Tracking

[Soapsense]

Do any of you number your individual bars to be able to track exactly what ingriedients went into each bar?

 

[coffeetime]

I do. I give each batch a code and have a spreadsheet with all the batches and codes. The batch code goes on a sticker that I put on the label and the invoice (for wholesale). Then if someone comes back with an issue I can check where that batch came from, when it was made, and the recipe. I also keep a small end piece from each batch.

 

[The Efficacious Gentleman]

In the EU, it's a legal requirement when selling - there is a website that you have to enter the information of the batch and then put the batch number on all of the products. Handy from an issue tracing point of view, to be certain.

 

[coffeetime]

I don't know about the EU, but I find most of the soap makers I've come across here in Canada are not following labelling laws and such. It's a bit of a cumbersome process really. Do you find that in the EU?

 

[Soapsense]

I have been trying to come up with a simple code, what info should be in it?How do you tie in the specific ingredients?
I am thinking the supporting documentation must be extensive?

 

[coffeetime]

I have been trying to come up with a simple code, what info should be in it?How do you tie in the specific ingredients?
I am thinking the supporting documentation must be extensive?

I use the year, month, batch number from that month, and the place it's being sold from. So a typical code would be 1401-03-UH.

 

[pamielynn]

I don't track each BAR, just each batch - is that what you mean? I keep the recipe with notes and batch number for each.

 

[Soapsense]

Yes I am sorry, I meant number each bar with a batch number

 

[pamielynn]

I think it's important because you'll find that the batch you DON'T track (and hence know which recipe it was made from) will be THE BEST bars you ever made Happened to me when I was learning to make lotions. Yep, by the time it was settled up and and beautiful - lost track of which recipe it was

 

[Soapsense]

That is a very good point, and has actually already happened to me! When I asked the question I was mostly
concerned with tracking the ingredients, and where I got them from etc. For insurance reasons, but also tracking the recipe for myself
is an added benefit.

 

[grayceworks]

I have been doing this as a habit since I already do it with my lotions and hair stuff... I have a notebook with all my recipes, and after each recipe, I have blank pages where I put the date and notes about each batch -- if I changed an ingredient, a scent, a process, etc, and room for later follow-up in case it turns out really good! Or if it has issues...

I only print labels one batch at a time, so it's easy for now to put it right on the label. When I start getting bigger and start selling the soaps too, there's going to be a lot more though, so I may have to rethink it. But for now, simple is good.