Simple Lavender Salt Scrub Recipe

I would say that Lavender happens to be one of the top fragrances students put in their bath and body creations. I think it is because of the is known for its soothing, calming, and relaxing properties which would make it a great nighttime product.

For those who love lavender and want to create their very own salt scrub recipe, here is a Lavender Salt Scrub recipe from The Soap King. What is really interesting about this recipe is the introduction of liquid glycerin and lavender buds. There is no carrier oil in this recipe so maybe it is not as greasy. As you can see from the picture that there really is not much color to the salt. But according to the recipe, there is a colored mica powder. Sometimes liquid colorant can be overpowering, so if you like a light touch of color then go for the mica powder.

Retro Roses Soap Design Tutorial

Here is another advanced cold process soap technique from Amanda Griffin at Lovin' Soaps. To be honest, I have been to alot of arts and wine festivals and I have never seen anyone sell a soap like this Retro Rose Soap Design. This soap has the definate WOW factor that no one else has seen. I would be a great gift for Mother's day or as a favor at a bridal shower. And I think if someone were to make and sell this soap that this would definately be a winner.

Types of papers used for wrapping soap

Paper for wrapping soap is the first order of business in packaging soap. Unlike products presented in bottles or jars, soap packaging doubles as both the label and the exterior for protecting the goods. There really are no hard and fast rules to packaging soap, other than that the packaging should protect the soap during shelf life and handling, convey information about the soap and incidentally, look good.

When looking for paper to wrap soap it is important to understand that the weight of paper that one chooses is very vast. Although, the weight of the paper depends on the type of paper used yet typically 20 pound weight paper is regular writing paper, while weights that are more substantial such as 60-80 pound weights will wrap a soap bar encasing it almost like a box. This may be fine especially for soap that is damaged easily.

Textured paper is a always a favorite, especially handmade paper. Though not practical for soaps sold in large amounts, handmade paper is great for small boutique soaps or to give as gifts because it is expensive and the supply inconsistent. Most handmade paper is made in far flung lands and by the time it gets to the market here it becomes a luxury item, rather than a staple. Still, if one can find a steady, consistent supplier, handmade paper maybe the way to go. It is always important to note that though we are trying to protect the goods, people shop with all five senses and handmade goods looks especially earthy and rare in handmade packaging.

There are however some great inexpensive papers for wrapping soap. My favorite on the list is Kraft paper. There is nothing that says handcrafted like Kraft paper. And although I am heavily influenced by exotic handmade paper, yet Kraft paper with a little jazzing up is really very special packaging. Plus there are several versions of Kraft paper one can get. It come s packaged on the roll, in 8.5x11 sheets, in label sheets and as butcher paper with a slick side. All of these types of Kraft paper is great to wrap soap with.

The primary reason this is one of my favorite papers to use is that it makes a good foil for simple images - unlike other kinds of paper that need colored images, Kraft paper looks great with very simple lines. That could be due to its natural color. With that said, let me say that Kraft paper does not have to be simple wrapping for soap. It can be dressed up. in fact my favorite way to use Kraft paper is to add metallic touches to the finished label, such as a metallic stamp or simple line art with glitter/metallic gel pen. Kraft paper also is nice with natural elements such as leaves, twigs and even shells!

Reprinted with permission from Winsome Tapper, Soapmaking Editor ,www.Bellaonline.com/site/soapmaking

Making Your Own Silicone Liners for Your Wood Molds

For those soapmakers who make their soap by the cold process method, I know you use wooden molds for your batches of soap. You may line your molds with parchment paper or garbage bags and you may find that cumbersome. And right know you cannot afford to purchase a new mold with a liner. How would you like to create your own silcone liners for your molds? Well I found this post on a blog titled The Soap Bar that tells you how to do it. In this article titled DIY Silicone Liners for Soap Moulds tells you how to do so and where you need to get the materials. Give it a go and let us know how it turns out.

How do you tell if a product is Eco-Friendly or Not?

In an article by Mary Macvean, titled “Clean and Green…Shopping Aisles transformed by variety of Earth-Friendly products” appeared in The Daily News On January 26, 2011 talks about how the grocery aisle of cleaning products is now offering better choices in cleaning products for the consumer. There is dizzying selection of these products and liquids that claim not only to clean but also healthy for people, pets and the planet. The most common eco-friendly brands that one may find in the market place would be Meyer, Method, Seventh Generation and Dr. Breuner. In the last two years there has been a real change in the large traditional brands such as Johnson and Johnson who are introducing greener versions of their products. But one wonders if they really are truly Earth-friendly are not.

An early complaint about one company called Earth-Friendly was that their products did not cause any harm but they really not effective either which means they did not clean very well. Products have now improved, but now consumers have to sort through the claims for non-toxic, green, planet-friendly and other attributes without clear definitions.

If you are really wondering if a product is really eco-friendly, one thing to do is check for the EPA’s Design for the Environment seal indicating the product has met the program’s sustainability requirements or criteria. This seal will include the product’s effect on human health. According to the article, in 2003 43 products qualified for the seal and now more than 2,000 products from 300 manufacturers qualify for this seal including store brands and traditional older manufacturers. Plus government and private efforts are underway to regulate product testing, ingredient disclosure and the ways companies communicate green marketing messages. In late 2010, the California Air Resources Board adopted a rule that will mean reformulations of about 2,000 consumer products to release volatile organic compounds or VOCs.