Handcrafted Soap
Q: Doesn't handmade
soap have lye in it?
A: You can't make soap without using
lye, or something equally as caustic. If someone tells you differently,
they are either lying or misinformed! The lye saponifies, or reacts
with the oils, to make soap plus glycerin. Lye is no longer present
in the final product.
Q: Granny's old lye soap nearly burnt
my hide off!
A: Granny probably made lye with
wood ashes, tested the strength by floating an egg in it, mixed
it with bacon drippings, and stirred over a fire for six hours.
She didn't have a computer or a digital scale. These days, ingredients
can be precisely determined and measured, ensuring that no one's
hide gets burnt. Making handmade soap today is more scientific
than it used to be.
Q: Can I wash my hair with handmade soap?
A: Yes and no. If you have soft water,
you can wash your hair just fine with true soap, handmade or otherwise.
But if you have hard water, you can't. Well, you can, but you
probably won't like the results. On the hair, real soap reacts
with the minerals in hard water and leaves a film. It won't hurt
anything, it just doesn't leave your hair shiny. And be careful...
true soap does sting if you get it in your eyes.
Q: Can I wash my face with it?
A: Yes and no. (Didn't see that one
coming, did you!) Normally you don't use soap containing any "scrubbiest"
on the delicate skin of your face or neck. This includes additives
like corn meal, pumice, loofah, or herbs. While these may make
wonderful gardener's soaps for the hands, or great exfoliating
scrubs for the rest of your body, you don't want to damage your
tender facial skin! With that said, there are some wonderful soap
out there that include mild "scrubbies" and are intended
for your face. Just be aware of what is in your soap and what
it is intended for.
Q: Will my soap last a long time?
A: Often the number one compliment
we receive (after raves about the scents) is about how long the
soap lasts. And the number one complaint...? That the soap doesn't
last long enough! It all has to do with how you care for the soap.
No, you don't have to treat it like a pampered pet, but do show
it some respect! Don't leave it sitting in water, or let the shower
constantly hit it. Handmade soap has no hardening chemicals to
keep it from dissolving. Seem inconvenient? Well, maybe. But just
think of all the chemicals you're not putting on your skin! We
use and recommend a drainingsoap dish.
Handcrafted Candles
Q: What are your candles made of?
A: All my candles are made from 100%
Soy wax. Pure Soy wax burns, release no toxins into the environment
and burns clean with no soot. Melt pools are full and the scent
throw is great.
Q: Are your wicks “all Natural”?
A: Yes, my wicks contain no metals
(zinc) or other chemical. They are woven cotton designed for the
type of wax and container I use.
Q: What different kind of candles do you make?
A: I primarily make 8 oz container
candles in jelly jars and 6 oz wickless candles in travel tins.
These are popular sizes and which allow me to purchase quality
canning jars and travel tins at a good price. I will be glad to
fill a custom order for you using the type and size jar you desire.
Contact me with your needs and we will work out the cost.
Q: Why do you use canning jars and tins for you candles? Would
not something more “upscale” have more customer appeal?
A: This is an excellent question
and can be answered both yes and no. Yes, I use quality 8 ounce
canning jars and 6 ounce travel tins for my primary container
candles because the glass containers are a high quality food grade
glass which will safely withstand the heat required to make the
candle and the travel tins are shatter proof. Additionally, the
travel tins work great as a"wickless" candle by placing
them on a simple portable coffee cup warmer. The wax melts at
a very low temperature and releases the scent into your room just
like a tart burner, except no open flame is required. Each jelly
jar candle comes with a canning ring and a sealed top and each
tin with a matching slip top ensuring that your candle is fresh,
clean and will greet you with a "burst" of wonderful
fragrance when you first open it.
Q: Do you scent your candles "through and through"?
A: The terminology used to describe
the scent formula for a candle varies with the description from
each maker. My candles are tested to find out what the maximum
amount of fragrant oil the wax will carry before it starts to
weep. This insures that each candle I make contains the maximum
amount of fragrant oils possible. The fragrance is added to the
wax while it is hot, insuring the scent is blended completely
and mixed through and through to insure you will enjoy the lovely
scent you have chosen from beginning to end.
Q: Once I have used my candle and wish to snuff it out for later
use, will it retain it's scent?
A: Yes! All you need to do is safely
snuff out the candle, wait a short time and then place the top
and the ring back on the candle. If the candle is still warm,
the top will reseal. Even if it doesn’t, the ring and inner
top will keep your candles scent trapped in the jar until you
next wish to use it.
