About.com

Soap and Candle Making Questions - Answered!

Mon, 20 Feb 2012 21:13:38 +0000

Last year, I did a series called "Mailbag Monday" where I took readers' questions and answered them online. Everything from "What's that white stuff on my soap?" to "Can I use crayons to color my candles?" to "Can I recycle candle wicks?" to "Can I use milk to rebatch my soap?"

...

Read Full Post

Are You a Good Wick or a Bad Wick?

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 13:50:47 +0000

Sami Sarkis / Getty Images

I remember, as a child, just dipping a string into some melted wax and creating a candle. Did it work? Yes. Was it a good candle? Ehh...not really. A good candle is a finely tuned system of wick, wax, fragrance and shape or container. When the system is working properly...when everything is in balance...the candle burns cleanly and brightly. When the system is out of tune...when one of the elements is not working in sync with the others...the candle sputters, smokes, burns too hot, or not at all. Here is some information to help you get just the right balance.

...

Read Full Post

Olive Oil Soap Recipes

Sun, 12 Feb 2012 16:56:41 +0000

Buena Vista Images / Getty Images

Thanks mom!

My mother-in-law went to Costco and brought me two big jugs of olive oil yesterday.

Read Full Post

Olive Oil Soap Recipes originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Sunday, February 12th, 2012 at 16:56:41.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

How Investing in Your Hobby Can Pay Off

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:20:50 +0000

Congratulations to Marla Bosworth of the Back Porch Soap Company

Read Full Post

How Investing in Your Hobby Can Pay Off originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 at 15:20:50.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

The Truth About Glycerin Soap

Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:54:22 +0000

Stockbyte / Getty Images

O.k....it may not keep you up at night...but one soap making pet peeve of mine is the misunderstanding about "glycerin soap." Many times, I've heard a salesperson or soap maker say, "Our soaps are all natural glycerin soaps." Or, "Our soaps are better because they're glycerin soaps." More often than not, they're referring to their melt and pour soaps. And while I don't usually answer, "You don't know what you're talking about." (Because often they don't...!) They usually don't really understand that the term glycerin soap is really a misnomer.

...

Read Full Post

The Art of Soap - When Does Soapmaking Become More than Just a Craft?

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:40:08 +0000

I think for all of us, our very first batch/bar of soap will always be a wonder - a work of art for us. We're amazed that we could combine this lye and these oils and come out with soap - real soap.

Read Full Post

The Art of Soap - When Does Soapmaking Become More than Just a Craft? originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Tuesday, January 31st, 2012 at 17:40:08.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Special Shaving Mugs for Special Shaving Soap

Mon, 30 Jan 2012 00:05:50 +0000

Painter's Pallette Shaving Mug - Morphy Auctions

I made a batch of cold process shaving soap today. (You can make melt and pour shaving soap too...) Before I made the soap though, I was looking at various shaving mugs to pour the soap into. I love to have a set of mugs ready and then just pour half of the fresh soap into the mugs - and half of the soap into a 3" PVC tube to use as "refills". Imagine my delight when I found a whole gallery of various historical antique shaving mugs featured on my friend and colleague Pamela Wiggins' Antiques site here on About.com. (I must admit, the batch of soap was delayed for an hour or so while I looked at shaving mugs, vintage valentine cards and Christmas collectibles.) I've always said that packaging and presentation can make or break a soap - at least from a retail sense - so why not dress up your shaving soap in a marvelous mug?

Melt and Pour Soaps for Valentines Day

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:22:39 +0000

In all the years I've made and sold soap, the most popular of all time have been these Layered Melt and Pour Valentine's Day Soaps.

Read Full Post

Melt and Pour Soaps for Valentines Day originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Thursday, January 26th, 2012 at 23:22:39.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Custom Essential Oil Blends Inspired by the Chinese Year of the Dragon

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 23:15:52 +0000

Stephanie Dalton Cowan / Getty Images

If you've been feeling a bit mighty and magnificent lately...if your confidence and enterprising energy have been burning brightly...if you've got a passionate fire in your heart...then you might just be ready for the Chinese Year of the Dragon.

Read Full Post

Custom Essential Oil Blends Inspired by the Chinese Year of the Dragon originally appeared on About.com Candle & Soap Making on Sunday, January 22nd, 2012 at 23:15:52.

Permalink | Comment | Email this

Some Wild Candles!

Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:34:36 +0000

I came across this candle company in Thailand that is making the wildest candles! Created "for those who deserve something special" KIND CAT CANDLE "creates candles that combine the essence ...

Read Full Post