For those of you familiar with the Seasonal Scent Crew, we'll give a quick run down of some changes for this year.  If you've never participated in SSC before, jump down a bit to the section that begins with ** and we'll fill you in on this exciting opportunity!

Changes:

1. ALL members are now testers.
2. We've done away with different levels (gold/silver/bronze) and are enabling you to build your own package.
3. Aftershave Splash is now added as an option for the seasonal products.
4. The SSC program runs with the calendar year, not Winter-to-Fall as before.
5. International friends who want to participate will need to contact us to work out details for additional shipping costs.

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**Our Seasonal Scent Crew is a special group of members who have the opportunity to choose the Soap Commander scent for each season of the year.  Members test 3 shaving soap samples each season and cast a vote for their favorite.  The winning scent then becomes our Seasonal Scent, and, subsequently, part of your shaving den.  (This process is repeated each season.)

 We offer an opportunity to join the SSC just once a year, and we have a limited number of spots, so be ready!  During sign-up you choose which products you’d like to receive each season.  It can be just the shaving soap, or the whole shebang of shaving soap, aftershave splash, aftershave balm, and bath soap, or any combination of those.  Then, each season you’ll receive a package from us with those items made in the current seasonal scent.  (These will arrive on your doorstep before the public has the opportunity to purchase them—you always get them first.)  There’s nothing more you need to pay and nothing more you need to do….except have fun testing out soap!

-------------------------------

A few additional details:

 We cannot change your package, so be intentional in selecting the items you want to receive in your seasonal shipment.  Additionally, we cannot add additional products to any SSC shipment (please place a separate order for additional items). 

 Memberships cannot be canceled/refunded, but they can be transferred to another person at your request.

 We love our international friends and don’t want to exclude them, but international shipping prices make the cost of SSC participation challenging for both sides.  If you live internationally and want to be a part of the Crew, please contact me directly so we can discuss the details of additional shipping costs.

-------------------------------

SSC 2019 Costs:

Shaving Soap only: $96 (all members must purchase at least the shaving soap)

Aftershave Splash:  + $82

Aftershave Balm:  + $38

Bath Soap:  + $18

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If you have any questions, please let us know!  We want to make this as fun, personalized, and straight-forward as possible for everyone.  Contact me at carrie@soapcommander.com for more info or to let me know if I can clarify the details.

Have you been a part of the Seasonal Scent Crew before?  Tell us what you loved about it!

The Seasonal Scent Crew (SSC) is by far one of our favorite aspects of Soap Commander.  It gives us an opportunity to connect more closely with our members while (we hope) providing an enjoyable experience for those who use our products.  

If you're already familiar with our SSC, the main things you need to know are:

• Pricing will remain the same for 2017-2018 (see chart below).
• Sign-up begins Saturday, November 25th at 7:00 am (CST).

If you've never heard of the SSC or need a refresher, you've come to the right place.  The Seasonal Scent Crew is a year-long program that runs from Winter through the following Fall.  Sign-up is only open for 1 week, starting the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Your membership is a one-time fee that enables you to receive each of the four seasonal releases delivered to your doorstep before those products are available to the general public. There are no additional shipping charges or fees. 

We have three membership levels, depending on which products you want to receive: 

 Some additional details that you need to know before signing-up:

1. Enrollment for 2017-2018 will only be open for one week: November 25th - December 2nd.
2. Gold Members are the only ones who will receive testers/samples and are able to give input and feedback regarding the scent selections.
3. There are no testers for the first scent (Winter 2017).  The scent has already been chosen and the products will be shipped to you within a week of sign-up.
4. We cannot include any additional products in your SSC seasonal shipments. 
5. We do not allow refunds/returns/exchanges/substitutions/cancellations for the SSC program or any of the seasonal shipments.
6. The number of Gold Member spots is capped at 80 for the 2017-2018 Crew.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us at info@soapcommander.com

We are looking forward to getting to know this year's Seasonal Scent Crew and we hope you will join us!

The Seasonal Scent Crew (SSC) is by far one of our favorite aspects of Soap Commander.  It gives us an opportunity to connect more closely with our members while (we hope) providing an enjoyable experience for those who use our products.  

If you're already familiar with our SSC, the main things you need to know are:

• USA Pricing will remain the same for 2016-2017 (see chart below).
• Sign-up begins Saturday, November 26th at 10:00 am (CST).

If you've never heard of the SSC or need a refresher, you've come to the right place.  The Seasonal Scent Crew is a year-long program that runs from Winter through the following Fall.  Sign-up is only open for 1 week, starting the Saturday after Thanksgiving.  Your membership is a one-time fee that enables you to receive each of the four seasonal releases delivered to your doorstep before those products are available to the general public. There are no additional shipping charges or fees. 

We have three membership levels, depending on which products you want to receive: 

 Some additional details that you need to know before signing-up:

1. Enrollment for the 2016-2017 SSC will only be open for one week:  Saturday, November 26th - Saturday December 3rd.
2. Gold Members are the only ones who will receive testers/samples and are able to give input and feedback regarding the scent selections.
3. There are no testers for the first scent (Winter 2016).  The scent has already been chosen and the products will be shipped to you within a week of sign-up.
4. We cannot include any additional products in your SSC seasonal shipments. 
5. We do not allow refunds/returns/exchanges/substitutions/cancellations for the SSC program or any of the seasonal shipments.
6. The number of Gold Member spots is capped at 65 for the 2016-2017 crew.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact us at info@soapcommander.com

We are looking forward to getting to know this year's Seasonal Scent Crew and we hope you will join us!

Some people love change, and others not so much.  I'm in the "not so much" club...unless it's a change for the better, of course.  I'm happy to share 2 ingredient changes with you for 2016, both of which came about in response to customer feedback. 

1. We've Replaced Sweet Almond Oil with Sunflower Oil.
We had a few loyal customers tell us that regrettably they could not use our Aftershave Balm due to their nut allergy, so we set out to see what we could do about that.  Each oil/butter has its own fatty acid composition and profile, and it just so happens that the profiles for Sweet Almond Oil and Sunflower Oil are very similar.  We made the substitution in our formulation, ran some testing sessions, received and evaluated tester feedback, and proceeded with the change.  The result was a two-fold victory: first, there was no discernible difference in the feel or effectiveness of the balm and secondly, our aftershave balm is now accessible to even more people.  (Note: This change also effected our lip balm, where we replaced the Sweet Almond Oil with Sunflower Oil.)

 
2. We've Removed All Colorants from our Shaving Soaps.
This one was a little bit harder to come to terms with, but we're glad to have made the modification.  When we first began testing our shaving soap formula a few years ago, we sent our testers multiple soaps, each with a unique formulation.  In order to more easily keep them straight, a bit of cosmetic colorant was added to the sample soaps.  Our testers reported their results, and some of them mentioned the novelty of colored artisan shaving soap.  As a result, we decided to include color identity as a characteristic of Soap Commander shaving soaps.  Over time, though, the novelty has worn off and concern has been raised by some users regarding the need and/or safety of colorants in the soaps.  We have always felt (and continue to do so) comfortable and confident in the colorants we have chosen to use for our soaps, but also can empathize with the concern of including superfluous ingredients in a shaving product.  Thus, we've removed colorants from all of our shaving soaps, and any color variation you notice in or among them is due to the inherent properties of the fragrance or essential oil that is used for scent.

 
I want to emphasize that both of these changes are a result of you taking the time to communicate with us.  We encourage each person who has experienced Soap Commander to share their thoughts and perspective with us, good or bad.  We want to hear it!  We can't please everyone of course (and that's not our goal), but when you bring an issue to our attention, I promise you that we give it full and proper consideration.  Thank you for allowing us to hear from you and be a part of your story...we consider it a privilege.

Wondering how best to get in touch with us?  Comment on any of our social media posts or email us at info@soapcommander and we will answer.

The structure of our product offerings underwent some changes this past fall, and we wanted to help everyone understand what we've got, how long we'll have it, and why it's in our line-up.

Core Line.
Our Core Line features shaving soap, aftershave balm, bath soap, and body lotion in 8 Core scents, plus our Unscented variety, called "Integrity".  While we might occasionally be out of stock on an item here or there, these are the products and scents you can count on finding every time you visit our website at soapcommander.com.

Seasonal.
Four times a year we feature a new fragrance to coordinate with the current season.  Our Seasonal product selections include shaving soap, aftershave balm, and bath soap, and occasionally a matching body lotion.  Seasonal products stay in stock (to the best of our ability) for the duration of that particular season.  

