Soap/Candle Making

LouiseSA

Hi MSErs

I am seriously thinking about Soap/Candle making to add to my product range, well TBH I am leaning towards Candle making as there is (understandably) a lot of regulation surrounding Soap making.

In true MSE style this will all be done on a very tight budget!!! So does anyone have any tips to offer? Any advice about pitfalls ? Any advice how I should go about marketing/promoting to maximise profit etc?


Thanks

Wishfairy2010

As with soaps there are some regulations. It's also not a simple as it sounds to make a good candle with scent throughout and an even burn. I would suggest sticking to container candles as they are a bit easier to get right.

Also fragrance oils are very hit and miss. I have an excellent supplier in USA - all the yankee scents. Not used them for a while because I imported a LOT of oils but I imagine they are still trading. If you want me to hunt their url down just pm me.

Kay_Peel

I buy handmade soaps and candles from Farmer's Markets, Craft fairs and mostly from small scale producers on Ebay. There are some truly astonishing producers around the UK and I wouldn't go back to buying mass-produced stuff.

There are also some mediocre products out there. I've been to some 'candle parties' where I have struggled to find a single thing that didn't make me gag. I can't go into places like Lush because the smell is so dreadful and suffocating. A close look at the labels on some hand-made soaps show all sorts of SLS, mineral oils, alcohol, parabens and other nasties.

The Best producers use pure natural ingredients, essential oils rather than synthetic perfumes, raw rather than powdered goat's milk, and have tried and tested their products on family and friends. They provide extensive information on what goes into the product and where they source the ingredients from. They package them beautifully.

Through buying on Ebay, I have sorted the good from the bad. I now order directly from the good producers. They send me small samples of new products and I give them honest feedback. I am so passionate about their products that I buy samples for friends and I spread the word. I even nominated one for a Beauty Award run by the Times.

Good luck with your plans. With the right quality of product you have a better chance of marketing your products to enthusiasts like me.

Owain_Moneysaver

You need public liability insurance for when someone's house burns down and they blame you, and you will also need to inform your home insurers because of the increased risk of fire.

geordie_joe

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

You need public liability insurance for when someone's house burns down and they blame you,

You can't get insured for being blamed by someone for their house burning down. You can only get insured for being proved to be at fault.

Even if it could be proved that a fault in the candle caused the fire, unlikely as all the evidence would be gone, the home owner would have a hard time explaining why they didn't put the fire out as soon as it started.

The only reason could be is that they weren't there. They left the candle burning an unattended for long enough for the house to burn down. So, if they weren't there, how can they prove your candle was faulty?

Gazing_On_Sunsets

I ran a shop for a year (I close next week) and stocked various craft items. I was stocking the candles of a local maker who supplied to many people, and she would supply a small disclaimer on a piece of paper - more like safety instructions really - that i'd put in the bag with the candle. Usual stuff "do not leave this candle unattended" etc etc.

LouiseSA

Gazing_On_Sunsets wrote: »

I ran a shop for a year (I close next week) and stocked various craft items. I was stocking the candles of a local maker who supplied to many people, and she would supply a small disclaimer on a piece of paper - more like safety instructions really - that i'd put in the bag with the candle. Usual stuff "do not leave this candle unattended" etc etc.

Sorry to hear your shop is closing, but thanks, safety instructions are a good idea.

Gazing_On_Sunsets

LouiseSA wrote: »

Sorry to hear your shop is closing, but thanks, safety instructions are a good idea.

Hey - thanks for that - but although the shop is closing, my business(es) continue. I wasn't selling enough through the door to justify the rent but I make enough online and with commissions and private tutoring to keep on being semi-self-employed.

I'm looking forward to getting my weekends back too.

Regarding safety instructions, have a look at candles in shops and what instructions they have. I would have thought that whatever the high street is selling them as, will be ok for you.

Owain_Moneysaver

geordie_joe wrote: »

You can't get insured for being blamed by someone for their house burning down. You can only get insured for being proved to be at fault.

Yes, but an insurer will defend the claim.