HAHA Soapmaking is "weird"

[lenarenee]

I'm a guy and I make soap, and I really love making it. Some people I know say "I thought only girls make soap". I'm glad I can help expand their thinking.

Hi and welcome! You're not the only guy. Look for Vibrant Soap on YouTube, and you'll see the guys here on the forum too!

 

[Arimara]

Nah, I've been called weird but not a hippy.

 

[kath4553]

I had my nephews look at me like I was an old fart, so the next time I masterbatched some lye I took some selfies and now they call me "Breaking Soap"

 

[jcandleattic]

I had my nephews look at me like I was an old fart, so the next time I masterbatched some lye I took some selfies and now they call me "Breaking Soap"

As long as you aren't making "Raspberry Slushy" soap... LOL I know it's gross, morbid and graphic, but that was probably (for me, not in reality) one of the funniest scenes in Breaking Bad.
That and when they are fighting in the bathroom kicking each others' legs. haha

 

[amd]

Hi and welcome! You're not the only guy. Look for Vibrant Soap on YouTube, and you'll see the guys here on the forum too!

Look up the soap guy on YouTube. I think he's a hoot (maybe it's his southern accent) and really enjoy watching him.

 

[Habibah]

I live in the rural south and apparently grandma made soap and used it without curing. So I often get "I don't use that's homemade stuff. Burns like ____-.

 

[Dean]

I'm a guy and I make soap, and I really love making it. Some people I know say "I thought only girls make soap". I'm glad I can help expand their thinking.

I wonder if there is difference in soap made by men and women. I noticed soap made by women often looks edible or themed on something edible, like cupcakes.

 

[amd]

Guys get mad at me when I tell them I don't sell fudge... The struggle is real, I have to watch that I get a good balance in my soap stock, otherwise I end up with all my soaps smelling like food.

 

[Dean]

Guys get mad at me when I tell them I don't sell fudge... The struggle is real, I have to watch that I get a good balance in my soap stock, otherwise I end up with all my soaps smelling like food.

Ha!

Do you think women would buy artisanal soap if it wasn't "fancy" looking and smelling...just a great bar of soap that looked and smelled pleasant?

 

[amd]

Yesssss... kind of. Definitely good smelling would be a must. It seems like my "fragrance-free" customers are getting fewer and fewer. Even some customers that were loyally buying unscented will now only buy scented soaps, now that they have found scents that they like. They bought the unscented because it was good soap. Quite honestly, I could stop coloring and swirling my soaps and 98% of my customers wouldn't care because it's good soap and smells good. Soap is my artistic outlet, so I wouldn't be happy. I do colors and designs to make ME happy. There is a somewhat local soaper (next state over) that does scented uncolored soaps: S&J Majestic Soap I found them last summer and bought some of their soap (still haven't used it, I'm a hoarder, but it has aged very well). This summer they were at another festival where I was a soap lurker, checking out other soap vendors. Of the three vendors there, two were dead (they both had HP EO soaps), but S&J I couldn't even get to their booth there was such a crowd. So yes, you can make a good soap that isn't fancy looking and women will still buy it, but don't skimp on the fancy smell

 

[shunt2011]

My fragrance free customers are slim these days. Most have converted to nicely scented soap. I even made fragrance free pretty ones and they are my slowest sellers. My customers love the colors and fragrances.

 

[Dennis]

I took a suitcase full of soap to a family reunion a few years back. My cousins leaped at the chance to have some free soap and every one of them put each bar to their noses before making their selections. Only one took the unscented.

 

[Dean]

I took a suitcase full of soap to a family reunion a few years back. My cousins leaped at the chance to have some free soap and every one of them put each bar to their noses before making their selections. Only one took the unscented.

I thought if I ever made a bar worth selling that I'd do an unscented version. Now I don't think so since they are surprisingly unpopular. Anyway me selling is just a trip to Fantasy Island.

 

[lenarenee]

The fancier the soap, the less likely I'll buy it. For example: no high tops, no botanicals that I have to pick off, no cinnamon stick or dried fruit sticking out, no cupcakes (except maybe as a gift), no weird shapes...picky, picky, picky. Ingredients first, smell 2nd, no ugly colors. I also won't buy from someone who makes medical claims. But I love a plain jane bar - especially one that's a very different recipe than mine.

 

[shunt2011]

The fancier the soap, the less likely I'll buy it. For example: no high tops, no botanicals that I have to pick off, no cinnamon stick or dried fruit sticking out, no cupcakes (except maybe as a gift), no weird shapes...picky, picky, picky. Ingredients first, smell 2nd, no ugly colors. I also won't buy from someone who makes medical claims. But I love a plain jane bar - especially one that's a very different recipe than mine.

Me either. I do make cupcakes for one show though. Customers look for them. I don’t get high tops or stuff on top. Mine are all the same size. I do like playing with colors though.

 

[Dahila]

I usually get this ; YOu made all that soaps!!!! in general my customers are very kind and polite, even if they do not buy anything they always come to chat for a while, it feels very well. Especially that I have a kind of heavy accent It seems not to bother anyone though
my kids were saying that I am weird but right now they do not buy any soap, they use only homemade soaps

 

[Dean]

Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate the artistry of the “fancies” but I can only imagine what would happen if I showered with cupcake soap at the gym.

 

[Alfa_Lazcares]

The fancier the soap, the less likely I'll buy it. For example: no high tops, no botanicals that I have to pick off, no cinnamon stick or dried fruit sticking out, no cupcakes (except maybe as a gift), no weird shapes...picky, picky, picky. Ingredients first, smell 2nd, no ugly colors. I also won't buy from someone who makes medical claims. But I love a plain jane bar - especially one that's a very different recipe than mine.

Dried fruit?! Who had that idea? I can unserstand making embeds that look like fruit, they are soap, they’ll get used. But why oh why would i want a piece of dried fruit on my soap? I just... no.

 

[Arimara]

Dried fruit?! Who had that idea? I can unserstand making embeds that look like fruit, they are soap, they’ll get used. But why oh why would i want a piece of dried fruit on my soap? I just... no.

Dried fruit is new on me too but I am going to hope that was a bit of a joke.

 

[Dean]

Dried fruit?! Who had that idea? I can unserstand making embeds that look like fruit, they are soap, they’ll get used. But why oh why would i want a piece of dried fruit on my soap? I just... no.

My soap teacher said “don’t put anything in soap that can get stuck in someone’s crevice.”