Buildin' Walls, Makin' Stuff, and Plannin'

Duuuuuuuuuudes....we're back! Well, I should say we *never* left, but the shop was technically on "vacation mode" for a few weeks there. SO, we're back! The etsy shop is live, but that's not all we're here to talk about.

First of all, a huge, HUGE thanks goes out to all of you for making last year the absolute best year we've ever had! If this year is anything like last year, we're gearing up for another amazing year. We were so busy last year. It was stressful and amazing, as a lot of time management practice was definitely executed. The holiday season was even more bananas, and we definitely needed this time to gather and restructure because we are officially...

Yes, that's right! The demand for our products has grown so much, that we have to expand our studio space yet again! Luckily, we do have the space for a build out, which is happening as we speak. Since the end of the holiday season, we've been building out more rooms right next to the tiny soaping room we are using right now. This room is slated to be completed within the next two to three weeks, and once that happens, we will have ample space for soap and other product storage without having to share that with development space. The way our little studio is now, only a small amount of products can be stored and if we go over that, there's no space to make stuff in! But you've shown us that we need to change that, and change it now. And guess what? That's what we're doing!

Aside from more storage space, what does this really mean? Well, the more space we have for development, the more space we've got to create, test, and sample! This means, of course, new products for this year! This means, BETTER products for this year and here on out! However, in terms of our New Years and Holiday limited editions (Kir Royale soap, Pink Lady soap, etc) we will not be offering those this year. There's just no time to make those products and build walls at the same time. But, being able to use this time now means that we will have a blow-out of a spring release! So let's make this official, shall we?

Save the Date: Soap Distillery, spring release: March 21st.

 On March 21st, we will release our spring limited editions, as well as offer some special new goodies for you! Now, I know you're thinking, "I don't wanna wait that long for awesome stuffs...", and don't worry because you won't have to. For the time being, we do have some stock that we can sell. And in just a few weeks, we will be stocking up on our regular items to fill the shop back up. We We just won't be doing any special releases until March 21st, which means we are skipping a big Valentine's Day release and a mid winter release. So by the time you've dug yourself out from your snow caves, we'll have a full shop with limited editions and all kinds of amazing smelling goodies. 

Plus...

WE'VE GOT OVER 500 FACEBOOK LIKES!

We promised something good would happen when we hit that number, and it happened to align with the craziness of the holidays. But don't fret, because we haven't forgotten. We're going to do a little contest via facebook. Open from January 26th until February 12th, you will say on our facebook page which custom cocktail, booze, or beer related soap you'd like to see made, and the one who gets the most votes wins 6 custom bars of soap in that scent. 

How it works: First we start with everyone just spouting off what they would like to see! Then we pick the top 5, and whichever one gets the most likes is the winner. It's just that simple, and it could be YOU! More details to follow. Make sure to follow us via facebook to win!

Oh, and just in case you forgot: You ROCK.

Holiday Events - Like, ALL of them!

Merry Holidays!

Hey there, fans! We have a *TON* of shows lined up for this holiday season, and we're ready to see you all! Make sure to check out the link below for the list of shows, and mark your calendars! Plus, if you look to the right, you'll see a sign up link for newsletters and such. Go and ahead and do it...you know you want to :) Whenever we have offers, shows, or generally want to share things, you'll be the first to know. Isn't that the best?

Soap Distillery Holiday Events!

An old recipe, a new recipe, and a yummy recipe!

Hello everyone, and happy Friday! 

Boy oh boy, has this summer just flown by! I know it seems like it's a little early to say, but with November just around the corner I'm feeling ok about this: I LOVE mulled wine season. More specifically, I love Glögg season! I am not a huge fan of the cold, however, if it has to be below 45 degrees for it to be ok for me to drink it, then, I guess I'm just going to have to be ok with it. There's something about the chill in the air, wearing comfy sweaters, and the smell of crispy leaves and burning firewood in the air. Combine that with the smell of cloves, ginger, cinnamon, bitter orange, and cardamom and mid to late fall wins me over every time. Now, we are preparing for some late fall and early winter shows, so we HAVE to bring back some fall and winter favorites for you guys. But, since we're talking about Glögg, let's talk a little throwback [Thursday] for a second.

Back in 2012 when the Etsy shop was first opened, I tried my hand at a  Mulled Wine soap. The picture below was the very first recipe we offered. I added wine instead of water, and I wasn't sure exactly how the soap was going to come out. I planned lots of swirls, but man did that sucker move fast! I was just barely able to get some colorant in there before it became a solid block. But, it worked, and this is how it looked: 

Mulled Wine, circa 2012, version 1

Not too bad, right? The soap smelled delicious, and although I wasn't able to get the swirls I wanted at the time, I was still pretty happy with my test batches and ultimately my final product. I was still learning things about soap and learning about what to expect, even though I had been making soap at home for a while. I liked the fragrance, but I kept working on it every year to make it better. Next year, I had done a bit better planning and blending, and came out with this guy:

Those soap curls look like cinnamon, right? 

