Tina Howard of Majestic Mountain Sage

Tina Howard of Majestic Mountain Sage gave a unique presentation entitled "For the Love of Ping-Pong Balls" which helped us translate our many varied life experiences into better soapmaking.

Each of our life experiences give us better perspective or points of view. All of our hobbies and jobs and activities in the past combine to make us who we are. They interrelate with each other and make us who we are.

In her workshop she handed out bags that had:

• 4 different lip balms with different scent additives and made with different butters
• 3 different fixed oils - avocado, jojoba and neem - all very different in how they feel and smell
• 2 different colorants - blue and yellow - which we mixed in different ratios
• 8 vials of different fragrance oils - which allowed us to compare synthetic fragrance oils and their essential oil components (like rose essential oil)

We then compared and contrasted the various items - asking how they felt, how they smelled. For example, in the first bag, there was a lip balm that had .5% peppermint, and one that had 5% peppermint. We then described the different words we would use to describe the balm. For the .5%, it was described as "light, subtle, refreshing." The 5% was described as "energetic, powerful, zingy." The point here is that in formulating our recipes, in choosing the ingredients we put in our products, we have to understand how our customers will relate to the item.

Ultimately, when we are putting together our soap (and candle) creations, we ask ourselves:
What should I use in the project or recipe?
When what we really should be asking is:
What do you want?
That is, what characteristics do you want it to have? How do you want it to make you (or your customer) feel?

Ultimately, it all comes down to testing testing testing (I've told you that before) and knowing the ingredients (all of them) you are working with. Determining what you want requires perspective...which means comparing colors and oils and scents. Figuring out how the oils (etc.) act and feel and smell. And not only how they feel and smell to YOU...but how they will feel and smell to your customer.

A great presentation!!