Is this a good time to make Christmas soaps?

[Kerye]

Hi everyone!!
I am planning on giving soaps to just about everyone this year for Christmas!
I would like to start now with some batches, but am wondering if it's way too early? It should last for a long time, as long as the soap doesn't go bad, is that right?
What are the best oils to use for longevity in soaps?!!!
Thanks!

 

[oldragbagger]

I have been considering that very same question.

I will be giving a lot of soaps this year. My husband has about 30 women who work in his office. I have 20 or so people at my work I give to, plus we live on a small country road with 4 neighbors who I always make gifts for.

So.... on the one hand I think maybe it's too early to start making soaps for Christmas. On the other hand, just thinking about the volume of soap I want to make, I don't want to wait until I am up against a time crunch with all the other holiday preparations and socializing that we always have going on.

I'm thinking maybe getting seriously started in September. That way I could make Christmas soap all the way into mid October and it would still have a respectable 2 month cure period (which is more than mine usually gets anyway).

I have located some online wholesale basket sites that have baskets as cheap as $2 each. You can also get cardboard or chipboard "baskets" through companies like Papermart. I am thinking a small basket with a couple of bars of soap, maybe a small body butter in a matching scent, a wooden soap dish and perhaps an organic washcloth or a small loofah pad in each. I have found wholesale sources for all of these things, so buying each in quantitities of 50+ they become really inexpensive. I have spent more in the past on gift bags with Ghirardelli chocolates and a nice ornament. And I think these will make a much nicer gift.

 

[MyNaturesArt]

I literally JUST made last night the first of my christmas soaps, an eggnog! LOL I always like a long cure time so they are nice and mild

 

[oldragbagger]

I literally JUST made last night the first of my christmas soaps, an eggnog! LOL I always like a long cure time so they are nice and mild

Well, you're right. Mild is good.
I got a Bayberry FO from Peak last week that is to die for. Love it!! That will be my first. I want to color it though. Not sure how or with what yet.

 

[CarmenJean]

Okay, this might sound daft, but I am fairly new to this ....

When doing CP soaps, won't they lose the fragrace over such a long time? I use FO 99% of the time, and only Lavender EO and Mint EO. Do they last?? But when I used EO the one time, the fragrance didn't last long, and is hardly there anymore. (It was a 3% addition.)

Any ideas please?

 

[Woodi]

I like to make soap at least 3 months before shows, but even 6 months is good. It allows the water to evaporate, leaving a harder bar. Water continues to leave your soaps for months when they stand in an airy place.

However, fragrance does fade in time, so a compromise: keep your soaps in a lidded plastic box, with or without a 'scent ball' (I use a used dryer sheet with either oakmoss or shredded corncob in it, tied up with a rubber band).

If you have an active inventory, turning over frequently, you don't need to worry about the soaps sweating in the box. But if you don't, then open the box once a week, check the soaps, let them air for a few hours before closing the lid again.

 

[Dixie]

I wish I had all of my christmas soap done. The longer the cure the better the soap.

If your worried about losing scent you could always add orris root powder to 'set' the scent, but it is not going to lose it's scent by christmas.

Lets say you make a soap today and it warps on you before christmas or has DOS or leaks or a number of other things....are you going to have time to make another batch and get it cured before christmas? Things could go wrong, so if you start now you have time to do more.
Of course if you are using a tried and true recipe and not deviating from it you should be safe enough.

So far I only have Christmas tree and Candy Cane done. New FO's for me. I would like to add 3 more christmas soaps to my stash.
I wanted Apple Jack from Brambleberry but they are out of stock.

 

[Vinca Leaf]

Yup, I'm starting. Hope to wrap up the Christmas Soap Extravaganza in September, when DH is home...

 

[CarmenJean]

WOW! Thanks for the answers. I planned to do all HP ..... but I'm thinking of doing some CP cupcakes too. I just wanted to make sure I do have plenty time for things to go wrong (hopefully they wont!!). But I would like to give them the max time to cure.

That's settled then! I'm making my Christmas soaps this week!!

 

[wookie130]

I too am starting to plan out my Christmas gift baskets, and I'm soon going to get to work on the soap. My gift baskets are going to include both soap and candles, and they're taking quite a bit of planning. I'm going to include 4 12" status jar soy candles I've poured, corresponding tarts and votives, and 5 different EO soaps. I've got A LOT of work to do.

 

[Milla]

I literally JUST made last night the first of my christmas soaps, an eggnog! LOL I always like a long cure time so they are nice and mild

Eggnog sounds yummy!

 

[heartsong]

I like to make soap at least 3 months before shows, but even 6 months is good. It allows the water to evaporate, leaving a harder bar. Water continues to leave your soaps for months when they stand in an airy place.

However, fragrance does fade in time, so a compromise: keep your soaps in a lidded plastic box, with or without a 'scent ball' (I use a used dryer sheet with either oakmoss or shredded corncob in it, tied up with a rubber band).

If you have an active inventory, turning over frequently, you don't need to worry about the soaps sweating in the box. But if you don't, then open the box once a week, check the soaps, let them air for a few hours before closing the lid again.

very good advice!

also you can go to lowe's and get the crystal packs that automatically absorb water and put in your boxes.

my holiday f/o's are mulberry, peak's bayberry, gingerbread, apple jack and peel and stargazer lily.

 

[wookie130]

I got a Bayberry FO from Peak last week that is to die for. Love it!! That will be my first. I want to color it though. Not sure how or with what yet.

I love Peak's Bayberry. I've only made it in candles, but I usually color it a light creamy green, the color of which is actually called "Bayberry". If you want another awesome Peaks Christmas FO, try their Sugar Plum Berries. That's another one I've never soaped, and I'm not even sure if it's good to use in soap, but check it out!

 

[Kerye]

Thanks everyone for all your answers!!! You just gave me a good reason for ordering some Christmas FO's and for making more soap!!!
I keep looking at my 2 batches that I made 2 weeks ago and have been too busy to make more right now, but as soon as my company leaves......

 

[oldragbagger]

I got a Bayberry FO from Peak last week that is to die for. Love it!! That will be my first. I want to color it though. Not sure how or with what yet.

I love Peak's Bayberry. I've only made it in candles, but I usually color it a light creamy green, the color of which is actually called "Bayberry". If you want another awesome Peaks Christmas FO, try their Sugar Plum Berries. That's another one I've never soaped, and I'm not even sure if it's good to use in soap, but check it out!

What kind of color do you use, Wookie, and where do you get it. So far I have only used the colors you get at Michaels and I have one untramarine from Brambleberry I might try today. But I would really like to do some experimenting with color and am very interested in what everyone is using.

 

[wookie130]

In soaps, I use mostly oxides. Like a mentioned before, I've never soaped Bayberry, I've just poured that FO in candles.

For a Bayberry soap, I'd still go with a pale green. I would recommend any of the following Labcolors from Brambleberry:

Citrus Green
Green Apple
Lime Sherbet

I know those colors all sound a bit tutti-frutti for a Christmas-colored soap, but Bayberry really is a pale green. I would use any of the above very slightly to produce this soft, muted green color.

Oh, before I forget, I edited this post to include the "Sage Mist" Labcolor from Brambleberry...I think if you went really light with this one, it would make a PERFECT Bayberry color!!!

Hope this helps!