Hello from Italy! I'm Nicki (I'm English) and am trapped in Italy, but have been thinking about making my own soaps and bath products since I read a chick lit book called 'Goodbye Jimmy Choo' which tells the tale of  two women who make up a balm from an old recipe they find. Obviously, being a novel, they have an instant hit and the stuff sells like wildfire! I thought, hmmm, I could do something like that!

So, this summer I started making lipbalms, bath melts and bath bombs which I am stockpiling for Christmas pressies. I can't wait to start experimenting with cp soap but have had a few problems.

Coconut oil doesn't seem to exist in this part of the world. I tried in the Chinese shops in Naples and they all looked at me as if I had taken leave of my senses.
So my Dad sent me a kilo just to get started and it broke in the post. I received a soggy oily package from a very angry postman.

I found a palm oil distributor! But he doesn't seem to want to make a delivery here so I am trying to get his address and go to him.

I finally cracked and made a huge order via internet from the UK, just to get started, and a month later nothing has arrived. Grrrr...

So thats it, I have no experience yet, no interesting recipes to offer, no advice to give, but...
As soon as I get started (e.g. when my stuff arrives) I am sure I will need help and encouragement from you guys.

Hi Nicki
I don't know if would be of any use to you but I have a friend in Portugal who buys her supplies from somebody in Lisbon I think.  It may be easier for you to get it from there than the UK, so I can ask her for details if you'd like.  I don't know if they sell supplies for CP soap but I can ask.  She also buys her coconut oil etc from local pharmacies - don't know about Italy but it's easier to get hold of in shops like that in Portugal than it is here.

Anyhow, good luck.  I'm a newbie to all this and the Fresholi members are a really nice, friendly and very knowledgable bunch so you should have fun.
Jo 

Hello Nicki!!   

I'm sorry, did I read that correctly?  Did you say you were 'trapped' in Italy.  I may have a solution to this.  If you would like to partake in my hostage exchange programme, I would gladly offer myself as the exchangee.  You come and live here and I will go and get myself all 'trapped' in Italy (you know I'm such a giving person, lol) 

I ship quite a bit to Italy, just so that you know (that's it, end of my sales thingy, I'm good arn't I, nominated for salesperson of the year you know, lol)

Have you got any piccies of the stockpile items?  I can set up a gallery for you (you better get used to me asking for piccies, for I am The Piccie Monster).  It's great to see the finished products and offers inspiration as well as highlights your efforts.

I think its very interesting the source of your inspiration.  Its really amazing, the power of the written word isn't it?

Anyway, a big warm welcome and thanks for joining us.  There are some very knowledgable people with an array of different skills and experience that really helps to enrich the forum and spark creativity.   

Hello Nicki,

You'll find a lot of helpful and friendly people here. I can't help re supplies but it looks as though Helen may be able to!!

Welcome Nicki! am sure u will enjoy n have ur creativity fired here!
I understand the trapped in paradise syndrome! but in sunny Espana! a learning curve!
Zoe
 

Hi Nicki Lovely to meet you I am new here too but everyone has made me so welcome they are a lovely crowd and will also be there to help you with any problems..Italy eh you lucky lucky girl!

Hi Nicki, Welcome on here...
It can be tough soaping with so few supplies at your disposal...Do you have any asian or african shops around you? You might be able to get a few bit from them too.
I'm in Ireland and as at 3yrs ago there wasn't a lot around...that has changed now though but it is still nowhere near what you'd get in the UK...
Anyway, I digress....
Hope you get to find this place as addicitive as the rest of us!

Thanks for the warm welcome! 
Jo- I think shipping from the UK would be cheaper that shipping from anywhere in Europe, even to ship 5 kilos of oil from North Italy costs double what it costs to buy! Luckily I think I will manage with a big order every now and then (if it ever arrives!) and begging favours from andyone travelling to and from Italy/England.

Helen- No photos yet, but as soon as I have produced more stuff I'll show you all! Yes...trapped! If I was in England I'd already be an expert at soap making and on my way to selling stuff! It will take years here.

Hi Elaine...Something tells me you're a pro!

Zoe- Hey at least in Spain its  a bit more cosmopolitan. I bet you can get everything you need there!

Edith-Hmmm, lucky in some ways! You wouldn't believe how much I sometimes pine for Sainsburys!!

Afrokelt-i've checked out the asian shops, and nothing. I was directed to an indian shop but got lost....Will try again next time I get to Naples...whenever that will be.

I am so desperate to start, can you tell? I just got excited because I found a recipe for goats milk and ylang ylang soap  (in the Melinda Coss book...Amazon always delivers on time!) that doesn't need coconut or palm oil. But, I still can't do it because my thermometers haven't arrived. I refused to pay 30 euro for a sugar thermometer here so ordered them with everything else.

Pazienza....(sigh)

Aw bless!  You seem a little frustrated.  Just so that you know, there is a week long (yes I said a week long) postal strike here so nothing much going on in any delivery department in the UK at the moment.  It should end Wednesday (or is it Thursday  ), but still, you ordered it a month ago so I would imagine it was well on its way before the strike began  Here's hoping!! 

I just stopped the parcel delivery van  on the street and asked if he had seena parcel addressed to me. His reply: "Oh, it was for you! There's too many houses where you live and I don't know which one is yours so I sent the parcel back to the depot."

I am fuming. Only in Italy...

Meanwhile I made some mandarine bathbombs, but I wanna make soappppp!

Your half way there though Nicki - Keeps ya chin up