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I bought some books on soap-making and need to order supplies like oil bases and essential oils. What are the best online retailers of high-quality soap-making supplies?

Also, are there any retail stores in large cities that carry soap-making supplies? Where could I buy these things locally?

"Bramble Berry Soap Making Supplies offers an extensive selection of soapmaking products for everyone from the weekend hobbyist up to high-volume professional soapers."

snowdriftfarm "everything for soapmaking, aromatherapy and spa"

The Ponte Vedra Soap Shoppe

You haven't said where "locally" is so try the last site to see if you can find a store close to you

Bar style.. I am interested in buying a "kit" to start with.. Any suggestions on what type of soap to start with and where to purchase a kit??
peAce

I recommend if you want to use a kit - you will want to buy melt and pour base, plus colorants and fragrances - some craft stores carry them - hobby lobby, micheal's and possibly joann crafts.

If your interested in making cold process soaps - check out kathy millers website, http://www.millersoap.com - she has taken the time to put together a very comprehensive site for newbies and veteran soapers a like.

Hey, check out these auctions:
Natural Beard Conditioner with Lime Cedarwood and Patchouli Essential Oils

US $7.00 (0 Bid) End Date: Wednesday Feb-22-2012 14:31:51 PST Bid now | Add to watch list

Technorati Tags: Auctions, Essential, Latest, Oils

http://www.thingsfromhomeinc.com is the website for more pictures and information on handmade soaps with goatsmilk, natural and organic ingredients and essential oils. Great for gift baskets!

All my soaps and other natural and organic products are made by hand during each stage, to ensure the highest quality soaps are sent to YOU!

check my website for information about all the natural and organic health and beauty ingredients we include in our soap, and email me if you have any questions!

BEst regards,

Mickey Dye-Ishikawa
Things From Home, Inc.
Asheville, North Carolina

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Technorati Tags: and, aromatherapy, asheville, bath, Beauty, carolina, cleansing, food, from, handmade, health, herbs, home, inc, natural, north, organic, products, soap, stores, things

SoapyNature.com

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Technorati Tags: natural soap, Olive Oil Soap, Shea Butter, Skin Care

Natural is in nowadays and aromatherapy is catching up as a trend. Whether it's a passing practice or acceptable science will be answered with time. For now though, more people are turning to natural, non-surgical healing, part of it being through aromatherapy.

Aromatherapy is a generic term used as both a practice for manufacturers (to be used for commercial purposes) and practitioners. Aromatherapy is a form of alternative medicine that uses essential oils to improve a person's health or mind frame. Aromatherapy can heal ailments such as acne, indigestion, PMS or fatigue. Aromatherapy perfumes when inhaled affect the brain and nervous system.

Different aromatherapy perfumes help bring a different mindset. There are those that unleash one's imagination, help release sexual tension or decrease anxiety. There are those that increase confidence, help one open to love or simply uplift one's mood. Eucalyptus for example can heal skin disorders and headaches, as well as various aches and pains. Ylang Ylang is used for those who have problems with sleep, heart palpitations, high blood pressure or stress. To start with, here are a few recipes:

To increase self belief:
*    2 drops Ginger
*    3 drops Myrtle
*    4 drops Rosemary
*    3 drops Verbena
To add warmth:
*    2 drops Black Pepper
*    3 drops Patchouli
*    4 drops Rosewood
*    3 drops Ylang Ylang
For good sleep:
*    2 drops Bergamot
*    3 drops Chamomile
*    2 drops Marjoram
*    4 drops Lavender
For your partner's devotion:
*    1 drop Clary Sage
*    3 drops Patchouli
*    2 drops Rose
*    4 drops Rosewood

To start preparing, one should prepare the measuring cups, funnels and a coloured bottle to contain the perfume. Next, the carrier oil such as apricot kernel oil, almond oil, vodka or jojoba should be added into the bottle. The essential oils from the recipe you chose can now be added one drop at a time. It is best to shake the bottle after adding every drop. After, it can be stored in a dry place for about 12 days and shaken once in a while.

One should be careful on the combination of ingredients one chooses. There are those that really do not mix well together and can cause skin irritations, and worse, negative energy. Essential oils should not be applied directly to the skin. Always use carrier oil because it is safer and easily more absorbable.

Technorati Tags: aromatherrapy, healing, perfumes

The main difference between using bar soaps and liquid soap is the lye used in each process. Liquid soaps require using Potassium Hydroxide while bar soaps use Sodium Hydroxide. Making liquid soap is a more tedious task because it requires a lot of patience on the part of the soap maker to constantly stir and watch over the soap batch. Making liquid soap is a fairly moderate fete for those starting with soap making.

The most basic recipe found so far is this:

*    366 g coconut oil
*    1,424 g canola oil
*    400 g Potassium Hydroxide
*    1204 g water

The usual preparations are done same as making a bar soap. Preparing all the materials prior to usage is essential. Aside from that, it is important to have a lot of endurance when it comes to liquid soap making because it takes a while before tracing occurs and some ingredients will try to break free from other ingredients when not carefully watched.