I used soap for the cinnamon curls on top, and sprinkled the bar with elderberries and cinnamon. I was much happier with my creation, and I loved the way it smelled! We didn't do a Mulled Wine last year, but this year, I had been thinking of bringing the Mulled Wine back. However, I had been doing my research, and one of the things I pulled up was this article by Huffington Post: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/craig-goldwyn/glogg-hot-spiced-winerecipe_b_808157.html. Although I had tasted Glögg plenty of times before, I had never really understood the subtle differences between a Glögg and a Mulled Wine before.

Some of the flavors in Glögg are a bit different than what I had been playing with before in the Mulled Wine. Bitter orange? Cardamom? Oh goodness. All I want to do is drink it. But, I also want to smell like it...So, I started playing around and tweaking my essential oils in the blend, and made a tester lip balm:

I want...to..BATHE, in this.

Goodness. This is it. I can't stop putting it on my lips. And, I can't even tell you how awesome the tester soaps smell. This blend has come a long way from where it began back in 2012. The addition of the cardamom is really the key here, and a little balancing of the other oils makes me seriously want to drink this stuff when I'm making it. I know it seems early in the year to start talking about this, but c'mon, it IS almost November!

So, yes, it's starting to get a little chilly outside, but don't worry, we've got something that'll warm you up! And make sure to check out that article as it has a very nice recipe for Glögg in it! 'Tis the season, you guys. November is going to be awesome :)

I am the WORST at blogging...

Hey everyone! I swear, we haven't gone anywhere! I am the absolute WORST at blogging. Instagram, Twitter, and the like have shorted my conversation span to less than 140 characters...haha But like I said, we are still here!

We've actually been quite a bit busy preparing for a few upcoming shows! This past weekend, we sold our soapy wares at the Amuse Market, which was sponsored at Bowtruss Coffee Roasters in Lakeview. It was a great show! This was our first time at the location, and I think it worked well. It was a nice warm and sunny day, and there was a lot of foot traffic in the neighborhood. Here are a few photos of the event:

Take a look at the facebook album for more photos, and be sure to follow Amuse Market for future events!

The next two shows we are doing will be very exciting as well, and very big! Let's talk about the first show:

This is the first year that we are doing this show, and we couldn't be more excited! The Andersonville City Made fest is a two day event, lasting from 12-9pm on Saturday September 12th to 12-7pm on September 13th. We'll be there, selling soaps, scrubs, lip balms, and more!

The following weekend, we'll be back at Renegade Craft Fair on Division street!

On September 19th and 20th, from 11am to 6pm, we'll be slingin' more soap! This is the last show of the season, before holiday production and shows begin! We are excited to be selling at Renegade Craft Fair again, as the first year was quite a lot of fun.

For both shows, we will be bringing back some favorites, and introducing some revamped soaps! Here are just a few you can look forward to seeing again:

Corpse Reviver 2, our spooooookiest soap!

Corpse Reviver 2, the best version! It's the second revision of a gin cocktail that features absinthe, and packs a punch! It's made with gin, Lillet, absinthe, lemon juice, Cointreau, and garnished with an orange or lemon peel. Our soap is a refreshing and balanced blend of juniper, lemon peel, orange peel, anise, and a touch of green grape. It is a citrus explosion!

Fig Bitters: Spicy, fruity, green, and sultry. A very unique fragrance!

Fig bitters: You know, I tried a delicious cocktail out that featured fig bitters, and I tell you what, that cocktail was yummy! I decided to make my own fig bitters, and the rest was history. I figured, why not try a soap with this one? The main fragrance is of course, ripe fig, which is a little sweet, a little green, and a little sultry with some very minor fruity/floral notes. That is then balanced with bright and fresh smelling orange peel, and grounded with a touch of cinnamon. It is heavenly.

A surprise! What WAS this soap? Well, it's coming back with a new coat.

Surprise soap! Here's a hint: it's made with carrot essential oil, tomato powder, and topped with celery seeds. High in antioxidants, and blended with cucumber, black pepper, and herbs. What could it be?

PLUS, we are excited to have Tina from Tytin Jewelry as our booth mate for BOTH shows! Tina makes very awesome and unique jewelry, and has an amazing attention to detail. This is a lot more than just beads on a string. She casts everything she does, and you will NOT find anything like it anywhere else! Every piece is like a tiny little sculpture. We can't wait to buddy up with her again.

SO, come check us out everyone! More details about soaps to follow. Plus, make sure to follow us on Instagram!

Whew! It's been a while!

