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The world of handcrafted soap is often divided into two subcategories: Melt and Pour (MP) and Cold Process/Hot Process (CP/HP). MP soap is actually already soap (and perhaps some detergent) when the soapmaker buys it. CP/HP soap is made by reacting fats and oils with sodium or potassium hydroxide. While we like to think of handcrafted soap as returning to the pre-industrial methods of an earlier age, the processes used by modern handcrafters are actually quite different from those used historically.

Ever wonder how to create a beautiful, yet simple swirl in Cold Process Soap? The In-the-Pot Swirl is just that! Follow along with these tricks and tips and you'll be swirling soap in no time.

After what I hope was a relaxing and fun summer, it’s time for you to get back into full gear and ready for the busy months ahead. In my experience as a business coach, I know that bouncing back from a vacation or a slowdown is rarely easy for business owners. For many, the laundry list of tasks becomes overwhelming and stressful, and the tendency to procrastinate kicks in. 

Carrot (Daucus carota) is one of the most commonly used vegetables for human nutrition. The carrot is a root vegetable that can be found in a wide array of colors including purple and white, although it’s most common color is orange. The carrot gets this characteristic, bright orange color from beta-carotene and other carotenoids. Carrot is one of the ten most economically important vegetable crops in the world. The rate of increase in the global production of carrots has been greater than the world’s population growth rate, and greater than the overall increase in world vegetable production. [1]

Wine is an alcoholic beverage made from fermented grapes. Grapes ferment when yeast consumes naturally occurring sugars in the fruit and converts it to ethanol and carbon dioxide. Different varieties of grapes and strains of yeasts produce different styles of wine. Variations occur as a result of the complex interactions between the development of the grape, the fermentation reaction, the terroir (environment/geography) and the production process. Wine contains phenolic acids, flavonols, anthocyanins, catechins, glutathione, resveratrol and proanthocyanidins.

Get ready to cast a spell on your soap-making this Halloween season! Whether you're planning to hand out spooky treats or just want to get into the Halloween spirit, making your own Halloween soaps is a fun and creative way to celebrate. From ghostly apparitions to wicked witches and classic Jack-O-Lanterns, we've got all the Halloween soap ideas you need. Let’s dive into the most popular Halloween soap molds that will help you create the perfect spooky soaps for your next DIY project. Boo! Ghost soaps are a hauntingly good way to add some spooky fun to your Halloween. These eerie little spirits are sure to be a hit with both kids and adults alike. The Bats and Ghosts Mini Mold is perfect for creating these ghostly soaps, offering a fun and festive way to celebrate the season.Ghost Soap Mold:Bats and Ghosts Mini MoldWith this mold, you can easily create detailed ghost-shaped soaps that are perfect for Halloween parties or to give away as unique trick-or-treat goodies. Pair these molds with white or glow-in-the-dark soap bases to make your ghosts truly spooky! Double, double toil and trouble—create some magic in your soap-making with witch soap molds. Whether you’re crafting bubbling cauldrons or pointy witch hats, these molds will add a mystical touch to your Halloween soaps.Witch Soap Molds: Witches Hat Soap Mold Cauldron Soap Mold Wizard Hat Soap Mold These molds are perfect for creating a variety of Halloween soaps that feature iconic witchy symbols. Use vibrant greens, purples, and blacks to bring your witchy creations to life. Whether you're making soaps for party favors or just for fun, these molds will help you conjure up something truly magical. No Halloween is complete without pumpkins and Jack-O-Lanterns. These classic Halloween symbols make for charming and festive soaps that are sure to be a hit. From cute pumpkins to grinning Jack-O-Lanterns, these molds will help you create the perfect Halloween soaps.Pumpkin & Jack-O-Lantern Soap Molds: Pumpkin Soap Mold Pumpkin Guest Milky Way Soap Mold Jack-O-Lantern Silicone Mold Use bright orange soap bases and add a touch of cinnamon or pumpkin spice fragrance to make these soaps smell as good as they look. These Halloween soap ideas are perfect for creating seasonal gifts or adding a festive touch to your bathroom decor. Beyond ghosts, witches, and pumpkins, there are plenty of other spooky designs you can create with the right molds. From sugar skulls to mummies, these Halloween soap molds offer a variety of options to make your soap-making projects even more fun and festive.Other Halloween Soap Molds: Halloween 2 Milky Way Soap Mold Gingerbread Mummy Soap Mold Sugar Skull Soap Mold Spooks Soap Mold Tray These molds allow you to create unique and detailed Halloween soaps that stand out from the usual fare. Try using vibrant colors and bold fragrances to make these soaps truly eye-catching. Whether you're making soaps for a Halloween party, as gifts, or just for fun, these molds will inspire your creativity and help you produce something spooktacular!With these Halloween soap ideas and molds, you’ll be able to create an array of festive soaps that capture the spirit of the season. Whether you're a seasoned soap maker or just starting out, these molds make it easy to craft professional-looking Halloween soaps at home. So grab your favorite soap bases, pick out some spooky fragrances, and get ready to brew up some Halloween soaps that are sure to be a hit!

Discover expert tips for formulating an emulsified sugar scrub. Learn the best practices and ingredients for creating effective and luxurious sugar scrubs.

Major retailers are pushing a lot of bright, colorful packaging. Colors like cobalt blue paired with bright orange, fuchsia pink, and primary green are popping up for summer and warm weather inspired scents. Simple apothecary inspired packaging with pops of color in the label design are reflected in the lids as well. Check out some examples of our favorite packaging in retail soap, cosmetic and bath and body care.

This Pink Lemonade Lip Balm & Sugar Scrub is a delicious way to help keep your lips soft and moisturized all summer long! Add this adorable set of lip balm and lip scrub to your summer product line, or make for fun with friends and family. This set is super cute and simple to make!

Reasons for White SoapSome soap makers seek out ways to make white soap. White soap for a white wedding might be a request from a demanding bride on her large custom order, or perhaps white soap fits better with your branding. Another reason for white is the ease in coloring. When you start off with a white base, it is less challenging to predict the color when adding powders and additives. Whatever your reason for lightly colored soap, here are some tips to create a true white bar.

This twist on sugar scrubs is fun and easy to make! Watch and learn just how we made our Smoothie Sugar Scrub Shots. Use a single fragrance or mix and match. The granulated sugar will gently exfoliate to leave your skin summer smooth!

This video demonstrates how easy it is to use the Tree 2¼” Column Silicone Soap Mold. A wonderful tool for your winter and holiday soap making! It looks great embedded into a large loaf.