I have to change everything about how I soap.

[rainycityjen]

A little bit long-winded.

I reached a breaking point last night while packaging a couple dozen soaps in kraft paper for a local swap.

First of all, it was really frustrating to gift-wrap all these soaps with paper and tape, and then my husband comes by and makes an innocent comment: "So, how do they know what the soap is?" And I explained how I would have one display bar for each row, and I know them by size and smell, etc.

But the fact is, I don't sell, and I've never put very much thought into packaging. I've always just given them away unwrapped.

And expanding on that, I never really put much planning into ANY batch: they are all different sizes from about 5 different molds. They all have muted, smudgy colors from failed coloring experiments. Their scents don't necessarily match their colors, and every single batch is a different recipe. I realized for the past year (my first year of soaping) I've been making impulsive batches like 1x/week. I've never made a measured effort to achieve anything. Just the act of soaping was the reward. But I'm so unhappy now, looking at my stash of mismatched experiments in clumsy wrappers. I wish I was even starting to approach the beautiful colors and consistent smooth hardness of excellent soapers. And I'm never going to, if I keep impulsively playing around. What a waste of supplies, if it only makes me happy in the moment, and then I'm stuck with bobo soaps because every other batch goes wrong with some new variable!

So, I'm changing how I do things. I'm getting organized. I'm going to start making a premeditated effort to imitate awesome soaps I like. I'm going to buy supplies for those planned soaps instead of throwing in whatever I have. I have to stop being worried that being left-brained will drain the fun out of it.

 

[cmzaha]

I sell and that is why I use all the same molds and get my freedom of expression from coloring. I do not make all batches the same recipe, but my regular stock good sellers are basically the same recipe each time. I do color for the fragrance. I do have several go to recipes but still tweak once in awhile. Without making huge changes the customer is not going to notice a small change. If you change a vegan soap to suddenly using tallow they will notice if they have been a vegan soap buyer for that particular soap scent. I shrink wrap all soaps and use a 2x4 label from avery. Because I do have different recipes it is to costly to outsource my soap labels. Our labels are all the same only ingredients and weights change. I handwrite the weight

 

[IrishLass]

Raincityjen- you mentioned everything you don't like about your soap batches, but what is it that you do like about them? Are there any among your batches, base formula-wise, that stick out to you or maybe to your hubby as being special stand-outs above all the others? If so, you could start with one or two of those and improve upon them to the point that you make them even more outstanding.

I hope you don't give up on experimenting, though. Even though I have a handful of 'keeper' recipes, I still like to play with new things every now and again to keep things fresh and exciting,.....and to keep my brain oiled.

IrishLass

 

[Susie]

A quick suggestion...and feel free to tell me to take a hike...

Get a binder(yes, one that holds real paper), get a pack(or two) of pocket tab dividers. Make a section for each type of soap you intend to make. Make a section for "Things to Try", make a section for "Failures". File every recipe you have already made into its appropriate section. Give yourself permission to only have 5 recipes in Things to Try, and never try all 5 at the same time.

Stop using colors until you get a good recipe that you like. You don't want your eyes to tell you, "Soooooo pretty!!!" when it is not a good recipe. Then add colors once you have that good basic bar.

You just need to give your left brain permission to handle what it does best before your right brain throws a party. And don't give up! You'll get there!

 

[rainycityjen]

Raincityjen- you mentioned everything you don't like about your soap batches, but what is it that you do like about them? Are there any among your batches, base formula-wise, that stick out to you or maybe to your hubby as being special stand-outs above all the others? If so, you could start with one or two of those and improve upon them to the point that you make them even more outstanding.

I hope you don't give up on experimenting, though. Even though I have a handful of 'keeper' recipes, I still like to play with new things every now and again to keep things fresh and exciting,.....and to keep my brain oiled.

IrishLass

Thanks IrishLass. You've been super helpful on this thread and others. I do prefer some of the first batches I ever made which were slight tweaks of standby beginner recipes. After my success with those, I kept on adding and tweaking and it got a little out of control.

I'll always experiment! But it's just like becoming an adult and realizing the value of doing chores ... the things you thought you were mundane actually make things less stressful.
http://www.soapmakingforum.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

 

[OliveOil2]

I can relate, I love making the soap but planning and being organized was something I had to force myself to do. Plus I am stubborn so it took me a bit longer to get my wrap, labels, colors where I was happy. I have gotten to the point where for the most part my bars are uniform. Now that I think my soap looks OK I am going in a new direction with packaging, but taking it slow and only changing some of the wrapping. I don't think you have wasted supplies, it takes the experience of making soap to learn, and seeing what you don't want will help you get to what you do like. I totally agree with Susie on a binder, and I save my recipes on my computer with notes.

 

[TVivian]

I think you're going through EXACTLY what most of us have gone through at one time and your experimentation phase is over! Now you know what you like, what works best and what you want to achieve with your product! Yay!!!! At least you've figured it out sooner than later. I see people out there trying to sell, most likely great soaps which few people would want to buy based on looks and packaging. If watching every season of project runway has taught me anything it's that a cohesive collection is important when you want to start selling (if that's a goal)

I need to edit and add.. Not that you won't experiment to try new things... But that when you do you'll mostly be successful. Unlike in beginning soaping you sorta mess up every other batch (I did anyway ..haha)

 

[Pepsi Girl]

So, I'm changing how I do things. I'm getting organized. I'm going to start making a premeditated effort to imitate awesome soaps I like. I'm going to buy supplies for those planned soaps instead of throwing in whatever I have. I have to stop being worried that being left-brained will drain the fun out of it.

I'm a fat lyer!

LOL. I read your signature as part of your thread! And I thought you were making a joke! Then I started reading the replies, and thought they didn't get it and all along it was me!:crazy:
Sometimes I really do scare myself!

 

[LolaFalana]

A quick suggestion...and feel free to tell me to take a hike...

Get a binder(yes, one that holds real paper), get a pack(or two) of pocket tab dividers. Make a section for each type of soap you intend to make. Make a section for "Things to Try", make a section for "Failures". File every recipe you have already made into its appropriate section. Give yourself permission to only have 5 recipes in Things to Try, and never try all 5 at the same time.

Stop using colors until you get a good recipe that you like. You don't want your eyes to tell you, "Soooooo pretty!!!" when it is not a good recipe. Then add colors once you have that good basic bar.

You just need to give your left brain permission to handle what it does best before your right brain throws a party. And don't give up! You'll get there!

I will be taking this advise. I feel I've been heading down the same path.

 

[navigator9]

Oh crap......I wrote a really long reply and just lost it......stupid touchpad!!!!! The gist of it was, learn from every experience, even the bad ones, they're usually great teachers. Narrow down your soaps to a couple of really good recipes to begin with, and vary those by fragrance, maybe adding oatmeal to one, goat's milk to another. You don't have to have a million products, just a few really good ones to start, and get your name out there. Read about branding. If you can get a handle on what your brand is, it will help in so many decisions you have ahead of you, like what kind of products you're going to sell, what colors will you use for your wrappers, what king of logo and labels? I remember reading an article that asked the reader to try to imagine what kind of store you saw your soap being sold in. Was it a spa, a country store, a health food store, an upscale gift shop? Who did you see buying it? A spa patron, a crunchy granola college student, a mother concerned about buying healthy products for her family? If you can answer these questions, it will give you a strong idea which direction to take. Branding....very important.
And the bottom line is, don't be discouraged. These are normal doubts to have when you're starting out. Keep your chin up, and get ready for the next step. Try to "see" what you want your product to look like, and start moving in that direction. And if you're looking for advice and opinions, you know where to come for those!