Soap making supply sources are very numerous on the Internet. It's actually puzzling where to go for supplies and information.
Consider these five categories of soap supplies that you must choose for your soap making project.
1. Oils
The most basic material you must choose are your base oils, the actual oils that turn to soap. If you're making only small batches, you may choose to use what's available in your local grocery store.
As your production volume goes up, you may choose to buy in larger volume. Here, shipping costs are a major factor.
If you do order your oils, consider Columbus Foods in Chicago for excellent quality materials at great prices.
2. Scents
If you scent your soaps, which you probably will, the choice of a scent supplier is difficult. Thee are so many to choose from.
You must choose whether to use synthetic fragrance oils in endless varieties. Or you may decide to use natural essential oils.
There are suppliers who specialize in each or some carry both types.
The choice of the scent oils may be a large part of your cost for a bar of soap.
3. Colors
Colors can be commercial pigments approved for cosmetics. These are often clay based.
Or there are many natural materials that produce muted earth tones. I've used and enjoy rose hips, spirulina, turmeric, kelp and many other natural plant-based materials as colorants.
Some soap making supply sources carry both types.
4. Lye
Lye is used to turn the oils to soap. It is a necessary ingredient in soap. But it is classified as a hazardous material so it's expensive to ship. Luckily it is available through many of the soap supply source companies.
Lye can sometimes be found in building supply stores in the plumbing department.
The best place to buy lye is locally through an industrial chemical supply house. You'll most likely need a tax exempt certificate or some way to prove you're a business. Your wholesale cost will be far less than any other way.
5. Information
There is a bewildering amount of information about making soap available online.
Much of it is very good. and from reliable sources. Some of it is worthless.
A good inexpensive basic printed book is Soap by Ann Bramson. It's a classic.
With some good guidance and a little work you can find the best soap making supply sources for your soap making projects.
Al Bullington writes about rural living and small scale business topics. He has made and sold soap for years.
For ideas about the best soap making supply sources as well as professional tips on making and marketing soap get his Soap Business Kit at [http://www.soapbizkit.com]www.soapbizkit.com.
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