![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Fun and profit? Or just fun at least.
Jul. 8th, 2014 08:19 pm I am thinking of learning to make soap, and candles, both for fun and for a little supplemental income. Nothing elaborate, just selling to friends and family, maybe on Etsy? Or some other crafty website. You know, if I don't set fire to my kitchen or whatever.
I'm looking at tips and guides, and checking out books and such. Getting ideas and making plans. I'm pretty excited -- even the planning is fun. To start with, I probably will just do the melt-and-pour sort of soap -- buying ready made bases and adding my own scents and additives. I don't have the set up to deal with lye, or with curing the soap for weeks at a time (there's no way I could keep the cats away from it). So I'll have to pay attention to the ingredients when I order the bases, since I won't be controlling all of that myself. I'll probably make some sort of stamp to carve with a logo I design (that'll be really fun!), and I'm already thinking about packaging options.
For candles, I'll probably keep it pretty simple -- they seem easier than soaps on average, and I'll probably use a bunch myself. I love candles.
Of course, I won't be able to start until I get an actual paycheck, which won't be for . . . two weeks? At least? So that I can buy supplies.
I'm looking at tips and guides, and checking out books and such. Getting ideas and making plans. I'm pretty excited -- even the planning is fun. To start with, I probably will just do the melt-and-pour sort of soap -- buying ready made bases and adding my own scents and additives. I don't have the set up to deal with lye, or with curing the soap for weeks at a time (there's no way I could keep the cats away from it). So I'll have to pay attention to the ingredients when I order the bases, since I won't be controlling all of that myself. I'll probably make some sort of stamp to carve with a logo I design (that'll be really fun!), and I'm already thinking about packaging options.
For candles, I'll probably keep it pretty simple -- they seem easier than soaps on average, and I'll probably use a bunch myself. I love candles.
Of course, I won't be able to start until I get an actual paycheck, which won't be for . . . two weeks? At least? So that I can buy supplies.
But I'd thought I'd ask -- what sort of scents do you like? What kind of shapes?
Personally, I like citrusy scents, or wintery ones (like cinnamon apple and pumpkin spice) for candles, and things like peach and vanilla for soap. I like pillar candles, and spheres, as well as the sort that come in a simple glass jar. I like rounded rectangles for soap, ovals and such, shapes that fit well in your hand.
What do you like? And would you like some? Once I get a chance to actually make things, I'll probably give a bunch away while I'm learning the ropes.
