Fresholi | Melting Pot Café

Hello

Like others on here, I have just stumbled across your site.

I've been making M&P soap for about two years, and recently made my first proper cold process soap.

I'm looking for advice about getting everything setup properly before I really get my teeth into making soaps a bit more permanently.

A bit about myself: I work FT already (on boring computers), two kids, a wife, I'm obsessed with soap (otherwise I wouldn't be here!).

I have a different hobby which also rakes in a fair amount of cash, so I don't need to make soap for a FT living immediately, I just like it.

I think you need some kind of certificates to prove you are safe if you want to sell soap, how do I find info about these? Many thanks

dcuk

(I have no website or anything, I'm taking it slowly...)

Croeso!

I make HP not CP (and occasionally MP) but I may be near enough to give you a hand - depending on which bit of N. Wales you're in.

Hello and welcome. You will find plenty of information here to help you.

Yes you have to have a safety assessment to enable you to sell legally. You will find plenty of advice about the legal stuff on the forum, and we have a friendly assessor who lurks here (Scott) who is very helpful and happy to anwer questions.

Where about in N Wales are you?

Hi - thanks for the offer.

I'm not far from Queensferry, in Deeside, is that far from you?

Thanks

dcuk

My Mum is from Connah's Quay. So, not a million miles from you.

Re: Connahs Quay - cool, small world!

Can i send a message to Scott, or will he drift over here probably sometime?

Do I need to donate anything here if I do sell some soap?

BRB - kids crying!

Yes you need to donate pics on a very regularly basis! Welcome, hope you enjoy it here.. the more you post, the more boards open up for you.  You can message Scott no problem, he doesn't bite... much  :mwaha:

You can post to the forum, or send him a message he pops in and out like the rest of us.

We all need help from time to time, even the most experienced. Post questions (even if you think they are silly) and you are bound to find someone who knows the answer. No donations necessary.

Oops, forgot to mention that if you don't post pics Honey gets very cross indeed. :mwaha:

Corwen - not too far, particularly as I may need to see someone by Mold in the near future.

OK, I'll get the camera out tomorrow when its light

I have a question now if thats ok? I am thinking of having a mould made in the US by a silicon mould maker. I have designed it, so it should be totally unique.

It would make a soap that looks like a wedge of swiss cheese (with multiple little voids in it)

Cool, or dumb? I don't know how much it'll cost yet, but as its a custom mould, probably quite expensive. He has made thousands of moulds though, and says he has never done any cheesey ones, let alone swiss cheese, so thats either good or bad.

Thanks

Two thoughts...

1.. there are regs against selling anything that looks like food but isn't actually food

and

2.. I've seen a mould like this online so have you Googled it yet? Probably a US site (given 1 above) but still, am sure I've seen one. 

I'll have a look into that! Thanks

Hello and a warm welcome.  I hope you enjoy it here and find it useful.  It's nice to mingle with those who think along the same lines as yourself  :buttrf:

 welcome  :buttrf:

hello and welcome aboard, sounds like you'll fit in here a treat!
 :buttrf: :buttrf:

Hello and welcome. :buttrf:

Hi and welcome.  :buttrf:
You've come to the right place, it's fun, helpful and friendly here.

Welcome aboard!

Hello & welcome to Fresholi, you WILL love it here  :buttrf:
Any Q's just shout!

Hi and welcome...

Hello again, thanks for all the lovely welcomes!

Here is a couple of photos taken yesterday.

The blue one is just M&P, but I got a new mould through the post and was desperate to try it out - I think it looks good though, and it smells nice (Sandalwood)


The yellow one was my first CP - olive oil, coconut oil, palm oil, lye, buttercup fragrance and sunset yellow colour. I have two testers from work, and two family testers, plus myself.

My wife has extremely sensitive skin so she hasn't used these yet, until I perfect my technique.

I tried and failed mixing by hand before (I have no idea what I made, but it certainly wasn't soap!), so I invested in a new food mixer from M&S - I think they got the price wrong - either that, or it was a bargain, £35.