Limited Edition. 
We test many fragrances that do not become part of our Core or Seasonal line, but that we think you'd enjoy as much as we do.  Limited Edition (LE) shaving soaps allow us to share these gems with you, as well as to bring back previous years' Seasonal scents for another short run.  Featured once a month, our LE shaving soaps come in a smaller container, holding only 3 oz. of products as compared to our normal 6 oz.  Appropriately, they cost less also, allowing you the opportunity to change things up without breaking the bank.  Some months the LE soap will be accompanied by a matching aftershave balm (2 oz. size) and/or a matching bath soap.  These LE products are made in limited numbers, so when they're gone, they're gone.

TAD Bath Soaps.
TAD = Temporary Additional Duty.  As their name implies, these bars don't have a permanent assignment in our product line.  TAD bath soaps are our chance to get a little more creative while allowing you to add some zip and zing to your shower or bath.  You'll see a variety of colors and fragrances used in these bars, and the selection will be unpredictable.  Popular scents will make re-appearances, but on their own timetable.

Bottom Line:  Variety with dependability.  

It's almost time for the Seasonal Scent Crew (SSC) sign-up for the upcoming year!  We're just a tad bit excited here.

For those of you not familiar with the program, the nuts-and-bolts of it are as follows:

• 3 membership levels (Gold, Silver, and Bronze)
• Year long subscription (runs from Winter 2015 - Fall 2016)
• One-time fee, which includes the discounted costs of products and shipping 
• Soap Commander Seasonal Products delivered to your door 4 times a year, before they are released to the general public
• **NEW** This year our international customers are included
• More details can be found in this blog post

Before we get to pricing, here's a quick refresher on the membership levels:

• BRONZE: Shaving soap only
• SILVER: Shaving soap & Aftershave Balm
• GOLD: Shaving soap, Aftershave Balm, & Bath Soap....plus, the opportunity to help choose the upcoming season's new scent 

And here's where the rubber meets the road....pricing.  We have 2 different pricing structures, depending on your location (US or International):

• BRONZE: $70 (USA) or $100 (International)
• SILVER: $110 (USA) or $150 (International)
• GOLD: $125 (USA) or $175 (International)

Finally, there's a few remaining details about the SSC that we need to share:

1. Enrollment for SSC 2015-2016 will be available via the website and will run Saturday, November 28th - Saturday, December 5th.
2. Gold Level Members are the only ones who receive testers/samples and can give input regarding the scent selections.
3. Due to time limitations, there will be no testers for the Winter scent.  Gold level members will begin testing/feedback for the Spring scent.
4. We cannot add on to any of your seasonal shipments.  (In the past we've allowed additional products to be purchased and shipped out with the SSC packages, but we will no longer be able to accommodate those requests.)
5. We do not allow refunds/returns/exchanges/substitutions for the SSC program or any seasonal products.  
6. The number of participants at each level of membership will be capped this year.  (We will open 45 slots for each membership level during the enrollment period.)

Let us know if you have any additional questions; just shoot us an email at info@soapcommander.com.  

We're looking forward to having you join The Crew!

Want to be your wife's hero next time there's a potluck?  Or want to give her a night off from cooking dinner (and have lots of leftovers)?  Tell her you've got the food thing covered and you'll score some serious bonus points.  This recipe for Macaroni & Cheese is quick, easy, delicious, and pretty much foolproof.

EQUIPMENT: 

• 5 or 6 quart crock pot
• non-stick spray
• large mixing bowl
• large spoon

INGREDIENTS:

• 32 oz. UNCOOKED elbow noodles
• 32 oz. shredded cheese (cheddar or a mix works best)
• 2 T. salt
• 2 tsp. pepper
• 3 T. onion powder
• 9 cups milk
• 1/2 stick of butter

DIRECTIONS:

1. Spray your crock pot liberally with non-stick spray.
2. In a large bowl, combine all the ingredients (except the butter).
3. Transfer mixture to crock pot.
4. Bury the 1/2 stick of butter in the middle of the mixture,
5. Turn your crock pot on low for about 3.5 hours (check after 3).
6. Stir 5 minutes before serving.

That's it.  5 minutes in the kitchen and you're golden.  Can't get much easier than that.  (Just don't forget to check your masterpiece around the 3 hour mark.)

Do you have any quick and easy ways to Take Charge in the kitchen?  If so, let us know!

This morning we announced via our Newsletter that some of our regular scents would be discontinued.   I know...boo, hiss.  But there's a method to our madness.  (As a side note, if you're not signed up for our newsletter, you really should be!  You can do it right here.) 

The bad news?  We're saying good-bye to Wisdom, Relaxation, Motivation, and Purpose.

The good news?  They're not gone forever.

Our new Limited Edition (3 oz.) soaps offer the perfect opportunity for us to bring back some well-loved scents without the challenge of keeping up with them in our regular line-up.  So be watching for these 4 to make some reappearances after the first of the year.  

We have so much we want to offer, including product concepts that are waiting in the wings (yes...aftershave splash is on The List).  And in order to best serve you and keep our sanity we knew some changes needed to be made.  We recently implemented a new work/family/school schedule that has been a tremendous help in keeping us on track and moving forward efficiently and effectively.  Tightening up our core scent line was the next task on the list, so this move is a result of taking a long, hard look at our sales and your feedback.  

We're feeling good about the new changes and are excited about this step forward.  Journey on!

(I'll leave you with this really cool product shot in a really familiar shape.)

We sent out tester soaps (and a few treats) to our Gold level Season Scent Crew today and received a lot of inquiries wondering what the program is exactly and how to sign up.  So here's an overview of how the Seasonal Scent Crew (SSC) works.

Basically, the SSC is an opportunity to partner with us and pre-buy a year's worth of Soap Commander Seasonal shaving soaps at a discounted price.  There are no hidden fees, shipping charges, or any other "surprises".  Just a straight-forward system to make sure you receive a year's worth of our seasonal products.  The shipments will arrive to you the week prior to their official release (4 times a year), and you don't need to do a thing except enjoy them.

We have 3 membership levels available, depending on what products you are interested in:

• BRONZE: Shaving soap only
• SILVER: Shaving soap & Aftershave Balm
• GOLD: Shaving soap, Aftershave Balm, & Bath Soap

An additional perk for our Gold members is that they have the opportunity to help us choose the upcoming season's scent.  We send each Gold Member a small packet with 3-4 tester soaps (as in the picture above) that they try out for a while and then share their feedback with us.  The sample soap with the highest number of votes becomes next season's Seasonal Scent.  

The sign-up period for joining our SSC happens around Thanksgiving (Black Friday weekend).  We will announce specific dates as we get closer to that time of year, but if you follow us on social media or get our newsletter you'll know well in advance of when that happens.  

One other detail to note....the "year" for SSC runs from Winter - Fall.  So the seasonal scent for Fall 2015 will be the last shipment for our current Crew.  Those who sign up this November/December will begin receiving their seasonal products at the end of December (for Winter 2015-2016) and will subsequently receive shipments for Spring, Summer, and Fall of 2016.  

Our first year for the Seasonal Scent Crew will soon be coming to a close and I have to say that it's been more fun than we ever expected.  We hope you'll consider joining us for next year's SSC at a membership level that's a good fit for you.  If you have any questions about the program, don't hesitate to contact us via email or one of our social media channels.  

Looking forward to finding out what the 2015 Fall Seasonal Scent is going to be!

Did you know that our Aftershave Balm is more than just an aftershave balm?  While its most popular use is as a post-shave moisturizer, many of you have reported utilizing it it for other purposes.  

We reached out via social media and asked people to share some of the other tasks that our aftershave balm can tackle.  Here's a few of the most popular (and surprising) responses: 

7 Alternative Uses for Soap Commander Aftershave Balm

1. Daily Face Lotion.  This was by far the most popular alternative job for the balm.  Numerous men reported using the ASB as an every day moisturizer, whether they shaved or not.  (Carrie's Routine---I use it daily on my arms after getting out of the shower.  I find that especially in the summer time I'm enjoying the lighter feel of the ASB as compared to the lotion, and my skin is staying soft, hydrated, and well moisturized all day long.)
2. Foot Lotion.  This one's for the ladies!  The menthol kick in the balm creates a great cooling and relaxing sensation, especially when a special guy pairs it with a nice, leisurely foot rub (hint, hint, fellas).
3. Post-Sun Relief.  Soothing aloe combined with cooling menthol is a real treat for skin that's taken a beating by the sun.
4. Freshen Up.  Meeting with an important client?  Need a quick boost before tending to patients?  Keeping a bottle of ASB at work gives you the opportunity to feel refreshed, invigorated, and confident when dealing with co-workers or customers.  A quick mid-shift slather can be a great boost to you (and those around you).
5. Cool Down.  Especially in the heat of summer, a little ASB after working outdoors provides some quick & easy cool-down relief.
6. Deodorant.  Not much explanation needed on this one.  This probably wouldn't be a great option for everyone, but if you already have the ASB on hand it wouldn't hurt to give it a try.
7. Hair Cream.  This response definitely had us intrigued.  So we went to the source and asked the author to elaborate:
   

   "For about the last four years I have used pomades, mainly water base. I also use Suave's Groom and Clean on a regular basis. In the Summer of 2014 I moved from NC back home to MS. It was there that I had to start being very aware of what I put in my hair due to the heat and humidity. It is not that the pomades wouldn't work, it was that they would melt in the heat. I began to rotate pomades due to seasons. It was sometime just before the beginning of the year I went to my barber to get a cut, and it was one of those days. I told him to take it down on the sides, almost like a high and tight. He did. I felt kinda raw, and so when I got home, I reached for Soap Commander Balm. Just rubbing it in after a shower, I figured not to put anything else in my hair. I was able, to my surprise, style it. The top was still long, and I was able to do my pomp. I figured it would go down. Well, it did slightly, but I was still extremely happy with it. Using Soap Commander Balm in my hair provides me with a non-greasy, light/med hold. I can run my fingers through my hair. I work in government, and the balm keeps my hair in place all day. And its got a great menthol kick." --William Coppage 

A big thanks to each person who took time to offer input and share their experience with us.  And double thanks to Mr. Coppage for graciously offering the explanation on his use of the ASB as a hair cream.  (A few of our sons are going to give this idea a try.)

Do you use our aftershave balm in a way not already mentioned?  Let us know!

Whew, it's the LAST DAY of our 30 Day "Blog Your Brand" Challenge!  Big props to all who have taken the time to read, encourage, support, and share these posts over the past month. I plan to keep blogging regularly (but not every day), so if you have a suggested topic just let us know.

Now...onto the fun stuff.  We recently shared that we'll be moving in a few weeks, which will mean shutting the site down for a bit.  The great news, though, is that we have a few exciting things planned for the weeks leading up to that point:

1. T-Shirts.  Yes!!  These arrived today and we're hoping to have them up on the website soon.  For the time being we're only stocking the black shirts and the sizes range from Adult S-XXL (limited amount of the smallest and largest sizes).  Can't wait to share these with you guys!

2. Limited Edition Soaps.  In addition to our Core line (like Courage, Passion, etc.) and our Seasonal scents (like Gusto, Renewal, etc.) we're going to try offering some smaller sized Limited Edition shaving soaps.  These will be 3 oz (half the size of our regular ones) and will be in "shorter" containers, still with the head space to load right in the tub.  Our first LE will be Refreshment, which is our Sweet Tea fragrance.  This was our 2014 Summer Scent and has been a frequent request recently.  

3. THE Sale.  Join us on July 31st for our biggest sale of the year:  22 years of marriage = 22% discount.  The entire site will be discounted for that one day, no coupon code needed. 

Back to the "shutting the site down" part...we'll be closing the site at midnight after the sale and will keep it closed for probably 1-2 weeks.  During that time we'll be packing orders from the sale and transitioning our family into our new home.  For the most part we'll be accessible via email and social media, and we will keep everyone updated on how things are coming along regarding the transition and the re-open date.  Be sure to connect with us via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and/or our Newsletter (link at the bottom of the page) and join us in the journey!

Making our own granola has been part of our family’s routine for years now, since our advent into healthier eating.  It's easy-to-make, nutritious, versatile, and most of our family enjoys it (there's always that one child....).  Every now and then we’ll change up the recipe, but for the most part we stick close to our standard routine:  one batch with chocolate chips, one batch with dried fruit.

Fun Fact: When our oldest daughter was learning to speak she called it “grangola” and we still lovingly use the term today.
Fun Fact #2:  Give Darren a bowl of granola with milk and you're pretty much guaranteed a "yes" to whatever you ask.  At least it works that way for me...

Great Granola

• You can adjust these amounts proportionally if you don’t want such a large batch.  But, I’d suggest making a good bit and sharing it around!
• If you want the granola crunchier, you can do a couple of different things.  First, you can spread it thinner in the pan.  Then you can cook it a bit longer than suggested.  Finally, allow it to set in the pan to cool longer without stirring it.
• For softer granola, spread granola thicker in pan, don’t overcook, and once you remove granola from the oven, gently stir the mixture before it completely cools.
• Obviously, you can experiment with the “add-ins”.  The younger children in our home prefer just the chocolate chips, but sneaking in the flaxseed meal and wheat germ can make the combo more nutritious.
• Our family prefers eating this granola in a bowl of milk (like cereal).

Do you have a favorite recipe that's easy, delicious, and nutritious?  

About 2.5 months ago we shared that we had purchased a new (to us) home and would be moving our family and business to a new location in Ardmore, AL.  In fact, many of you have even received products that are labeled with our new address.  So why are we still living in Cherokee?

Because of this awesome guy right here:

This is our oldest son, Luke (age 19).  He's one of those if-I-can-envision-it-I-can-build-it type people (thank you, Legos!).  After Darren had met with multiple contractors and discussed a number of options for the remodeling we wanted to do, Luke came to us and asked if we would allow him to handle the project.  It took us all of about a split second and a glance between us to arrive at Yes.  The 3 of us then spent time working through what that would actually mean in terms of time frame (Luke's working a full time job and taking a couple of online classes for college) and also what parts of the project would still need to be hired out (such as some of the plumbing and electrical).  In the end we all decided to go for it and are so glad we did.

The remodeling has taken a good bit longer than we originally anticipated, but we're thankful to have to wait.  We know the work is being done by a trustworthy person, and paying our own son, rather than a random stranger, is a pleasure indeed.  At this point, we're planning for an early August move into the new Headquarters, right on the heels of our biggest sale of the year (yes, that was a hint....be watching for more details).

Here's a few Before & During pics of the two main projects:

Converting the garage into a dedicated soap space (YES!):  

BEFORE: Garage space (the truck is not ours)

DURING: Subfloor being laid in our new soaping space 

and an enclosure/addition for schoolbooks and coffee roasting/grinding (double YES!):

BEFORE: Covered porch & patio area

DURING: Walls up on the new school-coffee area

Lots of smaller projects are being tackled along the way also, with Darren and 2 of the other boys spending a couple of days each week at the new house working on drywall, sanding, painting, gardening, lawn care, and more.  I'm grateful to have a group of guys who work willingly and diligently to make our family vision a reality!

What plans or projects do you have going on this summer?

Over the past few years the word "artisan" has become a buzz word for many products and companies.  In an effort to make their goods or services more enticing to the public, the overuse and misuse of the word has cheapened its perceived meaning and removed it from the original, intended meaning. 

What, then, does artisan actually mean?  According to www.merriam-webster.com, 

ARTISAN:  1. a worker who practices a trade or handicraft: craftsperson;  2. one that produces something (as cheese or wine) in limited quantities often using traditional methods

If you're a frequent user of our bath soap you'll probably have the frustrating experience at some point of trying to order your favorite bar, only to discover that it's out of stock.  While we do our best to keep all of our products in stock at all times, the nature of handmade soap can make this a bit of a challenge.  Recently, we (and many of our customers) have confronted this deficit, specifically in regards to our Gusto bath soap.

We underestimated the popularity of Gusto and sold out of the bath soap quickly!  We realized our shortcoming, but not soon enough to keep a continuous stock available for everyone.  Though we made a few more batches right away, some of our customers still had to wait weeks to snag a bar.  Why, you may wonder?  We can blame the hold-up on The Cure.  

A few days ago we shared a little behind the scenes of our bath soap making session, up until the point where we put the soaps "to bed".  What we didn't show was what happens next, namely the cutting and curing of the loaves.  Soap made via the Cold Process method (as we do) requires a cure time, which can last up to 4-6 weeks, depending on a number of factors.  So once the bars are cut, they get put on our curing cabinet (with a tag stating their name/date) where they will remain until they're ready to be sold.  

One side of the curing cabinet our oldest son made for us

This is the really hard part (especially for less-than-patient people), but definitely worth it.  During their weeks of undisturbed rest excess moisture in the bars evaporates, leaving a firmer, harder, longer-lasting bar. (A bar of handmade soap used too soon will "melt" more quickly than it ought.)  Additionally, the pH will change slightly over time, with the resulting bar imparting a more gentle feeling to the skin.  

