From the article: How Did You Get Started Making Soap and/or Candles?
Chemistry
- I'm a Bio-Chem major at university without a job over summer. I figured soap-making combined both the hard science of reaction chemistry and the art of picking and choosing what you think would go together best. I'm still very much an amateur, but I have a lot of fun thinking up new recipes and playing around with the ratios.
- —Guest Jake
First Soap, Candles are Next
- I first started making soap when my wife noticed it was hard to find a good glycerine soap that she liked. She suggested that I start making it for her. Of course, I now make more than she will ever use. She also received a beautiful soy candle for Christmas last year, and I have told her that instead of continuing to buy them, (and she has), I could make them for her. So, she told me that for Christmas this year she is getting me all the supplies I need to start making candles too!!!
- —Guest Jim Dakis
My start
- I actually stated with solid lotions after falling in love with Lush's massage bars which worked wonders on my son's eczema-ravaged legs. In researching those I stumbled across some forums that were soap AND B&B stuff. I stuck mostly to the B&B areas of the forums but eventually started reading the soaping parts too. But what really got me was when a soaper I met through the forum gave me some of her hand made soap. My son used it and voila! eczema GONE! Apparently he is sensitive to detergents or something else in commercial bars. And so the addiction began...
- —carolm22
Love Candles
- I have always loved candles and seem to be buying them all the time. About 10 yrs. ago a friend and I took a candle and soap making class and we were hooked. I now have many molds and have made many novelty candles and soaps for gifts and just my own enjoyment.
- —dancinpammie
Science Project was the Catalyst
- I am a mom of 7 kids...each year in school each of my "kids" would have a science project...well, we all know what that means...MOM had 7 science projects! Last year I told all my children that their science projects would involve something that MOM was interested in! We explored Beekeeping (we now have a hive of honeybees), The differences between goat milk and cow milk, (we now have 4 goats), bird nests, (we have chickens), and SOAPMAKING! Well, obviously it does not take a rocket scientist to learn that what interests MOM becomes a KEEPER! I am totally hooked on soapmaking. I have done cold process, and hot process, and tried a few of my own recipies. I don't ever plan to use store bought soap again!
- —Guest Shana
How I Got Started
- I, like most candle makers, have always had a love of candles since I was very young. I used to love to dip my fingers in the hot wax when we were fortunate to actually have a candle in the house. They were so expensive and but were never as strong as I would hope they would be. Still it wasn't until I was married and had said for the hundredth time to my husband that I wanted to make my own candles. He finally said why don't you start a candle business. With his blessings I was off. But come to find out most places, like the place we were living at the time, did not allow open flames. I was told I had to stop making candles or move out. I was devastated! I just got started and now I have to stop. Then I discovered wickless! I have not looked back since! Amanda Kennerly www.justrightcandles.com No Flame, No Soot, Just Scent
- —Guest Amanda Kennerly
Basic soap making
- At 14, I met a woman who boiled her soap yearly in the copper, then poured it into her bathtub to set for 7 days. I eventually met a friend who explained cold process; with cleaned barbeque and baked meat fat/drippings. I now also use recycled oil from restaurants to make fabulous unscented, natural soap.
- —Guest grace
How I Got Started Making Soap
- Several years ago I saw a M&P kit at a store and bought it. It was loads of fun. Then I decided I wanted to make soap like my Grandmother used to make using Lye. I bought a book, "The Complete Soapmaker" by Norma Coney. Now, several years later, I am finally getting around to it. My first batch was (is) wonderful! It was just Lard, lye and water. Now I am working on GM Soap. I just poured in the mold this morning. I have used both soaps and love them both! I prefer Lard as my main ingredient in soaps. (Just my preference!)
- —Guest Debbie J
Need for job
- Before one year, I get started making soaps and some creams for skin care. First, I was buying marigold cream in pharmacy, because my skin is sensitive and every other cream (with preservative and similar)is not suitable for me. Some day, I said:"Why I can not make marigold cream?". And, it is happened. In some newspaper, I found recipe for marigold cream with olive oil, bees wax and some essential oil (I choose lavender). The cream was excellent, and I was very happy. Soon, my husband started to sale it at marketplace, where he works. Second part of story is actual main reason why I get started soaps and creams.Through, we have three little children, I was at home and my husband worked. Yet certain time I looked for some job which I can work at home. That summer we made 50 lit. hypericum oil for sale.I decided to use oil for make soap. On internet I found some recipes for soapmaking and started. Now, we sell our soaps, creams and steady find something new. Thanks everyone for it.
