These are the bestselling Panhandle Girl soaps. (Steve Bisson/Savannah Morning News)

Sometimes you learn something you almost wish you hadn't. Such was the case for Savannah soapmaker Saja Aures.

She'd been making her Panhandle Girl soaps from her home for years, selling her "fiercely fabulous products" mainly through her website,www.panhandlegirl.com, and feeling good about how environmentally friendly her efforts were.

Aures, an administrator for the city of Savannah, is the kind of committed greenie who raises worms to compost her garbage and whose porch is covered with container vegetables.

So when she learned the main ingredient in her handmade soaps - palm oil - was leading to the clearcutting of rainforests, she got a sinking feeling.

"I thought 'Oh crap, I've been using that for eight years.'"

The problem with palm oil is that it's too popular. It's used in 50 percent of all consumer goods, from lipstick and packaged food to body lotion and biofuels, according to the nonprofit Rainforest Action Network......

Read more at  -  http://savannahnow.com/green-living/2010-06-08/savannah-soapmaker-gets-eco-friendlier

Making soap may seem completely scientific, but it’s really about creativity and chemistry. Soap has three main components: vegetable or animal fat, water and lye. When the ingredients reach the same temperature, makers mix a fat with lye and water, and watch saponification, a chemical process, occur. Then they add fragrances and essential oils; the result is soap. But the process involves more than that — it’s a way of life, a hobby-turned-career, a nod to native ingredients, and a love song to healthy living, especially here in Hunterdon.

Crunchy Granola

Samples from Deerfield's oatmeal soap line.

Jane Deerfield’s soaps don’t contain granola as the name suggests, but she does have an oatmeal line. After taking a workshop in 1998, Deerfield started making her own soaps as a hobby, and selling them at fairs, festivals and shows. As the words “crunchy” and “granola” were thrown around (customers compare her items to 1960s throwbacks), Deerfield realized they were on to something. Crunchy Granola had its name, and with Deerfield’s expertise in weaving and spinning, as well as soap making, she had a homegrown company. “I’ve gotten to a point where if I can make it myself, I prefer to,” she says. She lives a green life and prefers to use vegetable oils in her soaps; she cares about how the soaps feel on the skin. The soaps cost between $5.50 and $7.50 a bar. Big sellers from the oatmeal soap line include lavender, mint and patchouli. Deerfield specializes in shampoo/conditioner bars and silk soaps. The shampoo/conditioner bars remove tangles and the silk bars literally contain silk — a smoother feel for the skin......

Read more at   -   http://www.nj.com/hunterdon-county-democrat/index.ssf/2010/05/rub-a-dub-dub_the_handmade_soa.html

These simple molded soaps are an easy way to spruce up the bathroom. They also make inexpensive gifts. Check out this article for tips on making your own soap to use with this project.

Supplies:

• Soap base
• Paring knife
• Microwaveable glass measuring cup
• Microwave
• Soap colorant
• Arnold Grummer's Magnolia/Sunflower/Butterfly/Any Arnold Grummer’s Ceramic Casting Mold
• Pearl-Ex
• Modeling clay
• Spoon
• Square soap mold

Steps:

1. Roll modeling clay to a size that will outline image on mold and press down lightly.
2. This gives you a taller lip on the mold.
3. Melt soap base per labeling (adding color or scent if desired).
4. Spoon or pour soap into mold.
5. Allow to cool and remove.
6. Pour additional melted soap into the square soap mold, cool and remove.
7. Spoon a small amount of melted soap to top of larger soap and adhere your molded soap.
8. Brush with Pearl-Ex for color.

SOURCE _ http://www.favecrafts.com/Soaps/Decorative-Soaps

The original savon de Marseille.Photo by Lionel Moule

Famous though it is, savon de Marseille does not have an official French AOC, but its production was codified in 1688 in an edict by Louis XIV, which stipulated that no butter or other animal fats could be used in the soap mixture, but "only pure olive oil"—anything  else and "the merchandise will be confiscated". Among many other things, the edict also ordered production stopped during the summer, because heat affected the quality of the oil, and forbade the use of fresh oil before the first of May, giving the oil time to mature after the annual mid-winter pressing. Anyone caught breaking the rules four times, the edict declared, would be banished from Provence.

Soap was produced in Marseille as early as the 12^th century, since the city had easy access to the principal ingredients: olive oil and soda, which at first came from the ashes of salicorne, or sea-asparagus, that grew in the salt marshes of the Camargue. With the development of shipping and later railroads, and modern notions of hygiene, the Marseille soap industry enjoyed a golden age in the 19th century, and only began to decline in the mid-20th, with the arrival of detergents and washing machines. Today only a handful of traditional savonneries in Marseille and nearby Salon-de-Provence continue to produce authentic savon de Marseille.

The basic process takes some two weeks from start to finish. The oil (usually olive, palm or coconut) and soda are mixed in huge cauldrons or vats to produce soap paste, which is then liberally rinsed with salt water to remove the excess soda. The mixture is then "cooked" for about ten days, and rinsed in fresh water. The hot paste is poured into cooling tanks and then into molds, where it starts to dry. After two days, the half-dried soap is cut into huge blocks, then cut again into smaller cubes or bars, which are set out on shelves to finish drying before being hand- or machine-stamped. The traditional cubes are stamped on all six sides, the hallmark of savon de Marseille, and the stamp guarantees that the soap contains at least 72 percent of natural vegetal oil. The exact formulas for each soap—with added fragrances and ingredients such as shea butter or honey—are the secret of each soapmaker. Containing only natural ingredients and perfectly biodegradable, savon de Marseille seems poised for a comeback in an ecologically conscious world.

Authentic savon de Marseille is still made by Marius Fabre, founded in 1900 and now run by the third generation, in Salon-de-Provence; Rampal-Latour, founded in 1828, in Salon; and the Savonnerie de la Licorne in Marseille.

SOURCE  _  http://francetoday.com/articles/2010/04/29/super-soap.html

New Delhi, Delhi, April 17, 2010 -- Are you ready to learn the top secrets of candle, soap & chocolate making? The art of making these aesthetic items is very much personified by a style statement unique to the artist using creativity in selecting colors, exotic art and unique scents. If one is passionate to learn the chic styles of handcrafted candles, aromatic soaps & yum stick chocolates, then come and discover the distinctive designs and explore your creative skills at the Craft and Social Development Organization.

'Craft and Social Development Organization' (CSDO) is dedicated to excellence in teaching art through craft contributing significantly to the continuity of contemporary craft. The organization wants to expand their ability to help more people in the vocational training, making a community and helping people to learn how to make career through these training progammes.

One can learn professionally, or semi-professionally, to make the most varied and exclusive range of chocolates from: Chocolate sticks & rocks to Marzipan chocolates, Liquor chocolates to Truffle chocolates, Hot-Molded-Dipped-Fondant-Caramels, Vibrant chocolate packaging & decorations. The special weekend or daily classes are customized for the convenience of the people who have love for craft and arty expression. Making chocolates can be a lot less expensive than buying commercially made chocolates, especially around festivals like Valentine's Day or Christmas.

If you want to have some great gifts that people will really love without spending a fortune then you can make gifts for people that are unique and personalized and don't cost that much to make. Most people love to get homemade gifts and almost everyone loves chocolate so giving the gift of homemade chocolate is sure to be a hit.

Ms Sunita Bhasin, Director "Craft and Social development Organization" (CSDO), said "Nothing beats the fulfillment and satisfaction of making your own brand of hand made decorated candles, soaps & lip-smacking chocolates. It's my desire to create something half as beautiful as what we're likely to see in bloom next week."

MAKE YOUR SPACE LOOK NICE, AND SMELL NICE TOO!

Handmade soaps retain extra glycerin, known to soften the skin naturally. The course for soap making includes aromatic soaps, melt and pour process, hand milled soaps. The cold process soap making which can be learned in a day only for a handful fee of Rs 2000/- whereas the advance course in cold process can be learned in the timespan of 4 days for just Rs 5000.The best part in learning these new trend is that it has created a new generation of artisans and also that it is exciting and enjoyable hobby that can easily turn into satisfying trade.

Candles can be personalized and gets attached to particular memories that we all cherish. It's not about looking nice alone but also about smelling nice. Every scent evokes a particular emotion, and candles become an easy way to fill the space with wonderful aroma and ambience. 'Craft and Social Development Organization' (CSDO) gives training in making candles which is smokeless, dripless, long lasting- when properly lit and maintained. The extent in making these beautiful candles takes only a day with reasonable price starting from Rs 1500-2500 only. The wide-ranging varieties of the candles are Aroma Candles, Handcrafted Candles, Embedded incrusted & Hurricane ,Gel Candles, Floating Candles, T-light Candles, Container Candles, Votives, Spa Candles, Pillar Candles, Potpourri Candles, Mosaic Candles, Decoupauge Candles & Feng Shui Candles.

As 'Sunita Bhasin' of CSDO puts it, "Candles symbolizes life and chocolates spread sweetness around the world making it a beautiful and happy place."

Notes to Editor

About Craft & Social Development Organization (CSDO)

Craft and Social Development Organization is dedicated to excellence in teaching art through craft, contributing significantly to the continuity of contemporary craft as an artistic expression. Teachers are more than technicians or managers.

They are morally engaged role models who consciously and ethically guide young adolescents' educational choices. CSDO want to expand its ability to help more people in the Vocational Training, making community and help people to learn how to make career through these training progammes.

We make soap. We make soap very well. We want you to
buy our soap. Simple.

Our bars, also called slabs, contain the best ingredients in the midwest. Our unique combinations and large portions make us stand out in a world full of handcrafted
soap companies. You will love our soap. Honest.

One person makes our soap. No more, no less. If it were less, we would be in trouble.

Our soap is made by hand(and a spatula) in small... (read more)Mission:To be a productive soap company. Providing quality products at reasonable prices to all. Who want to be 'Clean'. Curat is GREEN! We love the environment. We love to breathe fresh air and drink 'Clean' water. We hope you do too. We use recycled paper to package our products. Products:Cold process soaps. Hot process soaps,Castille style soaps. VEGAN soaps for our VEGAN friends.

http://www.curatclean.com

SOURCE  _  http://www.wishtv.com/dpp/indy_style/home/curat-soap:-local-indy-girls-showcase-handmade-soap

Tools and Materials
Nonstick 9-inch square pan
Heart-shape cookie cutter
Glass measuring cup
Glycerin soap
Bench scraper
Soap colorant or food coloring
Spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol
Cutting board
Needlenose pliers
1/8-inch metal letter stamps
Masking tape

For instructions go to  -   http://www.marthastewart.com/article/heart-shaped-soap?backto=true&backtourl=/photogallery/valentines-day-decor#slide_14

by Matthew Liebenberg

Barr Soap from Nipawin was selected as the producer of the best handmade soaps in Saskatchewan.

Readers of Prairie North, a magazine about prairie living in Saskatchewan, picked Barr Soap as their favorite soap maker in a recent vote that was co-ordinated by the magazine. The readers' choice of the best on offer in the province - from the best place to buy shoes to the best place to find fishing tackle - is featured in the winter edition of the magazine, which is currently available on newsstands across Canada.

"It's an absolute honour," Sonja Barr said about her selection. "It's one thing to say to your neighbours this is good soap, but it's another thing to take that time and actually send my name in. I guess you don't really realize how many people you touch when you have a hobby and you do things."

Barr, who has been a Nipawin resident since 1975, started to make soap about 10 years ago.

"I guess I'm a craft person," she said. "I like homemade products, I like doing stuff. We don't have a quilt on our beds that I haven't made."

Barr used to buy handmade soap before she tried to make her own. She admitted it took her a couple of years to get the process right....

Read more at -  http://www.nipawinjournal.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=2278194

....Handmade soap. Handmade, all-natural scented soaps are staples at most local boutiques, but The Yorktown Onion's ornate packaging adds a special flair to this hostess gift. There are several varieties of vegetable glycerin soap, packaged with a large snowflake ornament and a wooden, canoe-shaped presentation box. If that's not your style, the shop has loads of Vera Bradley accessories, as well. $17.80 for soap set at The Yorktown Onion, Riverwalk Landing, 319 Water St., Yorktown. 872-8232.......

For more ideas go to - http://www.dailypress.com/features/family/dp-life_hostess_1229dec29,0,2280251.story

1999 FHS graduate Heidi Holland-Price created a company called Nature’s Embrace to share natural-made products with others.

Handmade bath and body products are becoming very popular.

If 1999 Frazee High School graduate Heidi Holland-Price has anything to do with it, the popularity of these products should rise even more.

From fragrant rejuvenating soaps to moisturizing beeswax lip balm to body butter lotion bars, Heidi created a company called Nature's Embrace to share natural-made products with others.

In August 2008, Heidi had some extra fragrance oils left over after making a few homemade candles and curiosity about the oils prompted her to research making cold-press bar soap.

Cold-press soap is created by a chemical reaction between oils, water (or other liquid) and lye, which is the oldest cleanser around....

Read more at - http://www.frazeeforum.com/main.asp?SectionID=21&SubSectionID=61&ArticleID=22112