A bar of handmade soap is safe to use after just a few days, but it won't be at or near its best.  And that's the reason we wait so long after they are made to sell our bars.  It's important to us to always give you our best...our best effort, our best attitude, and our best products.  We know that handmade soap is at its best after a few weeks of curing so we're committed to waiting out that time period.  And we're grateful for your patience and understanding as we strive to provide you with the quality of products you deserve.

In closing, I just wanted to add that we do try to anticipate the demand for products and make provisions for keeping the appropriate number of units in stock.  Up until now, we've been somewhat limited in this capacity due to space issues.  However, we are currently in the process of creating a dedicated soaping space at the our next home and hope that that will enable us to keep a better supply of products (specifically the bath soap) on hand in order to avoid the "out of stock" frustrations.

Have you tried a bar of handmade soap?  If so, do you think it's worth the wait?

Paint.

The very mention of the word strikes fear in the heart of my family.  It's been that way for years.  Choosing paint for a room turns me into a frustrated, short-tempered, pseudo-monster-mommy (the word does, after all, contain the letters for "pain").  You see, I have this love-hate relationship with paint:  I love looking through all the color chips, imagining the possibilities, but I hate having to make a decision, to commit to that color spread across my wall.  What if I hate it?  What if it completely clashes with the floor or the adjacent room/hall?  What if it makes the kids too hyper?  Too complacent?  Too hungry?  (Colors can do that, right?.)  Trivial matters for some people, but in a family our size we don't repaint very often.  So it's a basically a semi-permanent decision, with results that I have to look at all day, every day.  Thus, the pressure.  

So yesterday, when Darren was ready to take the kiddos out for the afternoon, he once again faced the frustrated, short-tempered, pseudo-monster-mommy who had avoided looking through the pile of paint chips (nicely stacked at the end of my bed for the past few weeks) and, thus, had not made a decision.  But the rooms needed to be painted and the sale on the paint was ending that day and he needed to leave.  Things had come to a head.

This man, however, handled the situation like a pro.  After almost 22 years of marriage, he's developed some techniques that I thought other men might find helpful (and save themselves some pain(t) in the process). Want to learn from a master?  Read on, my friend....

The ABC's of Dealing With a Frustrated Woman

1. Acknowledge that the situation is important to her.  Honestly?  Darren could care less about what color paint we use.  It just doesn't matter to him, but he knows it matters to me.  And because of that, he doesn't belittle or dismiss my frustration.
2. Be patient.  It would have been easy (and easily justifiable) for him to be annoyed at my lack of decisiveness.  He could have huffed and sighed and put some pressure on me...but he chose not to.  He was probably fidgeting and pacing inside, but outwardly he remained calm and didn't add to the pressure I was already feeling.
3. Comment and engage.  I needed his feedback, to hear his thoughts, even though I knew the colors weren't all that important to him.  He listened to what I was thinking, which colors I was leaning toward, and made suggestions.  And when I put 5 different blues on the table, the man didn't break out into a sweat, but looked them over and shared his thoughts.  That's dreamy right there, guys. 
4. Delay, if needed.  His goal was to make a trip to Lowe's, finish buying all the paint (at the sale price, of course), and check that task off the list.  But when time was running short and I got really stuck deciding on the very last room, he changed his agenda to accommodate and diffuse my frustration.  Instead of plowing ahead with his own plans, he reevaluated the situation and decided the decision for that room could wait a few days, without making me feel guilty.  (Bonus advice:  One "D" that doesn't usually work is Divert.  Your woman will most likely see right through that one.  It works well with toddlers, but not so much with wives.)
5. Encourage.  Not much elaboration needed on this one.  It stems from a choice: a choice to come alongside her, even when she doesn't have the best grip on reality or is making an unnecessary mountain out of a molehill.  Maybe especially during those times...like when she's choosing paint.

To all the men who have put up with us ladies during our frustrated, short-tempered, pseudo-monster-mommy stages:  You guys rock, seriously.

How long does it take to make a batch of soap?  People usually ask me this question in reference to bath soaps and it's a simple question, with a not-so-precise answer:  It depends.  What size is the batch?  Is it solid-colored or a multi-color design?  How many batches will be done during the session?  Is it a standard bar or a specialty recipe?  And are they curious about the timing for the entire process (start to finish) or  just the actual "oils-and-lye-blending-to-make-soap" part?                                                                           This soap was not made today, but I really love these swirls.

While it's hard to pin down an actual time frame for how many minutes goes into a batch of soap, each soaping session tends to follow a fairly regular and predictable series of steps.  And since I just so happened to make a few batches of soap this afternoon, I thought it might be a good time to snap a few behind-the-scenes shots to share.  (Huge kudos to the hubby to whisking the kiddos away for a few hours so I had a safe, quiet space to work....ALONE!)

A typical soaping session (for bath soap) looks something like this:

1. Decide what soaps we need, how much of each to make, and which molds are needed.  This usually happens in the soap shop, as Darren and I check the shelves to see which soaps we're low on and formulate a plan of attack.                                 
2. Print Recipes.  I use a great program called SoapMaker 3 to access our stored recipes/files/notes for each soap and resize them according to what's on that day's agenda.  (Side Note:  This program is one of my top recommendations for anyone who makes soap!)
3. Line Molds.  Freezer paper, tape, and scissors are my friends for this step.                             
4. Prep the Work Space.  I work in my kitchen (for now), so there usually needs to be kitchen clean-up before I get started with soaping. (Double kudos to my hubby to taking care of all the dishes and making sure I had a clear countertop before heading out with the crew.)  I use plastic to protect the countertop and make the later clean-up easier.
5. Gather ingredients, containers, and equipment.  Since we don't (yet) have a dedicated soaping area, this step involves a little "shopping" from different areas of the house....oils/butter are already in the kitchen, buckets/containers are in another section, colorants and fragrances are in the soap shop, and utensils and stick blenders have a home on a shelf.  
6. Weigh out each ingredient into soaping containers.  Pretty self-explanatory step, just have to be certain to keep each container-recipe combo straight.
7. Make the soap.  Now we get to the fun part (finally!).   This is where the magic happens, when the oils/butter dance with the lye water to become soap "batter" that gets colored, fragranced, and put into molds.                                                                                                                                                                                                                Respect soap was unusually messy today!
8. Put it to bed.  Technically, it's referred to as insulating the soap, but around here we put it to bed under a pile of Grandmother Seibert's handmade blankets  They'll sleep there for about a day while the soap gets really hot and goes through the gel phase.     
9. Clean Up.  The least fun part of the deal, but it does at least signal the "end" of the soaping session (and I can mark "Make Soap" off that day's list).

So what did that translate to for today?  I spent about 4-5 hours from start to finish and made 5 batches of soap.  Two of those were specialty soaps, while the other 3 were for our core, standard line.  Altogether, it was a total of about 40 pounds of soap, which we'll unmold and cut either tomorrow or the following day.

If you had the opportunity to make a batch of soap, what would it look/smell like? 

Many men experience ingrown hairs or razor bumps while shaving.  Medically known as "pseudofolliculitis barbae", this condition occurs when a hair grows out of the skin, curls around, and grows back in (razor bump) or the hair grows back after shaving but doesn't exit the follicle, getting trapped underneath the skin (ingrown hair).  Either way....OUCH!  In both situations, hairs that are lodged in the skin can cause inflammation and appear as tender, itchy, red, raised bumps (many times being mistaken for acne).  And men with coarse or curly hair are more prone to dealing with the challenges of these wayward hairs.

That's the frustrating news.  But the good news is that traditional wetshaving offers some easy steps you can take to prevent or reduce the incidences of ingrown hairs and razor bumps.  And the doubly good news is that I'm into alliteration, so you just have to remember a few "S"s to get you on the right track.

(**Quick Note:  The following recommendations apply specifically to shaving with Single Edge or Double Edge razors and may not be as applicable for Straight Razor users, especially the information pertaining to stretching the skin.  As with most recommendations, your mileage may vary, depending on your specific skin and hair type.)

How to Prevent or Reduce Ingrown Hairs and Razor Bumps:

1. SCRUB (lightly).  Many men find that using a gently exfoliating scrub or cleanser helps to remove the dead layer of skin that can clog the hair follicles.  Doing this seems to encourage hair growth in the right direction, while moisturizing the hair that is about to be shaved.  (We'll be talking more about exfoliation in an upcoming blog post.)
2. SOAK & SOFTEN.  Wetting the beard with warm water for 2-5 minutes before shaving allows the hair to be more pliant and easier to cut than dry hair.  If you shower first, this is an easy step that you're already doing.  If you don't shower before shaving, try applying a warm, wet towel or washcloth to hydrate your skin and whiskers. 
3. SOAP (or cream).  Choose a good quality shaving soap or cream that will provide plenty of cushion and glide, to make the razor pass more smoothly and also the create a more comfortable situation for inflamed skin.  Allowing the shaving soap to sit on the skin for a little bit before shaving may also help to soften and moisturize the hair, further reducing friction and irritation.  
4. SHAVE SIMPLY.  This isn't the place to get all fancy and try some new tricks.  Simply go WITH the grain (WTG) of your hair growth and try to take fewer strokes.  Additionally, allow the skin to remain in a neutral, relaxed position (no stretching...we'll explain why later on in this post).  WTG, few strokes, and relaxed skin will reduce the chance of cutting the hair below the surface of the skin, which can lead to a greater risk of ingrown hairs.   
5. SPOIL YOUR SKIN.  Immediately after shaving, be sure to rinse thoroughly, preferably with cold water.  Following up with a good quality aftershave or moisturizer will help keep your skin healthy between shaves and better prepped for your next shaving session.

Two bonus "S"s regarding your blade:

• SHARP.  Shave with a sharp blade.  A dull blade doesn't cut as easily, meaning you'll be more tempted to go back over that area to try to get closer.  It can also result in uneven tearing of the hair.  Remember also to rinse the blade after each pass which helps remove skin and hair that gets caught in the blade.  This creates a better set-up for smoother, less irritating shaving.  Additionally, know when to throw the blade away, usually after 3-5 uses (depending on the blade).  
• SINGLE.  Stay away from multi-blade razors that can lift and cut hair below the natural, relaxed skin line.  

And finally, why NOT to stretch the skin while shaving:  Pulling or stretching the skin causes the hair to raise up (protrude) above the natural level of the skin.  When the skin is released, hair can then "pop back" to below skin level.  The skin then covers the hair, essentially trapping it underneath and not allowing it to grow easily out of the follicle.  End result?  Ingrown hairs.

(As a reminder, if you're looking for reputable products to use for Steps 3 & 5, we can point you in the right direction).  

Do you have any additional tips to share that you've found helpful in preventing or avoiding ingrown hairs or razor bumps?  Share in the comments, or shoot us an email info@soapcommander.com

If you read the ingredient lists for our shaving soap or bath soap, you'll see Titanium Dioxide listed toward the end.  A few people have questioned its presence in our ingredient list and since we want our customers to be educated about the choices they're making with our products and because we are intentional in our ingredient selection, I wanted to share about the "what and why" behind this substance.

Titanium Dioxide is a naturally occurring mineral which is typically mined and processed to remove impurities.  It is an FDA-approved ingredient (also approved by the EU) used in consumer products including cosmetics, food, and paints and is also widely-used in sunscreen. For our purposes, we utilize it as a whitener in some of our soaps and it is also a component in some of our colorants.  

Despite its approval and acceptance as a safe pigment/colorant, there is still some controversy surrounding the use of titanium dioxide.  After extensive research, we do not feel these concerns pose any significant risk of harm to you as a consumer or to us as creators/manufacturers.  The two main issues that are typically raised by opponents to titanium dioxide (TD) include potential lung damage due to inhalation and the possible skin/cell absorption of TD that is of nano particle size. In regards to the latter issue, the TD that we use is not nano particle (meaning that the particle size of our TD is larger than the type that is in question).  In reference to the concern regarding lung damage, this controversy stems from a study by Lee, Trochimowicz, & Reinheardt in June of 1985.  Rats that were exposed to TD for 6 hours a day, 5 days a week, over the course of 2 years showed signs of increased respiratory and lung problems, specifically for rats exposed to the highest level of TD inhalation.   However, it was concluded that "the biological relevance....for man is negligible." (Read the abstract here.)

What, then, does all this mean in regards to Soap Commander's decision to use titanium dioxide?  It means that we've read the MSDS for TD, explored both sides of the issue, contemplated and assimilated all of the information, and feel confident in continuing the inclusion of TD in our products.  We do also want to reiterate that the amount of TD in our soap is very, very low in relation to the other ingredients and is used far below the recommended, authorized percentages in product formulation.

If you are interested in reading additional information regarding titanium dioxide in cosmetics, here are a few articles you might find helpful and informative: "Titanium Dioxide: Toxic or Safe?" and Soap Queen's Sunday Night Spotlight focusing on TD.   And if you enjoy munching on Dunkin' Donuts, you might find this link enlightening, regarding the prevalence of TD in many foods (it does not even need to be listed as an ingredient if used at less than 1%, so it may be in your bread, mayonnaise or chocolate bar.)

If you ever have a question regarding the safety or purpose of any of the ingredients we use, please let us know.  We take your health and safety seriously and desire that you not only feel comfortable with using our products, but that you are also educated and informed on the ingredients that go into each item we make.  

Do you have a question about any of our ingredients?  Let us know by commenting below, or shoot us an email: info@soapcommander.com

Every year, on this particular day of the year, America ceases its normal daily activities and celebrates its marked independence from Great Britain on a day known to all as Independence Day.

As a kid, and way prior to me joining the Navy, Independence Day honestly did not have meaning to me other than eating BBQ Chicken with white sauce, homemade ice cream and having bottle rocket wars with my neighborhood friends.  All I really understood about this holiday was that this was The Day in history that some really old guys (and one with a really big signature) signed a piece of paper and because those signatures were penned to paper, our country was now free...and to celebrate we get great food and fireworks to boot.  What's not right about that?

Fast forward to a young man who found himself 10 days into Navy Boot Camp in Chicago, Illinois and a long way from home in Slip Up, Alabama.  While missing the food and festivities of days gone by, I still remember listening to the fireworks while lying in my rack (bed) that night and began to look beyond myself and to ponder what it meant to those young men who sacrificially gave all that they had (in which over 217,000 US Service-member deaths occurred) for the freedoms I could enjoy today.   For the first time I understood that Independence Day wasn't about myself but rather it was about those who had gone before me during the Revolutionary War, who risked all they had for a future they could only imagine...and for that...I am forever grateful and honored to serve along side them more than 200 years later.  Their deaths were not in vain and we remember that All Gave Some and Some Gave All.  I want to encourage you all today to take a moment and reflect on the selfless sacrifice of those who believed in something greater than themselves and risked it all.

Today, on this Independence Day 2015, the Seiberts wish you all the best and we are forever grateful to those who took up arms, who stood in the face of tyranny, shook their fists, and uttered courageous words such as Patrick Henry so eloquently said long ago...

“Give me liberty or give me death."

[From a speech given at Saint John's Church in Richmond, Virginia on March 23, 1775 to the Virginia House of Burgesses; as first published in print in 1817 in William Wirt's Life and Character of Patrick Henry.] 

I've shared on this blog recently about the presentation we gave at the Alabama Soap & Candle Association meeting on the topic of wetshaving (if you missed those posts, check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5).  The final part of the talk, Synthesis (blog post Part 5), focused on how to formulate your own shaving soap recipe and touched on fatty acid profiles and properties of typical shaving soap ingredients.  I didn't think many readers would be interested in the information, so I was surprised when I had requests for this follow-up blog post.  So without further ado, let's dig into shaving soap formulating!

**Quick Reminder:  You'll need access to a trustworthy lye calculator when creating soap recipes and SoapCalc (shown above) is one of the best.  Play around with the program a bit to see its capabilities and have some fun.  There are many other links on the page that will help you learn more about soapmaking, the related ingredients, and their properties. 

Soap is, technically, a salt of a fatty acid.  So it makes sense to look into what different types of fatty acids "bring to the table" regarding shaving soap.  The following is just a generalized overview, as I'm not a chemist (nor do I have a background in chemistry):

• STEARIC: dense, thick, creamy, stable lather
• PALMITIC: stable, creamy lather
• LAURIC/MYRISTIC: fluffy lather (volume); cleansing
• OLEIC/LINOLEIC/LINOLENIC: conditioning (but also is a lather killer)
• RICINOLEIC: moisturizing, fluffy/stable lather (too much can weigh down the lather)

So what does this information have to do with formulating a recipe?  Each fat/oil/butter you choose for your shaving soap has a fatty acid profile (The Soap Dish has a great chart for this) with distinctive characteristics/qualities.  You'll want to consider what properties you want to showcase in your soap and which ones you want to minimize.  For example, the reason that most well-regarded shaving soaps have little to no olive oil is because it is high in oleic acid. While olive oil is great for conditioning for the skin, the high percent of oleic means that it's a big time lather killer.  Conversely, you do want to have a formula that is high in stearic and/or palmitic (your recipe on SoapCalc should yield a combined stearic & palmitic of at least 50).  You can achieve this by utilizing stearic acid as an ingredient or by choosing fats/oils (like animal fats) that are high in stearic content.  

