Tag Archives: soapmaking

2011 Central NY Soapmakers Gathering

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On Saturday, July 30th 2011, 30 bath and body company owners from all parts of New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts got together in near the Binghamton area for the annual Central New York (CNY) Bubbles and Blazes Gathering. This all-day gathering held every year at a chosen destination gives owners like me a chance to meet and discuss shop, network and make new friends in the bath and body industry. For me, it was my first time and I was excited months before the date.

We were met by our gracious hostess Maria Gelnett of Soap Studio Brookside and were treated to vendor bags full of great samples from various bath and body suppliers.

We were able to participate in a product swap – which was fabulous! I participated and went home with 17 different bath and body goodies! There was a mixture of different types of soaps, creams, hair products, dream pillows and scrubs just to name a few.

 

CNY Product Swap


In addition, some of us participated in a Yankee swap also. It was actually my first time and it was so much fun. I went home with a brand new crockpot

New Crockpot
 – perfect for making larger batches of hot process soap! Some of the goodies scored included: mud bath kit, gourmet oils, and gift cards to fine restaurants.

Demos shown were: how to make felted soap, the latest craze – column swirling, and making whipped cold process soap.

Everyone participated in a potluck and so we were treated to some amazing cuisine from our colleagues including lavender water which I absolute fell in love with.


Door prizes were awarded to every single attendee. I received a jug of grapeseed oil! I love using that oil in toiletries. And also, raffle for great prizes were awarded to 4 very lucky people. I wasn’t one of them – but next year!

If all that wasn’t heavenly enough all attendees were encouraged to bring soapmaking tools for the garage sale. I scored a few things as I couldn’t pass up the deeply discounted wares.


I made some amazing new friends, reunited with colleagues including my first soapmaking instructor The Handmade Soap Coach who did the demo on whipped cold process soap. Of which I must try of course! and learned a great deal more about the art of making bath and body products.

 

CNY 2011 Gathering


Needless to say I am clearing my calendar already for next year. If you are interested in learning more about the gathering or the group please visit their site Central New York Soapmakers.

Become a member, participate in the discussions, make new friends and learn so much from them.

 

Our Ingredients

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As BrooklynBath is growing with its product line I figured I should take some time to explain what are some of the ingredients that I like to use and why.
Through the course of learning and product development I have learned about different vegetable and fruit oils, their properties and how they can contribute to beautiful skin! One of the natural by-products of handcrafted soap is that glycerin is retained in the soap. Glycerin is a humectant that helps attract moisture to the skin. In commercial soaps glycerin is a commodity. It is extracted from the soap manufacturing process and used in other body products such as lotions.
Here are my base oils that I use for making  soap:

1. Coconut Oil – provides a fluffy lather to soap. It’s high in lauric acid which is also found in human milk (breast).  It is highly praised as a “natural skin conditioner” as it easily penetrates skin and hair follicles.

2. Palm Oil – I like using palm oil because it provides the “hardness” that I need in a bar of soap. We use sustainable palm oil.

3. Olive Oil – not just for cooking! Olive oil has been known to have moisturizing properties. It is widely used in skin and hair products.

4. Castor Oil – a multi-purpose oil that is used in such a variety of different things. I like using castor oil because it gives my soap “extra” bubbles.

These oils alone make a great bar of soap. Personally, I barely use lotion after my shower now that I use handmade soap with the oils listed above. My skin feels less dry and much smoother.

From time to time I do add an extra oil such as sweet almond oil, mango butter, avocado oil, etc. for a super luxurious bar. Keep tuned! I will come out with some of these luxurious bars of soap soon enough.

New Test Soap Mold

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My youngest brother who is only 15 years old and is an aspiring carpenter made me the cutest wooden soap mold for me! This is perfect for creating small test batches of soap.This is how I know whether a particular fragrance blends with my soap recipe. From this I can take notes. Whenever I decide to try out a new soap recipe with new additives including new fragrance oils, a small test batch is the perfect solution.  If the soap turns out great then I can create bigger batches for you!

 

Wood Soap Mold


Here it is lined up with parchment paper and ready to go! Thanks Miguel Colon!

