Hathor’s Bath

Right, well I’ve gone and done it now…the website is finally finished and although I still have a few tweaks, it’s online and ready to go.

Gah…right, now to point people in its direction!

Hathor’s Bath

I made these bath bombs today as I linked as well to Folksy to also try and sell some wares, and I may link to yet another, and then wait a bit to see what happens.  I didn’t really think of much as I just bashed these together, but when I took the photo today I was hit by a sense of “Good grief, I actually made these myself.  They look good…and I made it!”  I guess I’m just still surprised that I can actually do summat…

Well, crossing appendages now for sales.

I was always under the impression that charcoal soaps were exceptionally harsh.  This soap has changed my mind. It’s not even remotely abrasive, but goes on smooth as silk, yet really does the job at pulling impurities out of the skin.  This is turning into a bloke’s favourite at the moment!

The website is nearly complete, but the stock isn’t; for some reason a good portion of last week’s order went to London, even though my current address is on the invoices!  Oh well, it means I’ve had time today to work on labels, batch files, INCI names, wrapping and so forth.   The only trouble I’ve been having so far is my friends using up all my soaps before they ever get on the site!  So I’ll have to double-batch.

I’m now using great “moulds” (you’d laugh if you knew what I was currently using as a mould) but they have the benefit of being a really cool shape as well as easy to get soap out of!  Also they come four to a tray, so I’m able to double my batches easily without any trouble.  Best of all, uniform cutting - I was having a bit of trouble getting the larger rectangle mould to work out properly as far as getting consistent bars. 

So, cross fingers that the site will be up in the next few weeks.

I’ve just been formatting and working on the website this week inbetween Easter preparations and learning how to create bath bombs (with a bit of sherbet thrown in!). On the whole, it’s going well though I have a few formatting problems with the site, it’s mostly cosmetic and nothing that would prevent me from receiving payments or handling sales. My big issue at the moment however is friends who buy the soap almost as quickly as I’m making it! This has forced my hand a bit and I will be doubling my batch sizes this week so I can cover demands of both site and in person sales. I’ve invested in some big moulds for this purpose as well. Right now I’m nearly out of just about everything, but I’ll be soaping aplenty over the next couple of weeks and I should be able to catch up! At least there’s a demand, eh?

Right, all settled into the new house and I’ve been doing a fair bit behind the scenes, getting ready for the lotion bars and bath products to be worked on!  I’ve also got the website stuff to do and I’m working on layout at the moment.

So far, so good, let’s see how we do!

…probably means I’m doing a lot of work!

Due to the move, I’m doing a lot of packing, and not any soaping whatsoever.  There’s a part of me that worries about forgetting how to make soap altogether as I won’t be back in the swing of things till the end of March.  Nothing else for it, however!  The house needs packing up and everything must be squared away as I get back to West Country.

Unfortunately all this activity does mean I’m not working in either job at the moment - that’s going to sting a fair bit when it comes to next month’s pay, but again, it’s no joke trying to move a four bedroom house and everything in it as well as pets, child, and not go mad in the process - and I can’t exactly guarantee that last bit!

The good news is I sent out some soap samples to an interested party - I strongly suspect I might have underpriced my wares, but either way I shall wait in hope and check back just before the move to see whether I might have a wholesaler’s gig.

So, I am doing things, just not very exciting things…and eventually when I’m back online in the end of March I should have more to report.

Hathor’s Bath aweigh!

GAH! I am currently out of material to make soap, and since I’ve just done my last batch for a while (called “Lavender Cubed”) there’s not much soapy stuff I can do except for my module.  But I get so BORED with downtime like this.

However it’s not all sitting about - the sheer amount of things to do running a soaping business is pretty boggling.  My batch sheets are constantly getting updated after a one month, three month, six month and twelve month period (though I don’t have any batches that are a year old yet).  I am nearly out of pH strips and should get some more, and I’ve been wrapping up my soaps for the move and also fidding about with my labels again to get them a bit more reader friendly - however  I’ve been trying to stay busy by contacting TS about labelling.  I’m also putting together what I need to contact BERR, and also debating whether I get my third party liability first or whether I buy some hedging for the new place (hedging might win, as the dormant period is only till the end of March for those).  Then there’s website software as well as business card printing companies; there’s some great ones online that offer really topnotch products, you can even upload your own artwork.  I’ve used them in the past and managed to get some very ace and professional cards done - but I sort of need a website before I want to finish those.  And, of course, I’m thinking about a new recipe or two for soap, as well as debating doing the whole bath products, bombs, melts, bars, the lot, and probably get into lotion bars towards the Yuletide.  I’m being asked for shaving soap so I have to experiment with that soon, and in theory I do have everything I need for making some of that…well everything but some proper way to pour and store the stuff.  Hm….more thinking required.

So okay, not entirely downtime, but the thoroughly necessary and sometimes not so very exciting bits of getting up and running which I am doing right now.  It’s not a patch on actually MAKING soap but it is necessary.

Yes, it seems official - moving out of London and off to Wiltshire, which I certainly have more of an affinity towards!  The house is large if a bit outdated, but the biggest “score”; not only is there a third bedroom which can double as an office but also there’s a rather big utility room area with its own sink, and it might prove to be a good place to set up the soap-shop if all goes well!

I brought forth many soaps for friends while I was down this Saturday and true to my predictions, the sparkly “Purple Haze” was a bit of a hit with several - I probably should have brought more than one bar of that.  So my mates are now converts and they’ll both be keeping me busy for a while providing them with soap, as well as spreading the word for me.

I shall therefore wait to contact TS and all the other official stuff (not to mention domain names and websites) once I get all moved in and squared.

Moving forward!

I received my Safety Assessment paperwork yesterday from my chemist! Yay!  It certainly covers a lot and that was a big part of the battle down.  I am now legally able to sell my soap though I want to get third party liability and I need quite a few other steps completed before I feel I can proceed.  But still, it’s coming together.

YAY!

The Blood Rose actually looks quite cool, and still smells lovely.  Even so, it’s going to stay marketed to my “darker” friends as they’ll appreciate a soap which leaks red into the bath!

I managed to make a Purple Haze soap as well last night, coloured with alkanet, added some irridescent glitter powder and used “Monsoon” essential oils.  It actually smells a bit masculine so maybe good for people who aren’t so keen on girly fragrances.  But again, it is DARK.  Very very deep purple, with the glitter showing through to give a bit more visual interest and depth.

I want to cater to several different markets: the mainstreamers who want a nice bar that isn’t crammed with a bunch of unnecessary chemicals; the alternative community who also tend to be more eco-conscious, but at the same time are interested in soaps like the above with a more goth sort of theme and/or have problem skin; and the pagan community who are looking for items to use in rites and rituals (more on that later as I’m still working on it).  This requires a lot of balance and also a lot of products!  While there is often some crossover - I made a Herb & Honey Herbkissed bar for a gothly friend of mine and it’s become such a hit I’m adding it to mainstream if I can recreate the recipe a second time - there are others which I know will only appeal to a certain crowd, like the Blood Rose, Purple Haze and the Black Magic bar I’m currently toying with.

My Luxury Bars and the Herbkissed are more mainstream, and honestly need a bit of expansion - I need to remake the rose bar, make a lavender bar (as those are expected, really), and while the Cream in my Coffee and Two Earths bars constitute “just for men” I also want to do my Jack of the Green, which is a remake of my Forest Blend I made over the holidays.

The Sacred Bath stuff is probably going to be primarily resale/word of mouth items - I cannot make claims nor do I have a aromatherapy degree, but I’ve managed to get a fair bit of help from sacred-oil creators in the US and they’ve guided me along.  There used to be a oilmaker for ritual in the UK some time ago, but they closed their doors and I have had several pagan friends ask me about this.  When I flew the idea by several groups I know they were very enthusiastic, so I’m going to see what I can do - but while the Inquisition has gone out of style, attitudes haven’t much, so that aspect will be under the radar, so to speak.

So, let’s see what the future brings!  Anhk, Wadjet, Seneb - Life, Prosperity, Health!