You can familiarize yourself with these fatty acid profiles by picking up a container of one of your favorite shaving soaps (or going to their website) and reading the ingredient list.  For each fat/oil that they use, check out the fatty acid percentages and try to determine why the artisan/manufacturer used that particular ingredient.  What does it contribute to the recipe?  Is it high or low on the ingredient list?  Why?  

You can also explore this concept on the SoapCalc website in one of two ways:

1. On the Lye Calculator page, click on an ingredient in the section that is titled "Oils, Fats, and Waxes" and then look to the left, under Section 5, where is lists Lauric, Myristic, etc.  You'll see the percentages of each fatty acid for that particular oil or fat.  
2. You can sort the oils according to their percentages of a particular fatty acid on this page.  So if you want to find which oils are high in stearic, click on that button and you'll have an organized listing right at your fingertips.

Of course there's no one "right" recipe or list of ingredients, and the possible combinations are practically endless.  If you're serious about formulating your own shaving soap, it's worth the investment of your time to study and analyze the ingredients you want to use.  And even if you never decide to make your own shaving soap recipe, you'll end up being a better informed consumer. Win-win.  

 Is there a particular ingredient that you look for in your shaving soaps?  If so, what qualities does it provide that really make it shine?

Have you ever been frustrated by spending money to purchase a full-size product, only to find out you don't like it?  Maybe it's the scent that's not pleasing to you, or the formula/ingredients just isn't a good fit for your skin, or you're just let down by it's lack-luster performance.  Any number of factors can contribute to buyers remorse and we don't want that happening to you.  So we've taken steps to minimize the chances of that occurring when you purchase from us here at Soap Commander by offering samples.

Meet Levi & Ruth...our efficient Sample Labeling Team!

Here's a quick run down of the samples we offer:

1. Shaving Soap.  These are the only samples that we currently offer for sale (check them out here).  You can purchase them individually or by the set, depending on what best fits your needs.  Each individual square is a little over half an ounce and you can easily get 5-7 shaves out of it (some people have reported being able to use it more than a dozen times).  Check the end of this post for some tips that will make using our shaving soap samples easy, efficient, and effective.
2. Aftershave Balm.  These are not for sale, but find their way into many customers' boxes, especially with orders that contain shaving soap samples.  Many people are hesitant to try a full size ASB, not knowing how they'll like the menthol feel.  Our sample packets (as shown in the picture at the top of this post) contain enough for a few post shave sessions, since you only need a very small amount each time.
3. Moisturizing Lotion.  Admittedly, the majority of men don't flock to lotion (but their wives do!).  A sample of our lotion has introduced many a reluctant-lotion-using man to the wonders of its moisturizing power.  And for those hold-outs who refuse to give it a shot, there's usually a female in their lives that is willing to take it off their hands.
4. Bath Soap.  We don't usually include samples of our bath soaps, but try to accommodate the request when it comes up.  Occasionally we do have end pieces or slivers left over from cutting our soap loaves, which provide enough for a few washes for you to try it out.  

While we only offer the shaving soap samples for purchase, we do include a sample of one of our products with every order we send out (because who doesn't like free stuff?).  If you're placing an order and have a specific request, let us know!  The easiest way to do that is to leave a comment in the Cart section of our website, telling us what product or what scent you're interested in trying.  If we have the sample on hand, we'll toss it (nicely) into your box.  And if we don't have it available, we'll include something similar.  

(Due to the time and costs involved, we're not able to send out free samples apart from orders....sorry!)

Bonus Section:  Using Soap Commander Shaving Soap Samples

One of our good friends created a short video showing an easy and effective way to get maximum usage out of our shaving soap samples.  In a nutshell, you add a very little water to the bottom of your bowl and add the sample.  Swirl it around a few times and as it dries it ends up sticking to the bottom.  Go ahead and lather and use as normal, then flip the bowl upside down to dry and in a couple of hours (or the next morning) you can pop it out and replace it with a different sample.  The beginning of this video demonstrates this concept, so you only need to watch the first part (but it wouldn't hurt to watch to the end, as he shares his thoughts on our Motivation scent....thanks, Scott!).

 Have you ever received an unexpected sample with an order?  If so, how did it influence your subsequent purchase from that company?

What would you like us to know about YOU?  Tell us!

Lotion Bars (or lotion sticks) are an easy way to take care of your skin year-round, but especially in the middle of summer.  Hours spent outside in the hot sun can zap the moisture from your skin, and days of going barefoot (or wearing flip-flops) might leave your heels looking and feeling a little rough.  Lotion bars are an easy fix to these problems: easy-to-make, easy-to-use, and easy-to-transport, wherever your summer travels may take you.  

Solid lotion bars contain just 3 simple, natural ingredients.  Coconut oil and shea butter work together to moisturize and soften the skin while the beeswax seals in the ingredients and leave behind a gentle, protective coating.  Your normal body temperature causes the lotion to soften as it comes in contact with your skin and the ingredients will begin to melt into your skin for immediate moisturization.

Want to make your own?  Follow along to Measure, Melt, Mold, and Moisturize.

INGREDIENTS:

• 3 oz. Beeswax
• 3 oz. Coconut Oil
• 3 oz. Shea Butter

EQUIPMENT NEEDED:

• Kitchen Scale
• Double Boiler
• Bowls
• Molds (muffin tins, ice cube trays, candy molds, twist-up tubes like these or these, etc.)

STEPS:

1. MEASURE. Using a kitchen scale, measure out each of the ingredients, placing the beeswax and coconut oil in the top of a double boiler.  Place the shea butter in a separate bowl.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                
                                                           
2. MELT.  Using a double boiler, gently heat the beeswax and coconut oil over low heat until melted.             
   Remove from heat and carefully add the shea butter.  Stir the mixture until the shea butter is thoroughly melted.  (If needed, gently heat the mixture for an additional minute or two in order to provide enough heat for the shea butter to melt.)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       
3. MOLD.  Pour the liquid mixture into various molds or twist-up tubes (like large lip balm containers, as in the picture at the beginnnig of this post).  Lotion bars can be removed from molds (or twisted up, if using a tube) as soon as they cool to room temperature.  (Molds can be placed in the freezer to allow easier removal of the lotion bars if needed.)
   
   
4. MOISTURIZE.  Rub the lotion bar onto your skin to apply.  That's it!                                                                                              

  **NOTES:

• Convert the recipe into percentages to make whatever total amount you desire.  Each of the ingredients in this recipe will comprise approximately 33% of your total amount.
• You can experiment with other oils and butters, but if you use more liquid oils you'll need to increase your % of beeswax.
• Lotion bars will melt in high temps, so we advise against leaving them in vehicles for long periods of time in the middle of summer.
• Lotion bars are equally loved in the winter, when your skin is exposed to extreme temps and very dry air.
• If you don't have any skin sensitivities, you can scent these with fragrance oils or essential oils.  Check all applicable warning before using any FO/EO and be certain to abide by safe usage amounts.
• Some Wet Shavers may also find these useful as a pre-shave product.

How do you keep you skin in top condition during the dog days of summer?

The sense of smell influences many parts of our life, beyond the obvious.  Research shows that scents can impact our emotions, memories, productivity, and even our perception of how fast time passes.  For most of us, scents are also just fun.  They make life more interesting and give "character" to our activity.  Shavers, especially, find scents play an important role in setting the tone for their day, and with the enormous variety of shaving software available, there is no lack of scents to choose from.

Here at Soap Commander we're always happy to answer questions about our scents or help customers choose a fragrance they will enjoy.  Since we receive so many inquiries pertaining to scents, we thought this might be a good time to answer some of the more frequently asked questions about our fragrances.  (If you're mainly interested in scent profiles, just scroll on down to see our Scent Chart located at the end of this post.)

Q: What is your most popular scent?
A: Courage, by far.

