How long have you been soaping and..

[marghewitt]

You're kidding....about the rats, right?

Nope not at all. At the time we were caretakers living above a garage on a citrus grove in Florida. I would put the soap below us in a screened in porch just off the garage and we would see rats eating it. We were on a big lake and saw alligators, wild hogs, wild peacocks, armadillos, rats and mice all the time. I miss those days.

 

[danahuff]

This is a fun question.

I started soaping in July of last year.

I don't know why I wanted to do it. No one in my family has especially sensitive skin. I had bought some soap from a seller at our farmer's market, and we moved, and I wanted to be able to continue to use the soap. Initially, I thought maybe I could learn how to make it myself. I started out by researching and reading. I pinned a lot of soap on Pinterest!

I waited until we moved because I didn't want to start anything involved at such a chaotic time. I made my first batch. I loved it so much that I immediately set out to make my own recipes. True story: the soap I am making now is even better for my skin than that soap I used to buy! And the kind I use on my face was only my third batch. It's still my most popular soap among family and friends, too.

Anyway, once I started, like everyone else, I got addicted. I am like DW—it appeals to both my inner science nerd and creative side. I also enjoy trying to learn new techniques. Right now, I'm on a total coloring and swirling kick. I love the surprise when you cut the bars. And just like DW, I find it relaxing.

I find myself researching all kinds of things, from the history and science of soap, to properties of oils. I can't seem to get enough of soaping! Everyone seems to love the handmade soap, too.

 

[melstan775]

I will be making my first batch here very soon, though I have been interested in soap making for around 10 years. I just never had time. It started for me when I moved from Las Vegas to Reno. The air here is not as hot, but it's dryer, and we have way more wind, and I was just sucked dry of any moisture in my body. I was staying with my mom when I first arrived, and she had a big thing of homemade soaps my dad bought her for mother's day. I loved the feel and smell of the soaps, and have been hooked ever since, but I just never, ever had time. At one point I was perusing two undergraduate degrees and working, so I just kept using body wash. More recently, I have developed a skin condition related to an autoimmune disorder, and I can't really use detergents at all anymore. So I figured now is a good time. Plus I have free time to spare, too! Making my first order to WSP today and will be making soap here very soon!

 

[terminatortoo]

I just started this year and the reason is that soaps you buy make me itch so bad I nearly lose my mind especially in the winter.

 

[VanessaP]

You're kidding....about the rats, right?

Nope, rats/mice LOVE soap. Yes, its true

I'm right around my one year anniversary of soaping I started because I had thought it sounded cool, and my daughter breaks out depending on what is used on her, so I figured this would be a good way to be able to control most of what goes on her.

 

[Second Impression]

I do think it's funny about the "counter culture" appeal of soap making. Not to make a political statement other than to say "I apparently do not 'fit the mold'" (see what I did there?) of the typical soaper. First, I'm a dude. Second I'm a conservative republican-- in fact they actually give me funny looks when I drive up to local natural food "co-op"/head shop/crystal emporium with my Romney/Ryan bumper sticker. Third...urban guy here..(haven't milked anything since visiting my grandparents farm 40 years ago). Lastly, I largely think all this environmental crap is propaganda used as an excuse for the federal government to steel more of our personal liberty. But hey, that's just me.

Oh I know! I'm a flaming liberal (your polar opposite) and chuckle just a bit everytime I think about it. It's a wonderful reminder that people are not single dimensional and that we can all find something to see eye-to-eye on

 

[lizflowers42]

I do think it's funny about the "counter culture" appeal of soap making. Not to make a political statement other than to say "I apparently do not 'fit the mold'" (see what I did there?) of the typical soaper. First, I'm a dude. Second I'm a conservative republican-- in fact they actually give me funny looks when I drive up to local natural food "co-op"/head shop/crystal emporium with my Romney/Ryan bumper sticker. Third...urban guy here..(haven't milked anything since visiting my grandparents farm 40 years ago). Lastly, I largely think all this environmental crap is propaganda used as an excuse for the federal government to steel more of our personal liberty. But hey, that's just me.

Hold up. You are a dude?? :shock: Just kidding. Crafting has no political borders DW:razz:

 

[AngelMomma]

I have been soaping for 6 months. I started because my daughter....well all of us have skin issues of one kind or another. My sister in law told me she made soap and promised the recipe. I was patient, but it never came. So I started reading up. I asked her again, and again and asked if they used a scale to weigh. The answer was nope! So after waiting for what seemed like months(I'm sure it wasn't that long) and the scale issue I decided I might be better off just going out on my own. So I did and we love it, all of it! I am now officially a soap nerd


eta: Besides the bar of soap she gave me dried my skin right out! Way too much coconut for me!

 

[Donna]

Started about 1996 (or so). Had an abundance of Lavender from my garden and no place to use it. Had made Herbs de Provence for absolutely everyone I knew and still had lavender left over. Ahaaa! I'll make soap!!!! Little did I know what was involved. Since then, I've become addicted. Funny, I've only made lavender soap once since this revelation . Now I give soap to all my friends and family, whether they need it or not. I think I may need more really clean or really dirty friends

 

[DWinMadison]

Hold up. You are a dude?? :shock: Just kidding. Crafting has no political borders DW:razz:

I think my wife is beginning to wonder if I've been "faking it" for 25 years and 2 kids. We should start a non-profit, "Soapers Without Borders"

 

[Kansas Farm Girl]

I started just over 3 yrs ago but decided to move about 2 months later, after I had been bitten very hard by the soaping bug. But I didn't have time to pack and move to a new state and soap too, so I gave most of the stuff I had accumulated in that short time to my daughter who had gotten me started in the first place. Once I got settled in I started gathering more molds, oils, FOs, etc. I haven't had any problem with rodents eating my soaps out here on the farm, we have enough barn cats to keep that problem under control, but my daughter's dogs will eat soap if they can get at it. I am still trying new recipes almost every batch because I love experimenting to see whether I can get a better batch than last time. If I ever decide to sell then I am going to have plenty of recipes to fall back on. I do keep notes but need to take better ones if I am ever going to create a standard line.