- —Guest sanjakun
Following in footsteps
- I remember watching my grandmother make home made lye soap when I was 3 years old. I also liked the way I could scent soap anyway I wanted and have a better product for less money,
- —Guest claudia077
How I fell in love with candlemaking.
- Five years back when I was undergoing a very bleak period in my life I took a short course in candlemaking. Candles had always fascinated me but their exorbitant prices had held me back. I was fortunate to find a good teacher who taught me the rudiments of making candles and I made candles and more candles ,gifting them to one and all! On Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, I sold my first batch of candles and made a neat profit! Now I was on a roll,I invested the money in buying more molds and related stuff. I also started taking candlemaking classes and got an excellent response. In between I participated in more candle workshops, bought books on the related subject and also continued experimenting with wax and gel. Now, my family has acknowledged my minor success in this field. My dream is have a small workshop of my own, where I would employ women of economically weaker section of society and help them lead a decent life. By the way,I am a late bloomer, in my early fifties!
- —Guest Anita Kumar
soap and candles
- I developed carpal tunnel problems from making victorian lampshades. I couldn't sew anymore. Met a girl at farmer's market that made goats milk soap. She taught me how. I pressed flowers and put them on soap. Then one day a little voice told me to take the salt box out of the garbage and make a hurricane candle. No one knew what they were then. I made 8 with pressed flowers and took them to market. Sold all of them in 30 minutes. I ordered wax and molds and soon was making hundreds of dollars. Then did two craft shows with just seashell and flower hurricane candles and made $8,000. Decided to open a retail business downtown then went to the mall with a kiosk. Christmas brought in half of the years money in two months. I belong to a forum board and have met some wonderful people who have taught me and now I can teach them. I am retired now. But still love to help people. I make all kinds of candles now. I always read About.com and have learned from you. donitalouise.com
- —DonitaLouise
Simply Inspired Natural Products
- It was time. You know that gut feeling, well for Nic & Sammy's Heavenly Scents it was just inspiration knowing that your first batch of soaps was well received by family and friends. Being a bit unsure of yourself at first, is a bit nerve-wracking but eventually you gain confidence and it takes off from there. My advise to anyone is to take a chance whatever your God-given talent and see where it takes you you just might be pleasantly suprised. We went from a few soaps to a superb line of products which are natually insipred. So visit us at www.nicandsammy.com
- —Guest Nicole Alleyne
Eczema!
- When I met, married and moved to a city close to Los Angeles, my skin went from normal/oily to terrible, itchy eczema patches almost over night. My doctor told me my skin looked like an "arid desert." He suggest a bath oil to use and it only seemed to make it worse. I was looking online for more natural remedies and discovered so many helpful sites for handmade soaps and lotions. After buying a few and seeing a difference, I decided that I could make my own...maybe even better. I discovered online groups for soapmaking and joined a few of those and my addiction was born. Six years later I have a modest but busy business selling my own products and am a walking example of the extraordinary things handmade bath and body products can do.
- —TheSkinYoureIn
Annie's Soaps
- I've always enjoyed knitting/crocheting-types of crafts. I was looking for a way to earn extra income through a small business venture. At the same time, my youngest son was suffering from severe eczema. I happened to read a magazine article about a couple of women who were previously corporate executives running a soapmaking business in the States. I decided that it might be worth a try and I've been hooked ever since!
- —AnnieMcRoberts
Dry skin!
- I have always had really dry skin...all my life. One winter it got so bad - dry and cracked - that I thought I could hardly stand it. A friend of mine from church asked me what kind of soap I was using - I told her "whatever was on sale at the grocery store." She brought me some soap that her sister had made. "Lye soap!? Won't that make my skin worse?" I said. She told me no...that a gentle, mild, moisturizing soap might actually make it better. And it did! That soap, and some whipped shea body butter really saved me...and has dramatically improved my skin.
- —TexasSoaper