Q: If I don't like the scent of my product, can I return it?
A:  No, we don't accept returns based on fragrance preference.  However, you can discover which scents are your favorites by purchasing samples of our shaving soaps.  They are an inexpensive way to experience the various fragrances without committing to a full size product yet.

Q: Do you have any scents for women?
A:  Many of our scents work well for both ladies and men, but the ones that women choose most often include Inspiration, Motivation, and Love.  However, ladies, be warned....we hear back from many women that they have to hide their products because their guys are equally liking the scent!

Q: I'm looking for a deep, robust scent.  What do you recommend?
A:  Passion!  This complex fragrance showcases a woodsy, spicy mix.  (And is reportedly quite the women-attractor, for those that care to know.)

Q: I love citrus!  Which scents will I like?
A:  If lime's your thing, you'll definitely want to give Respect (Lime Patchouli) a shot. Inspiration (Japanese Grapefruit) offers a mix of tart grapefruit toned down and rounded out by some sweetness from tangerine and mandarin.  Both Respect and Inspiration are crisp, bright, perk-you-up scents.  Additionally, for Summer 2015, we have Gusto---an energetic, tart/sweet combo of raspberry lemonade.

Q: Does your Love scent smell like fresh roses, or does it have "green" or artificial overtones to it?
A:  We've received great feedback on our Love scent and customers confirm that it smells just like fresh, true roses.

Q: Do any of your scents contain menthol or mint?
A:  We don't add menthol to any of our products, with the exception of our Aftershave Balm.  Both Vision and Wisdom do, however, contain peppermint (which can have a cooling, slightly menthol-like effect.)

Q: I want a scent that will stay on me all day.  Which one will do that?
A:  None of our products are specifically formulated for long-lasting scent, but fragrances from our lotion and aftershave balm do tend to linger.  The deeper scents seems to stick around longer for most people, with the most popular in this category being Passion followed by Courage.

Q: I have a sensitivity to fragrances.  Do you have any scentless products?
A:  Yes, we surely do.  Check out our selection of Integrity products, which contain no added scent.

Q:  Can you shuck this all down in chart form, please?
A:  Absolutely.  Here you go:

Q:  What is Darren's favorite scent?  What about Carrie's?
A:  We really enjoy the various seasonal scents, but the mainstays for Darren are Endurance and Vision.  And you can score brownie points with Carrie for talking up her favorite, Respect.

What's your favorite Soap Commander scent?

We've heard from many of our customers how much they appreciate receiving a handwritten thank you note with their order from us and that they're surprised by it.  What might be surprising, though, are some of our reasons behind writing them:

1. We're grateful for your order.  Probably not too surprising of a reason, but we're honestly thankful for every single order we receive.  This soap business is our livelihood and every time you purchase from us you're supporting our family financially.  Similarly, every time you order you're sending us a message of encouragement that spurs us on.
2. We're grateful for you.  We're a people-oriented family and we care about others.  A thank you note is a small way for us to say you matter to us and we notice you.
3. It's what we've done from the beginning.  When we were a brand new company (originally called Simply 7 Skincare) we were thrilled to have any order at all, so writing a thank you was our way of celebrating.  
4. Manners.  We grew up being taught to thank the person who does something nice for us.  Simple as that.
5. It's quicker than a phone call.  Twenty-four hours in a day isn't enough time to call and verbally touch base with every customer, so this is our Plan B. (Besides, we're often packing boxes when other people are sleeping and we didn't think a 2 am thank you call (though heart-felt and sincere) would be appreciated.)
6. Do unto others.  Don't get us wrong, we love getting emails/messages and are so grateful for the people who take time out of their day to share a few words with us (keep 'em coming!).  But going to the mailbox and finding a tangible piece of encouragement...well, that's pretty much icing on the cake. 
7. It helps us.  Taking time to sit down, look over an order, and write a note to the purchaser helps us to feel more connected to the people using our products.  And that's honestly a great blessing to us.  It might be a small pebble, but it's still a integral part of the bridge between you and us.

"Thank you" can be a powerful way to impact someone's day, especially when they're not expecting it.  It doesn't have to take long and it doesn't have to cost a dime.  Email, phone call, flowers, card....take time this week to express your gratitude to someone, just because.  (And if you're really ambitious, choose 7 different people and make it a daily thing.)

Can you remember receiving a Thank You that really stood out to you?  If so, what made it so special?

One question we're asked on a regular basis is, "Can you teach me how to make soap?".  

• The short answer is, "No, but look up Anne-Marie Faiola (aka The Soap Queen) and read, listen to, and watch every resource she's published."  
• The longer answer is, "No, but we can point you in the right direction....". 

BOOKS
My favorite book to recommend is "Soap Crafting: Step-by-Step Techniques for Making 31 Unique Cold-Process Soaps" by Anne-Marie Faiola.  It covers every imaginable topic for a beginner soaper from safety guidelines and colorants to molds and designs to additives and more.  One thing I greatly appreciate about this resource is the wealth of helpful pictures throughout the book.  You don't have to use your imagination to try to picture what she is describing because there is usually an applicable visual nearby.  (In fact, I just quickly flipped through the book and didn't come across any 2-page spread that didn't contain at least one photo.)

Other books I've found helpful include "The Everything Soapmaking Book" by Alicia Grosso and 2 books by Anne Watson, "Smart Soapmaking" and "Milk Soapmaking".  

WEBSITES
A quick Google search will give you many options, but the "Free Beginner's Guide to Soapmaking: Cold Process" found on the Soap Queen blog gives a very comprehensive, easy to understand overview, complete with soaping vocabulary.  For some more technical, detailed information and recipes, jump over to Miller's Homemade Soap Pages and explore.  You'll also need to become very familiar and comfortable with a lye calculator (I recommend the one at SoapCalc.)

VIDEOS
I am hesitant to link to any YouTube videos right here, as I haven't spent time watching them recently to know which ones provide accurate and safe information.  Unfortunately, there are many unsafe and "less than stellar" examples, so be careful to check-up on whom you are learning from.  (As time permits, I'll try to find some reputable videos and update this section.)

CLASSES
This....now THIS is a real treat!  If you live near a certified soapmaking instructor, you might be able to gain some guided, hands-on experience under the watchful eye of someone who knows what she is doing.  The Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetics Guild maintains a list of teachers that have met their requirements and have passed the certification process; you can check their listings to find someone local to you.  Additionally, you can access a current list of scheduled classes.   (If you are anywhere near Georgia and you're interested in learning soap from one of the the best teachers available, sign up for Soapmaking 101 with Michelle Rhoades of Mossy Creek Soap.  She will give you a solid, thorough foundation and you'll leave her studio feeling confident to make soap on your own.  She also maintains an active Facebook group for members who have been in her classes so that she can follow up and continue to help you grow in your soapmaking skills.  Another excellent teacher is Marilyn Schendel of Ritual Waters.  She has a variety of classes available for those in the Winston Salem, NC area and I can guarantee you'll be well taken care of by this nurturing soul!)

So, are you ready to get started?  Let me know, and I'll cheer you on!  (If you're an experienced soaper and would like to share additional resources that you've found helpful, please feel free to help out by leaving a comment below.)

NOTE:  We make soap via the Cold Process method (a cousin to the Hot Process method), but you can also enjoy crafting Melt & Pour soap.  What's the difference?  Anne-Marie Faiola, of Bramble Berry, explains: 

"Melt and Pour (M&P or MP) utilizes a pre-made base that is ready to use as is (literally, you could take the melt and pour block, as-is, get in the shower and lather away!). Cold Process soap is made by mixing or saponifing lye and oil and the resulting chemical reaction is soap. With M&P base – the saponification and waiting step has been done for you while with CP, you do it yourself."  (quoted from her Free Beginner's Guide to Soapmaking). 

Darren and I were asked to give a talk on shaving at the recent Alabama Soap & Candle Meeting.  Our presentation was entitled, "Boys and Their B.L.A.D.E.S.: Gaining a Cutting Edge in the Wet Shaving Community" and this series of blog posts shares some of the highlights from our session.  Today's post is Part 5---Synthesis (Create Your Own Recipe). (Also check out Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.)

A quick overview of what B.L.A.D.E.S. stands for:

• Basics (Intro)
• Lather Up (Shaving Gear)
• Acronyms (of Traditional Wet Shaving)
• Diversity (Types of Shaving Soaps)
• Explore (Research and Development)
• Synthesis (Creating Your Own Recipe).....this is the really fun part!