Right - now have I attached the pictures ok??????
I can see them, so I guess I have

Very nice. I love the scent of sandalwood. The colour of the yellow one is very pretty.

Hi there.  I love the pics of your soaps, they look lovely.  The yellow one looks really creamy.  My OH has sensitive skin, and he loves my soap.  It really seems to do his skin good, and it's so nice making something for someone, when you know it is doing them good.  Keep it up, I am sure your wife will love your creations  :buttrf: :buttrf:

Thanks. I wanted the first one to be all about the soap itself, and getting trace correctly. Colour and scent was a bit secondary for that one, but it worked well.

The CP looks a really good first attempt.

(most of us use stickblenders to bring soap to trace)

That blue heart is really cute and the CP one looks lovely and creamy  :buttrf:

Thanks Helen and all, all very nice comments.

The yellow one is good - very mild, seems very long lasting as well. The heart mould has six identical voids, only used two to start off with though.

Getting some loaf moulds made up by father-in-law as I type - he is doing a couple of different ones hopefully. I like the idea of the nuts n bolts ones that can be taken apart completely. Already have a huge roll of waxed paper to line it. Also have silicon loaf mould, but not used it yet - it doesn't look too good, but might be useful.

I have a question if thats ok, I am thinking of doing a couple of multiple layer soaps in the loaf moulds.

Am i right with this idea?
a) pour bottom half of the loaf mould
b) leave 24 hours
c) pour 2nd half

Will they bond ok, or do i need to use some kind of adhesive (not glue obviously!)?

Thanks all

Very nice soaps, and  your first CP is reallly nice, I love the colour/

Re the layers, do you mean CP or M&P?

CP, I pour about 10 - 15 mins later and they stay together, M&P it;s all about timing and I could never get the hang of it

I like the blue colour of the heart and the creamy one looks soooo.. well creamy. Must feel lovely.  :buttrf:

welcome

 :)

Hi and welcome :) Like the pics of your soaps, the heart shaped one is such a pretty shade of blue!

Hi & Welcome - more pickys please  ;)

hello! :)

Hi there, welcome to the forum. Love the pictures, the heart is a lovely colour and the cream one looks deliciously creamy  :buttrf:

Hello - wow there's lots of new people recently!

Welcome from me, I'm near you in Chester!

Welcome. Lots of North West newbies - great to see!! :D

Hi there another welcome from another newbie.

Sally x  :)

Hello and welcome - sorry I didn't see this until now - please PM me if you have any questions regarding regs etc. Always here to help any Fresholi member (potential client or not, even if you have a SA with another assesssor - it doesn't matter - happy to support ANY craft/small/new producer) :buttrf:

Hello Scott et al

Thanks everyone for the nice greetings, haven't got any more photos at the moment, but I'll make another batch soon - I'll do some before, during and afters then.

Scott - if all goes well, I'll be PM'ing you in a second.

Thanks

Sorry - I didn't read your first post properly - hence why I've just replied to your email saying that I didn't realise that you were a fellow male forum member - I guess the wife and kids (I missed this part) was quite a big clue!
Anyway -  a second welcome as a fellow Fresholi gent - look forward to following your soap adventures
Cheers
Scott

Hello, me again - can anyone help me please? About a year or so ago, i bought a bag of soaps from a charity shop in southport. The bag was only 50p for six large bars all the same. Boy do i wish i bought the lot as it was lovely.

I would love to know the ingredients used, especially the fragrance. I thought it might be sandalwood, but it doesn't smell quite like the sandalwood i have.

Anyone got any suggestions how i can find out what it is please? Maybe a local sniffaholic?

Many thanks

Dcuk

Was there an ingredient/INCI listing with them at all?

No - just six bars loose in a clear plastic bag.

Half of me wishes I had bought the lot (about 60 bars)
Half of me is glad I didn't as this was one of the main reasons I have decided to get into making soap

Thanks

DC