Where do you buy your supplies?

[Jackdaw Jewellery]

Hi all,

My mum has been getting into making soaps and toiletries lately. The only thing is she is not the most technically minded (I am sure she won't mind me saying that) and therefore hopeless with anything internet related! She has been buying most of here stuff from Justasoap and thesoapkitchen. Can anyone recommend any other good sites? She is also looking for some Christmas molds in time for Christmas. Would anyone know of any good sites that sell them?

Thanks so much

[Poppy4lee]

I but all my soap making stuff from Justasoap too, I purchased one of their safety assessments (last year) which means I have to use their soap bases & fragrance oils but I can purchase essential oils & cosmetic colourants & pigments from anyone. Justasoap seem like a fairly good company & their prices seem fairly competitive.. As for soap moulds, I've found that companies in the US have the best selection (look on eBay - worldwide under soap molds) although Soap Basics http://www.soapbasics.co.uk/ have a wide variety (including Christmas moulds). For essential oils, Mother Natures Goodies on eBay http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Mother-Natures-Goodies are quite good on price (I always compare their prices with Justasoap to see who is cheapest).
I hope that's of some help, unfortunately, you have to use the Internet but..practice makes perfect!!

[Comforts & Candles]

A good one I've used a lot recently is Soaposh

I can't post the link directly as I've not made enough posts but just use all the w's and then a dot co dot uk at the end after the company name...

They've got the best prices I've found so far on M&P bases and all the bits to go with it and they also carry a nice range for CP soaps too...

AM x

[Jackdaw Jewellery]

So does my mum need to have a licence or something to be able to sell her soaps etc?

[sweet]

yes she does! not that i'm too much of an expert at it yet! but there is another thread about certification.

s.

[sweet]

oh, actually there are two! on the first page of threads. hope it all helps

s.

[Poppy4lee]

So does my mum need to have a licence or something to be able to sell her soaps etc?

If you go on to the Justasoap website they have a 'safety assessment procedure'page, and I think the Soap Kitchen have a load of info on their site too.

Your Mum can make soap to give as gifts but she must not sell it without the proper safety assessment.

[just_mai]

she doesn't need a license as such but she does need trade approved scales and every product she intends to sell she needs a safety certification for from a qualified chemist.
she will also need to compile a product information file for every batch she makes and sells.
she also has to know the rules and regulations and label her products accordingly, using the correct INCI name, she needs to know how to make them safely and follow the appropriate precautions. especially if she is making lotions with water and oils.

sadly it's not a case of just making a product and selling it, there is a lot of paperwork involved, any water based product she makes will need to be sent off for testing against nasty buggies.

People think this is a get rich quick scheme it's not. You spend out lots of money experimenting getting your products right, testing them and the certificates do not come cheap, then you have insurance on top of that.

I don't always go for the cheapest company i go for quality.

you can try
the soap kitchen
just a soap
newdirectionsuk.com
http://www.aromantic.co.uk/home.php
the soap tub
http://www.sblack.com/

[astleysoapco]

I source my products from all around the wrorld because its cheaper, even with uk import tax. However smaller items dont get taxed. But some ingredients still comes from this country. A few of my suppliers:-

stephensongroupuk.com
beatsonclark.co.uk

However you may need to order in bulk. But - its a lot cheaper. If you looking for smaller quanities maybe justasoap.co.uk might help.

if you need any other info, just ask!