And now it was my turn to do some chatting!  Creating a shaving soap recipe isn't hard, but creating a GOOD shaving soap recipe can be a bit tricky.  There are some introductory recipes online to get people started, but we highly urge people to use them as such.....as starters, knowing that you're going to test and tweak to come up with your own formula. Two places to head for some starter recipes are shaversoaper.com and the Facebook group, "Shaving Soap Makers".  Once you're a member of the FB group, you can access the Files section, with links to multiple recipes.

**PLEASE NOTE**  If you've never made bath/bar soap via the cold process or hot process method, I would advise you not to jump directly to experimenting with making shaving soap.  I won't take the time to list them here, but there are many reasons that it's best to begin with "regular" soap making and plenty or resources to set you on the right track for doing so.  

Since we were addressing a group of soapmakers, most of them were already familiar with using SoapCalc, an online soapmaking tool for formulating and evaluating soap recipes.  (If you are unfamiliar with using SoapCalc, you need to read this page first to better understand how it works.)  SoapCalc is a tremendous asset (and time-saver) for calculating lyes and formulating the fatty acid profile of your soap.

And speaking of lyes....you'll notice that most shaving soaps contain a combination of sodium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) (or just KOH alone), whereas most true bath/bar soaps utilize NaOH only.  This variance is typically noticed in the firmness/softness of the soap, as potassium hydroxide not only makes the stearic salts more soluble, but also contributes a softer texture to the end product.  (Soapmaker Kevin Devine has recorded a great video about his experimentation with varying lye ratios.  Check it out here.) 

Since our audience at the meeting was mainly comprised of soapmakers and our main readers here on the blog are shavers, I'll skip over the next portion of my presentation where I addressed fatty acid profiles and what typical shaving soap ingredients individually contribute to the whole.  If there's enough interest, this might be a future blog post, so make sure you comment or email us if you'd like to hear that information.

Yes, there was actually an impromptu song during this lathering.

Darren wrapped up our presentation with a great "live" demo of lathering a bar soap vs. lathering a shaving soap.  He pretty much wowed the crowd with the visual differences between the two lathers, creating more than a few on-the-spot converts (and entertaining them with his soapy serenade).  

In his closing remarks, he shared that the goal of creating a good shaving soap is to provide your customer with the following:

• Fragrance (good and strong, but within IFRA guidelines!)
• Latherability (too many bubbles are bad)
• Lather Stability
• Custion/Protection
• Slip/Glide
• Post Shave Feel

Of course Darren and I also have another goal with our shaving soap, and that is to deliver an empowering experience to you, every time you shave.

Thanks for letting us share part of our presentation with you!  We were honored with the opportunity to speak and truly had a fun time doing so.  If you have any questions about the information we've shared or want to know more, we're all ears.

What qualities do you personally look for in a good shaving soap? 

Darren and I were asked to give a talk on shaving at the recent Alabama Soap & Candle Meeting.  Our presentation was entitled, "Boys and Their B.L.A.D.E.S.: Gaining a Cutting Edge in the Wet Shaving Community" and this series of blog posts shares some of the highlights from our session.  Today's post is Part 4---Explore (Research and Development). (Also check out Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3.)

Having given a general overview of wetshaving (including the lingo, gear, stats, and soap types), we spent this next section of the presentation providing suggestions for where soapmakers could go online to explore and dig a little deeper on their own.  Darren strongly emphasized the need for each individual to conduct his/her own R&D.  (We really hope they took this to heart and understood the importance of putting in their own time/effort/resources, and not just copying what someone else is already doing.)

Darren suggested 4 different venues for them to explore:

1. Shaving Forums (Badger & Blade; The Shave Nook; The Shave Den; etc.)
2. YouTube Shaving Videos (such as Sharpologist's channel mantic59 and Nick Shaves' at Chi City Time Lapse)
3. Facebook Groups (groups for wet shavers, soap makers, and shaving soap makers)
4. Retail Sites (Maggard Razors, West Coast Shaving, Italian Barber, etc.)

Since our presentation was aimed at potential shaving soap makers, we put a great importance on really knowing your target audience.  It's pointless (and greedy) to try to create and sell a product just to make a few bucks.  Traditional wet shaving is a huge, growing market but if you're trying to get your foot in the door just to capitalize on the opportunity or "ride the wave", our suggestion is to find someplace else to invest your time and resources.  

An additional source of information that we didn't touch on during the presentation was blogs.  There are a number of wet shavers who have active blogs, with an abundance of helpful information (from instructional to informative to persuasive).  There's no one "right way" to shave or "perfect product", so reading about the experiences and preferences of others can really help you gain a broader overview of traditional shaving. 

One resource we did suggest at the end of our presentation (for those who were ready to get serious in their studies about wet shaving) was a free ebook offered by Sharpologist:  "30 Days to a More Enjoyable Shave".  You can get this ebook by signing up for his newsletter at sharpologist.com/enjoy.  Seriously....the table of contents alone is impressive, but the information contained within its 40+ pages will really set you on the right track.

What resource(s) do you recommend to new wet shavers?  Has there been any particular website, video, book, or person that helped you when you began shaving?

Darren and I were asked to give a talk on shaving at the recent Alabama Soap & Candle Meeting.  Our presentation was entitled, "Boys and Their B.L.A.D.E.S.: Gaining a Cutting Edge in the Wet Shaving Community" and this series of blog posts shares some of the highlights from our session.  Today's post is Part 3---Acronyms and Diversity. (Also check out Part 1 and Part 2.)

Since most people reading this are probably familiar with the next 2 sections of our presentation, I'm combining them in this post.

A few of the artisan shaving soaps that we currently have in our den

Acronyms of Traditional Wet Shaving

If you visit an online group or forum for most any topic or hobby, you're bound to run into some community-specific shorthand.  Shaving worlds have many acrynoms and we were able to share a few with our listeners, in an effort to give them a working knowledge of the language they would encounter:

• SOTD - Shave of the Day
• WTG - With the Grain
• XTG - Across the Grain
• ATG - Against the Grain
• YMMV - Your Mileage May Vary
• BBS - Baby Butt Smooth (this is the goal of shaving)
• SWMBO - She Who Must Be Obeyed  (This, of course, if referring to the shaving spouse).  Darren expounded on this phrase a bit, explaining that some shavers have "less than supporting" spouses and so shaving can be a touchy subject.  It was priceless to see the looks on some of the faces when Darren told them that some men go to great lengths to hide their addiction to shaving supplies....even packing their gear in empty suitcases and stashing them under beds in an effort to keep their wife from discovering how many shaving products they actually own!

Diversity (Types of Shaving Soaps)

In the soapmaking world, discussions about what type of soap you make can get pretty heated.  Makers are defensive of "their" type of soap, often at the insult or injury of others.  So Darren's first point (for this section of the presentation) was an important one to a room full of soapmakers:  NO FIGHTING ALLOWED!!!

A few of the things he discussed included:

• Melt and Pour (M&P).  One of the key ways to spot a M&P soap is if Sorbital is included on the ingredient list.  Some people automatically write off a M&P soap when they're looking for shaving products, but there are some well respected ones on the market.  For consumers who want to know, they can ask the artisan or become familiar with the ingredient list.
• Vegan vs. Tallow.  This can be a huge platform for debate among shavers.  For some, it's a line in the sand:  one group is adamantly against using any product containing animal ingredients and one group will not even try a shaving soap unless it contains tallow.  They key for a soapmaker who is thinking about making shaving soap is to know their customer and formulate accordingly. 
• Hot vs. Cold Process.  There are a number of different methods making shaving soap, but most approaches are built on the foundation of one of these two processes.  Neither one inherently makes a "better" end product, but the ingredients and formulation may influence which process the soapmaker needs to use in order to achieve the consistency they need for working with their soap batter. 
• Forms.  Pucks, jars, tubs, tins....there are many different forms a shaving soap can take and a variety of packaging options that influence how the soap is protected, transferred, and used by the consumer.  Some important factors for the makers to consider...how are you getting the soap into the mold/container?  How will the shaver be using the soap (in the container?  transferring to a mug/bowl?)  How will the container be stored?  Is it rust-proof?  Waterproof?  Is it easy or difficult to handle?  What does it look like on a shelf?
• Texture & Firmness.  Darren briefly touched on the differences between Italian (hard) and French (soft) style shaving soaps, and the wide variety between super firm triple-milled soaps and some super soft ones that you can stick a finger through without resistance.  (If you want to know more about the differences between soaps, creams, and croaps, check out this post by fellow soapmaker and friend, Amanda Stott.)

Once we had everyone speaking the same language, it was time to Explore!

There are so many other acronyms in the wetshaving world!  Comment below to add to the list.