I feel like I should start with an introductory blog. This is my first blog, so please be gentle! I know I'll get into the habit of writing seemingly interesting blog posts, but right now it's a little awkward for me like when you get your very first diary as a kid and you have no idea what to say so you just start writing random thoughts and end with "okay bye". Yeah.
Anyway, so I want to start with who I am and how I got to this point. I started Earth N Moon in September of 2015 as a basic craft project with Melt and Pour Soaps that I could give to family and friends. If you have no idea what I'm talking about, Melt and Pour soaps are soaps made from premade bases that melt easily and set up quickly. They usually contain a high Glycerin content depending on the soap. There are all sorts of Melt and Pour types such as Stephenson, Goat Milk, Clear (true Glycerin), White, Shea, Aloe, etc.
It wasn't until I started delving into soap making and researching the various techniques and soap makers that I really wanted to try my hand at cold process soaping which does involve making your own soap from scratch and does involve the use of a caustic ingredient known as lye. I was super nervous my first time because I was terrified of getting burned by lye.
*Word of advice, if you have never worked with lye, DO NOT Google pictures of lye burns before working with lye. It will only scare you to the point of saying NOPE all together*
However, with that being said, everyone should understand the hazards and proper methods of safe handling when it comes to any chemical ingredient. So, definitely do your research before you go gallivanting all over the place trying out DIY recipes on the Internet.
Back to my story (I know I'm terrible about staying on track, sorry!). My first bar of soap was a basic bar that had very little scent. I really liked my first soap and was instantly hooked on the whole soap making adventure.
So, fast forward to today and here we are talking about soap and having a grand ol' time making it. I'm learning new things every day. My advice for anyone looking into soap making is:
Research, research, research
Become active in the soap community
Talk to people
Share ideas and inspirations
Attend live events such as craft shows
I'll have more detailed and specific blogs on my adventures and view points on the different aspects of the soap business as I go along. So follow me, friend me, all that good stuff to keep up with all of the tips and advice I have to offer!
Here are some great places to find tutorials that I have used in the past and that I trust:
