Ideas for storing FO test soap samples?

[MaryWaldman]

Occasionally I will make a batch of my basic CP recipe then divide it and add a one ounce scent sample to each bowl. I then pour into small molds and let cure. After about three months I put the finished soap into individual ziplock bags labeled with the cook date, FO name, manufacturer, date purchased, rate used, behavior, etc. I store them in a shoe box and this becomes a kind of sample library.

My problem is I am accumulating more than my shoe box will hold, and I'm getting suspicious that despite the ziplock bags some of the scents are mingling - the Just Scents Almond is beginning to have notes of BB English Rose.

Does anyone have a better method?

 

[nsmar4211]

Mine are in a box....and I haven't figured out a better way!

 

[RobertBarnett]

Do you have a vacuum sealer? Try that.

Robert

 

[Susie]

The scent goes right through the vacuum sealed bags within 2 months. I have Spice Cake that smells like Citrus Splash.

 

[TeresaT]

I bought these for storing my soaps after they've been on the shelf for six or seven weeks (https://www.uline.com/Product/Detai...xes-200-Test/12-x-3-x-3-Long-Corrugated-Boxes). They're a bit long, but it gives the extra room for air flow. I tape each shelf label to the end of the box. They're secure and each individual scent has its own box to prevent cross-contamination. It turns out they're a bit too big for the batches I've been making, but I'm OK with that for now.

I don't know how large your sample soaps are, how many you have, the storage space available, etc, but these might work for you. (https://www.uline.com/BL_1402/Literature-Mailers-Kraft) I think the next time I order some boxes, I'm going to get these and see if they work better for me.

 

[Susie]

I have been thinking of using these as a mold for each sample, and just storing the soap in there long term:

https://www.dollartree.com/Food-Sna...ids-10-ct-Packs/1149c512c512p352176/index.pro

 

[MaryWaldman]

Thank you for the ideas! The Dollar Store 10/$1 mini containers looks like they would work very well. I have about 25 test samples so far, about 3 ounces each, that would fit them very nicely. Maybe they could even be used for the mold? I think this is just what I'm looking for.

I love my vacuum sealer but I do like opening the containers to smell the actual soap - sometimes an FO will completely disappear after a few months. The cardboard boxes would probably be a bit too large.

 

[TeresaT]

I have been thinking of using these as a mold for each sample, and just storing the soap in there long term:

https://www.dollartree.com/Food-Sna...ids-10-ct-Packs/1149c512c512p352176/index.pro

Great idea. Those are nice.

I bought these (https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00MLDNKD8/?tag=skimlinks_replacement-20) last year and have been using them for everything except sample sized soaps. They even have a #5 recycle code on the cups (not the lids, though). I think I bought them for samples and ended up using them for weighing FOs and micas instead. I use them to carry salad dressing and other stuff to work, too. They're great for that because there's no dish to bring home to wash.

 

[shunt2011]

I use those little containers for travel lotion bars. They would probably work for soap testers though too