Hobby & Craft Forums

When you start soap making (as a hobby) is it an expensive hobby to get started and is there books or sites on the subject, thought I might give it a try but don't want to spend a fortune then find I'm either rubbish at it or I don't get enjoyment out of it.

Any advice welcome,

PS it's pure "possible" hobby and NOT for resale

Speak to Jane, or look on her website, she runs courses with Soap Goddess Melinda Cross..

Given that you already have a website selling soaps, why wouldn't you want to produce/sell your own range?? Even if it was on a small scale..

Oh, and you can make simple soap using M&P (melt and pour) but if you do, be prepared for some flak! while it is quick and easy, I gather in the Soapies world it's akin to passing off a Betty Crocker cake as your own at the Womens Institute!!

I am not sure, and I am sure Jane et al will correct, but there may also be an ethics issue about Melt and Pour??

Shane's posted this to help me I think Gordon and not because he can't make it himself lol! I've been reading about the different methods and was going to ask about thoughts on melt and pour as it happens...I personally wouldn't consider a product made with this as handcrafted as the only thing I would have done is mould it and add a few drops of colour to it but then that's just me, maybe other non soap makers might think differently and might consider soap to be just soap however it's made?

If you can make a cake you can make soap.

Making it safely and with a safe formulation is paramount.

There are endless websites on the net, it is not expensive to make as a hobby, in fact I am pretty sure I could come to your house tonight and make soap as you would certainly have the majority of ingredients and equipment.

Going on a course does help you to avoid costly mistakes and get it right first time.

M & P, I know nothing about making that. Apart from you buy granules melt them then pour in to a mould:)

sparkysdad wrote:Given that you already have a website selling soaps, why wouldn't you want to produce/sell your own range?? Even if it was on a small scale..

Well If it's anything like my cooking then it probably will turn into a disaster, plus having it tested so I can sell it costs an arm an a leg, so I here.

do you import your soaps then Shane or get them from a wholesaler? I believe it's not that expensive to have your products certified- well at least from what I've read so far anyhow! That said, they didn't give any prices on it either so what's inexpensive to another, might be bank breaking stuff for me lol!

Nickie wrote:Shane's posted this to help me I think Gordon and not because he can't make it himself lol! I've been reading about the different methods and was going to ask about thoughts on melt and pour as it happens...I personally wouldn't consider a product made with this as handcrafted as the only thing I would have done is mould it and add a few drops of colour to it but then that's just me, maybe other non soap makers might think differently and might consider soap to be just soap however it's made?

I did see your other post, though didn't want to high jack it, but thought this would help me, you and other visitors in the same boat.

I will look into M&P and CP Soap, see know the basics already lol.

Just Soaps wrote:If you can make a cake you can make soap.

Making it safely and with a safe formulation is paramount.

There are endless websites on the net, it is not expensive to make as a hobby, in fact I am pretty sure I could come to your house tonight and make soap as you would certainly have the majority of ingredients and equipment.

Going on a course does help you to avoid costly mistakes and get it right first time.

M & P, I know nothing about making that. Apart from you buy granules melt them then pour in to a mould:)

I can make cakes so thats a good start, just don't ask me to cook a fried egg as I have never been able to

I will have a look in my local area to see If there are any taster courses and think that would be a good starting point. Will also do some more research tomorrow - currently making sure my product weights and prices on my site are correct as a few were not.

Nickie wrote:do you import your soaps then Shane or get them from a wholesaler? I believe it's not that expensive to have your products certified- well at least from what I've read so far anyhow! That said, they didn't give any prices on it either so what's inexpensive to another, might be bank breaking stuff for me lol!

They come from a wholesaler, though mass produced and I'm looking at changing my products to incorperate as many handmade products as possible. Though that will take about 6 - 12 months to fully transfer over. By that time I may be so good I decided to sell what I make, though taking it slowly and keep you all informed.