Potassium Hydroxide, like Sodium Hydroxide is also corrosive and will cause fuming. Gloves, goggles and masks are recommended. Potassium Hydroxide has greater tendency to crackle and separate. 160 degrees is the ideal heat for making liquid soap. Anything under the said heat and the soap will take too long to trace.  A little too much and bubbles will start to appear. Too much heat will make the batch useless.

After boiling the mixture after two to four hours, the mixture will start to turn translucent. This is the signal that the mixture is ready to be scraped off and placed in water for dilution. The mixture is chopped in order to let water seep in easier. The water and original mixture are then heated up and left that way overnight. Depending on the amount of coconut, the mixture will either completely melt or still have remnants of a few chunks. If this happens, it's okay for it to be reheated again until all the chunks have melted.

The mixture is then neutralized using boric acid solution or borax. These two are considered as neutralizing agents and will turn the supposedly now clear mixture into a murky, translucent liquid again. This will go away though presuming all the other steps prior are correct and there are no miscalculations in ingredients. While the soap is still hot, fragrance oils and/or colorants (both are optional) can be added.

That's it! The final step would be just to transfer the mixture into another container and see if you've done a good job. If not, there's always rebatching!

Technorati Tags: liquid soap, soap making

For beginning soap makers, one will find that the easiest known method for soap making is the Cold process. This was named as such because no additional heat is given to the water and fat mixture considered as the base ingredients to making soap. Instead, the heat generated from the process is relied on to produce a chemical reaction strong enough to make soap. Sodium Hydroxide or the lye and water are added to the oil to undergo a process called saponification. In saponification, these ingredients mix in order to create hard, long lasting soaps the cold process is known for.

While many still debate on what process for soap making is most effective, it is without contest that the cold process is easiest to do albeit a little longer. This is because the amount of time it takes for the lye solution to cool takes more hours.  It is however known that soaps that use this process are smoother and creamier. Many professional soap makers recommend that the lye solution first and foremost be formed in order to let it cool longer in a safe place.

Again, many are warned that soap making can be a dangerous and tedious task. The handling of Sodium Hydroxide used in the cold process must be meticulously measured. First off, it is recommended that safety equipment such as gloves, goggles and masks are used when handling the chemical involved because fumes coming from the lye mixture can irritate the respiratory system.

Most soap makers or hobbyists use 4-10% amount of lye in their recipes so that excess fat still remains. The excess fat will give the soap its conditioning quality. Proper measurements should be done with whichever recipe the soap maker chooses. Excess lye that did not react to water and fat can irritate, and even burn, skin while not enough lye in the batch can make the soap too greasy for use.

Next, the lye is set aside and in a separate pan, all essential oils are mixed together. It is up to the soap maker whatever fragrance or natural oil he or she wants to add. Once all oils are mixed, it is also set aside until it cools to approximately 110 degrees Fahrenheit.

Finally, the lye mixture is poured carefully to the oil mixture and stirred vigorously until it produces a thin pudding-like substance called Trace. If one is stirring by hand, it takes about an hour for Tracing to occur. It is important to emphasize that the Lye should be poured in the oil mixture and not the other way around.

Afterwards, the final mixture is then placed in moulds and allowed to cool. Full Saponification will take about 4 weeks.

For those who want to try the cold process, here is a base recipe for beginners:

*    24 oz. olive oil
*    24 oz. coconut oil
*    38 oz. vegetable shortening
*    12 oz. lye
*    32 oz. distilled water
*    3-4 oz. any essential or fragrance oil 

Measure thoroughly. Good luck!

Technorati Tags: begiiners, cold process, soap making

I have a seven year old daughter who loves to do all types of crafts. She's been asking for awhile now to learn to do soap making. I wanted to buy her the supplies for one of her christmas presents but I just don't know where to start.
I know there are different ways to make soap and one is much more dangerous right? So we don't want to go that route. I'm not exactly sure about the different methods though. I know she's hoping to be able to make different shapes,colors,etc.

Can anyone explain to me what I would want to look for and what I would want to purchase sort of as a starter kit for us to do this together? Also other things I could add on for more options?

Go to Michael's, AC Moore, Hobby Lobby or your local craft store and buy a soap making kit. I know for sure that Michael's and AC Moore have soap making kits geared to children. They are around the $20 price range. Or if you just want to get the supplies, start with glycerin soap which is much safer than lye soap. Don't use lye soap with a 7 year old. You can buy soap molds and colors and fragrances too, but I say its best to start with a premade kit that has all those things in it, in case she doesn't like making soap. You will need to be with your child helping out when she is making soap b/c you have to melt the soap down in the microwave or on the stove. But like I've said the kit is the best way b/c it comes with everything you need, except a bowl or pot to melt the soap in. The Kits come with instructions and safety measures too.