I am feeling a little bit bullied right now :sad:. Was more looking for some helpful input then to be put down. It's not like I open a store, just sell some soap through mother in laws bath bomb group. I like to make soap and I'm getting good at it.
Please don't feel bullied. The advice is really to help you from jumping in before you've developed a high quality product. You can destroy your chances of having a successful business if you start selling soap which won't hold up over time. One unhappy customer can tell 10 people and it's very difficult to rebound from negative publicity. You want to be positive the scent won't fade and the soap won't go rancid since you don't know how long someone will keep a bar or where it will be stored. You really only need one good recipe. It will save money in the long run if you have basic oils and you buy them in bulk. You can alter the recipe by using additives like oatmeal, clay, calendula, pumice, etc. You can also use different liquids like tea, beer, wine, different milks and cream.
What is your target group? Older women with aging skin who prefer more conditioning, soft colors and traditional scents? People who prefer fragrance dupes and brightly colored soap? People who like scents which are muskier, more exotic, or are scented like incense and patchouli? Is there a market for fun, novelty soap which appeal to children? Is there a market for spa salt soap? Is there a niche or theme you can use based on the area you live in or something associated with the region? What sells well in one part of the country may not sell in a different part of the country.
Have you considered having your MIL give out samples so you can get feedback? You could also write a list of questions for people to answer about the samples. This way you could get more feedback about your soap. What fragrances are used for the bath bomb group? It might be a benefit to use fragrances which are the same or complementary to the bombs. Of course, this also requires experimentation because what smells great in a bath bomb may not work in soap. Some fragrances morph when going through saponification. Also, keep in mind not everyone likes scent or colors. You might want to consider offering an unscented soap, too.
We really are trying to help you. Give us a chance, read through the forum about the successes or failures of other members, advice they given to others and their opinions of different fragrances and suppliers. This forum has a tremendous amount of information on it plus links to other sites with more resources. Researching and getting feedback will also help reduce the expenses for you and hopefully prevent costly mistakes.