From the article: How Did You Get Started Making Soap and/or Candles?
Tell us how you got started making candles and soap! Tell Us How it Happened
rocker
- I want to have a guesthouse that features my handmade soap as part of the atmosphere. I remember my grandmother's soap fondly, the plain, clean smell that went with the air-dried smell from the clothesline. And, I want to know what's in the soap I use. Now I do. I also quit using commercial shampoos and my head no longer itches constantly.
- —Guest rocker@theshadyporch
allergies
- I caught some alergies last year and doctors told me to stop using industry products. Since there were no one but Lush producing homemade soaps in Belgrade, I started by myself. And voila, no more itches, dry skin, allergies....
- —Guest Startoucher
I just decided to start one day
- It has always been something I wanted to learn to do.
- —Guest Jill
How I got started making soap
- One year I decided to sell veggies at the farmers' market but I knew I wouldn't have a lot of produce early in the season. I thought to fill up my table I'd try my hand at making and selling soap. Well, the soap was a hit with customers and I found I really enjoyed making it. Now I just sell soap :-)
- —Guest Barb Miller
Nisey's soap
- My daughter got me a book by Janice Cox and it had soap recipes, I tried them and no more dry skin. My husband and I sell veggies and herbs at the farmer's market so I started selling the soap to, I can't make it fast enough for my customers. -Nisey
- —Guest Denise Nixon Wiley
Cheap Gifts
- I don't make soap or candles much these days, but I know I could if needed, thanks to a holiday a few years ago when we were tight on cash and decided to do homemade presents for the extended family. I really recommend candle and soap crafts for the holidays!
- —DiyRain
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
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