How to Make Cold Process Soap Lye Safety & Ingredients, Episo

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As promised here’s the latest video from Anne-Marie Faiola from SoapQueen.Tv. Not only have I learned so much from watching Anne-Marie’s videos but I love going back to them time and time again. I always learn something new each time. Sit back, take good notes and enjoy learning!

How to Make Cold Process Soap : Lye Safety & Ingredients, Episode 1 from Soap Queen on Vimeo.

4 Ways To Make Soap

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A few readers have asked me, Rose, how do you make soap? Is it easy? What are the main ingredients in soap.  Is it like cooking?  Here’s a great post to read on the different ways to make soap.

There are generally 4 ways to make soap.

  • Melt & Pour: a pre-made glycerin base and the easiest to make. The name itself implies the process. You “melt” the base and “pour” into a mold. Additives such as oils/butters, colorants, fragrances, etc may be added to your soap base.  Once the soap has cooled in its mold you can unmold and use right away.  This method creates visually striking soaps for the handcrafter.
  • Cold Process:  Mixing vegetable/animal oils and butters with a saponifying agent such as sodium hydroxide, poured into a mold.  The soap “cooks” itself.  The drying time generally takes 6 weeks. This method of soapmaking allows the soapmaker to be in the “Director’s Chair”.  A soapmaker has control of what ingredients go in a batch of cold-process soap. The soapmaker can omit ingredients such as fragrances or any other allergens for those with sensitive skin.
  • Hot Process: This method has the same foundation as cold process soap except that soap is “cooked” before pouring into a mold.
  • Rebatching (Handmilling): Is a pre-made cold process soap that allows the soapmaker to handcraft beautiful soaps without having to touch caustic soda (sodium hydroxide). Choice of fragrance and additives can be added to the soaps.

In the next post I will share the first installment of a video series from Anne-Marie Faiola of SoapQueen.Tv on the process of making Cold Process Soap.

Ingredient Profiles

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As many of you know and have seen I love making soap!  But more than that, I love to research the various oils that I will use. In believing that knowledge is key in anything you do and as one of the reasons I began this site is to inform the general public what these ingredients are and what they are good for, I will for the next several weeks begin writing a segment called Ingredient Profiles.

It is my hope that after reading these articles, you, my readers are well informed and understand why handmade soap is beneficial.  After all, isn’t your skin the largest organ in your body? Love your skin and it will love you back :)

Soapmaking Class

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I became interested in making soap and toiletries back in the spring and learned of an instructional class being held at the OpenCenter in New York City.  Our instructor La Shonda Tyree, is owner and creator of Nyah Beauty – Handcrafted Beauty and Skin Care, and a member of the Handcrafted SoapMakers Guild.

The class comprised of 3 long tables for about 45 people.  Each person received a nice sizable bag of soap-making ingredients, soap molds, essential oils and handouts of reading material and recipes to be used.

For our morning session we learned to make handcrafted glycerin soap and how to add essential oils and fresh additives to our soaps.  With La Shonda’s expert instruction, not only did I learn how to make my own handcrafted soap but how easy it is!  I was able to make a glycerin bar with lavender and peppermint.  Oh how wonderful it smelled!

Next we learn how to use basic household ingredients such as salt, sugar and oatmeal to create soothing body scrubs, bath bombs and bath salts.  Again the simplicity just blew me away – as well as the endless possibilities of how you can personalize these simple but luxurious items to have in your bath.

The afternoon session comprised of making a much more intricate method of making soap using vegetable butters and oils, water and lye.  In addition, I was able to make a small bottle of sweet and moisturizing lotion with sweet orange essential oil.  Again, La Shonda demonstrated by showing us what ingredients to use and how to safely use these ingredients.

Highlights of the class included meeting fellow novice and expert soapmakers.  Everyone contributed a bit of their experience in soap-making and toiletries.  It was wonderful to learn that everyone in the class had different backgrounds – from the household mom to the marketing guru attended this class.  You too can learn how easy making your own handcrafted soaps and lotions can be. I was very pleased at all the products I learned to make and take home with me.  It’s great to know that you have a choice between a commercial laden with harsh chemicals and your very own handmade soap made with natural ingredients that are both soothing and healthy for your skin!

La Shonda Tyree will be conducting several classes during the 2009 calendar year.  You can visit La Shonda’s website at www.handmadesoapcoach.com for more information.