Jan 30, 2010
Myth # 1
One myth I would like to put to bed forever is that you have to let soap cure for a minimum of 6 weeks BEFORE you can safely use it.
Not true!!

Soap that has sat for about a week is fine to use. It won't last as long because curing the soap releases the water and makes the soap harder and of course a hard bar will last longer than a fresh soft one. One way to get this fast and to get your soap to market quicker is to put the soap in the mold and put it in a warm oven overnight. Most of the water evaporates while the soap is saponifing and it is ready to use the next morning. I have done this many many times and I always test my soap BEFORE taking it to market so I know it is ready to use. A lot of soap makers will argue that point but I say experiment with your own recipes and test , test , test!

Myth # 2
Fragrance oils are all synthetic and full of chemicals.

First off let me just say...there are fragrance oils and THEN there are fragrance oils(FO).

Check your sources...ask questions. Have the company e-mail you a list of their ingredients and how the oils are made. There are really bad FO out there and there are really good FO out there.
What does "all-natural" mean?
Fragrance blends designated "all natural" are derived completely from the constituents of essential oils and other plant materials (using steam distillation and fractional distillation). They are 100% free of any synthetics, including phthalates, parabens, sulfates, glycols, petrochemicals, and solvents.

They are more expensive but well worth it! After all what is the point of having a good home made soap with all natural ingredients if you are just going to load it down with inexpensive chemical laden fragrance oils?

Well, here I am joining the world of online bloggers!! Is that what it is called nowadays???I want this blog to be a source of enjoyment and useful information....and maybe you'll have a laugh too...after all laughter is good for the soul.
There is so much on the net that is is useless, false, scary, doesn't work no matter how you switch it around or even when you put your own spin on it....and that is only about SOAP!!!

I am a soap maker and I also make a lot of other interesting things...bath bombs, face cream, belly butters, baby bum cream, baby powder etc...you get the picture...right?? I do have a web site that showcases all our products....did I mention my husband makes awesome soy candles??....he actually spends time in the kitchen to do so!!......and yes!!!... we ship all across Canada!!

First off it is quite by accident that I actually became a soap maker...not even sure if that is the political correct title for some one that makes soap but nevertheless it is self explanatory.Anyway, I have my dear husband that I can thank for that.....
This is a little bit like cooking and maybe that is why it is so addictive for me and yes!!....
I am hopelessly addicted to soap making AND cooking!!

One of the first things Ted did when I first arrived( well, not the FIRST thing but he did notice the products I was using!!) on the island was go through my arsenal of hair products and explain SLS and Dioxin etc....I had no idea it was so laden with chemicals....yeah I know they are everywhere even in what we eat but if you are really serious about your health you really must start looking at what you put on your skin as well as what you eat!!.
Our skin is our biggest organ and eventually whatever you rub on your skin finds its way into your blood stream so you want to be sure it is safe !

I never really thought about it so much as I did with the food that I ate but it makes sense!!
I became a label reader!! Now I scan a label and if I can't pronounce I don't buy it!
I do not trust big companies with my best interest because big companies have no conscience!
They are "bean counters"!!

I bought my first bar of home made soap here in Duncan a year after I moved to the island. After one shower I was hooked!! It really does take away "the dry legs"!! I was cursed with dry legs and scaling skin and from the first time I used the homemade soap my skin felt soft and moisturized!!

I have to be honest....there are a lot of really good soap makers on this tiny little island and I loved trying every one!!

As I mentioned I love to cook and to me it was like another exotic recipe!! I had an insatiable curiosity about soap and how it was made. It has always held a fascination for me.I wanted to make my own!!
And so I set out to make my first bar of soap.........

After spending almost three years on the island we are now off on another adventure!
Of course I am a very accomplished soap maker if I do say so myself!!
I absolutely LOVE it!! My customers love it and I am proud to say we sell to several retail outlets all across Canada!!

Back to my adventure.......sorry...our adventure.....!!

We are moving back to Ontario and I plan to open my own shop!! I have everything planned and God willing I will have the cutest soap shop/ tea room around!!

It is very exciting and but just want to wiggle my nose and be there already!!I hate moving and packing and we are both suffering from inertia right now.....another move ...another trek across country (that part I'm looking forward to!!)setting up house and shop.......!!!