led to my inability to work much, resulting in loss of insurance and the inability to get surgery. Which leads me here.
I took to an interest in soap making because I have problem skin and can't use most soaps and detergents. Also because I started getting into wet shaving and decided I could design a shaving soap that would be more affordable than many of the options currently on the market without sacrificing quality. Also also, I'm breaking up with Ivory and making my own bath soap. It's been a long love affair, Ivory soap and I, but it is time. I have matured now and realize that I need a soap that knows how to be gentle yet cleansing, hard and long lasting, not too slippery and with beautiful bubbles. I'm sorry Ivory, but it truly is you, not me. Your chemistry is no longer as appealing to me as it once was. I'm going with natural oils and additives coupled with lye as my new standard for a good relationship. But I digress...
So now Anna and I are prototyping several soaps and a few oils. We hope to be prototyping some balms really soon.We have decided to work in all natural ingredients. The obvious exception to this, of course, being sodium hydroxide lye. I'm looking into making my own potassium hydroxide, but using store bought for now.
So there it is, I’m a geek and loving every minute of it
Soaping has become my passion and I am in it for the long haul!
I'm Martin the Mad Scientist! My wife, Anna, and I are starting a business making soaps, oils and balms. (More on that later.) I've worked a number of jobs in my life with nearly 20 years in programming and some graphic design (both mainly focused on web dev), nearly 10 years in the service industry (restaurant and retail), and side work typically involving manual labor like remodel, painting, and demo work. Several years ago I began developing severe tendonitis in my arms (wrist to shoulder) which led to my inability to work much, resulting in loss of insurance and the inability to get surgery. Which leads me here.
I took to an interest in soap making because I have problem skin and can't use most soaps and detergents. Also because I started getting into wet shaving and decided I could design a shaving soap that would be more affordable than many of the options currently on the market without sacrificing quality. Also also, I'm breaking up with Ivory and making my own bath soap. It's been a long love affair, Ivory soap and I, but it is time. I have matured now and realize that I need a soap that knows how to be gentle yet cleansing, hard and long lasting, not too slippery and with beautiful bubbles. I'm sorry Ivory, but it truly is you, not me. Your chemistry is no longer as appealing to me as it once was. I'm going with natural oils and additives coupled with lye as my new standard for a good relationship. But I digress...
So now Anna and I are prototyping several soaps and a few oils. We hope to be prototyping some balms really soon.We have decided to work in all natural ingredients. The obvious exception to this, of course, being sodium hydroxide lye. I'm looking into making my own potassium hydroxide, but using store bought for now.
So there it is, I’m a geek and loving every minute of it
Soaping has become my passion and I am in it for the long haul!