 

[DWinMadison]

I have been soaping for 6 months. I started because my daughter....well all of us have skin issues of one kind or another. My sister in law told me she made soap and promised the recipe. I was patient, but it never came. So I started reading up. I asked her again, and again and asked if they used a scale to weigh. The answer was nope! So after waiting for what seemed like months(I'm sure it wasn't that long) and the scale issue I decided I might be better off just going out on my own. So I did and we love it, all of it! I am now officially a soap nerd


eta: Besides the bar of soap she gave me dried my skin right out! Way too much coconut for me!

Interesting. My daughter has something called "chronic idiopathic urticaria" which is Latin for "Hey,your kid breaks out in hives all the time and we don't know why. Pay at the front." No one ever suggested I could be soap. They just put her on daily antihistamine therapy." Any suggestions for a hypoallerginic recipe?...guessing it would need to be color and fragrance free.

 

[CaliChan]

Ive been soaping for 7 months and i started to save us money on soap... then i got addicted lol

 

[DWinMadison]

Ive been soaping for 7 months and i started to save us money on soap... then i got addicted lol

Yeah, I've just about "saved" myself into debtors' prison, and I'm hiding oils from my wife like its porn.

 

[lizflowers42]

I think my wife is beginning to wonder if I've been "faking it" for 25 years and 2 kids. We should start a non-profit, "Soapers Without Borders"

I'm game! I just told my husband we should quit our day jobs and start soaping for a good cause...needless to say we will both be going to work tomorrow!

 

[AngelMomma]

Interesting. My daughter has something called "chronic idiopathic urticaria" which is Latin for "Hey,your kid breaks out in hives all the time and we don't know why. Pay at the front." No one ever suggested I could be soap. They just put her on daily antihistamine therapy." Any suggestions for a hypoallerginic recipe?...guessing it would need to be color and fragrance free.

I am sure that everyone has their own favorites for "skin issues" But our fav so far for treating her eczema has.....Calendula petal infused olive(I have read that Calendula is great for eczema), beeswax, turmeric and aloe vera juice. Her eczema is so much better.

But its not just a skin, and what goes on the skin issue for us. We have allergies and eczema and many skin issues are just allergies that are presenting on the skin instead of sneezing, watery eyes or coughing(we do that too I recently found out that not only do I in general have allergies, I also have Celiac. aka Wheat intolerance/allergy. Now that I don't eat that it has solved many things. I wish I could get my kids to eat 100% no wheat and see if that helped. They both were recently skin/scratch tested for environmental allergies. Both kids allergic to feathers(birds fly in the sky), various trees(I live in Louisiana) and various grasses(again, I live in Louisiana), cats, molds, dust etc. So there is no knowing for certain what is the source of her eczema etc.

The good news, We eat as much gluten free as possible (Me 100%)
The youngest started allergy shots a month ago(dr said today that things look MUCH better up her nose HAHAHA)
The oldest with eczema is starting shots on Monday and also since starting using the above mention soap her eczema is TONS better!!!
And super glad that I get to do the shots myself at home so not doing 1000 trips to the dr. office.


ATTACKING IT FROM ALL SIDES!!!!

 

[AngelMomma]

Yeah, I've just bout "saved" myself into debtors' prison, and I'm hiding oils from my wife like its porn.

AHHAhaa!!! ME TOOOOO!

From my husband.

 

[soapsydaisy]

I first encountered hand made soap 10 years ago while selling produce at a farmer's market. The nice soap seller in the booth across from me wanted some avocados so we swapped. I tried her soap and I was hooked. At the time, I researched the process but couldn't afford to buy all of the equipment as I was a starving college student. In 2010, I received an email from Soaptopia (I love their soap and she was the nice lady that gave me a bar of soap at the farmer's market) offering a soapmaking class. I immediately signed up for the class. I took that class and I was in obsessed. I was never one to draw, scrapbook, knit, etc. but soaping seemed to make sense for me.

 

[Lilahblossom]

Eighteen years ago my then 16yr old daughter was having skin problems. I made two batches of plain soap with lard. Then I went on traveling assignments and forgot about making soap. Fast forward to this past year and I discovered this forum and have restarted soaping.

 

[melstan775]

I first encountered hand made soap 10 years ago while selling produce at a farmer's market. The nice soap seller in the booth across from me wanted some avocados so we swapped. I tried her soap and I was hooked. At the time, I researched the process but couldn't afford to buy all of the equipment as I was a starving college student. In 2010, I received an email from Soaptopia (I love their soap and she was the nice lady that gave me a bar of soap at the farmer's market) offering a soapmaking class. I immediately signed up for the class. I took that class and I was in obsessed. I was never one to draw, scrapbook, knit, etc. but soaping seemed to make sense for me.

What were Soaptopia products like 10 years ago?