Hey there, followers! It's been a while. I do admit, although I have been busy with the shop, I've been neglecting this here blog. Well, I haven't forgotten about you, blog. And, it's time for a new post!

Let's face it, running a business can be tough. Everyone has ups and downs, and sometimes it's hard to remember why we do what we do in the first place. I have been making soap for years, and the other day I was going through some old photos of some of the first soaps I ever made. I looked back at my old recipes as well, and lemme tell you, I've come a loooooooooong way! Sometimes it's nice to go back and look at how far I've come. I believe that my personal growth is very important to note, as it helps push me to see how far I can continue to go.

First soap!

This is a photo of the first soap I ever made. It was called German Chocolate Martini, and it was scented with a blend of chocolate, coconut, and caramel fragrance oils. It was a VERY ambitious first soap, as it was made with a small amount of coconut milk. I ended up adding too many oils, and it didn't lather very well (but was pretty moisturizing) and it over heated a little in the mold but it wasn't too much of an issue. Soap makers have had issues with coconut fragrance oils actually smelling like coconut, and sadly, this soap was no different. It ended up smelling mostly like chocolate which wasn't a bad thing, and the shredded coconut at the top ended up getting pretty gross! Needless to say, this first soap was a bit of a flop. A slightly usable flop, but a flop nonetheless.

Second soap!

This is the second soap I ever made! It was a blend of anise and peppermint essential oils. It was naturally colored with sea kelp powder. The mint that I used was very harsh, and didn't have a lot of sweetness to it. It almost smelled just like menthol. I tried to do a swirl of sorts, and, we can see how well that ended up working out! Plus, the soap was a little lye heavy (I must have miscalculated something) and it ended up being pretty drying. I was so sad because I really wanted this to work! Oh well, on the the next one, as they say...

Absinthe!

Does this look familiar? This is the very first Absinthe soap I had ever made! It's fragrance has changed slightly, and is a little softer on the anise, but not very much else has changed. Can you see the difference in quality from the first two to this guy? And that was only a few months later! This soap was awesome to use, and our recipe has only gotten better. Now all natural, this soap is colored with spirulina and black clay, but still has the same design. This is one of the first soaps that became apart of the regular line.

Margarita anyone?

After a couple of tries, I finally made a salt soap! It's a little tricky to get the balance right, and when I got it, I got it! The fragrance has gotten a bit better over time, but the recipe remains the same. Don't worry salt soap lovers, this soap will be making a come back this spring/summer!

Making soap has been a fun adventure that I hope to continue for a very long time. Not to mention, formulating and designing our other products has been awesome as well! Our customers continue to impress us, and we hope to continue to keep you guys happy with our products! As usual, we're working on some new spring additions, and Bourbon restocks are coming soon. It's also possible that we may be having a little sale soon...:) So, the moral of the story is that, even when you are faced with difficulty, remember the things that keep you going on and keep "springing" forward! ;)

CyberWEEK sale!

Hey everyone, we're having a sale! We're working with our friends at Yellow Brick Home to offer up some holiday shopping ideas and give you all the deals first. All week, you can go to the shop and use the code YBHOLIDAY to get 15% off of your order!

It doesn't matter what you buy, it's 15% percent off the whole lot. The code can even be used with bundles! This is also perfect to use with pre-orders, because not only can you get a discount on your order, you can also insure that the bars you want for yourself or others will actually be in stock to buy! Things tend to fly off the shelves (thanks everyone!) and it's the worst when you have a holiday gift in mind for someone, only to have it go out of stock before you get a chance to order it. So, take advantage of our pre-orders, as well as in stock items!

CyberWEEK sale!

We're back!

Hello all! It's been a while since I've posted here. Due to some issues with our old name "STILL - Spirited Bath and Body Care", we've decided to go back to our old name Soap Distillery (removed the 'The'). To us, it just seems easier this way, and many of our customers declared that they liked the old name.

To camp on to the name change or name switch, we are also changing our product line to offer mostly all natural products. This means that most of our products will not longer contain artificial fragrance oils. Some products (like Elderflower Liqueur and Wheat Beer) that cannot be replicated in an all natural way will stay the same, as the fragrance oils we use are perfectly safe. However, for those who are seeking an all natural option will finally get it! This means that we will have many all natural soaps, body oils, and lip balms! They will not contain any artificial fragrance, preservatives, or surfactants. Our soaps will also be more naturally colored, even though we will continue to use nature identical oxides from time to time. Our super bubbly soap formula will remain the same.

Our new Elderflower Liqueur soap, colored with sweet scented bee pollen and topped with elderflowers.

For those who preferred our body wash options, we have already released a whipped soap, which contains super mild surfactants (sls free) that we've been testing for quite some time. This formula also contains shea butter and olive oil, to insure that the body wash will be moisturizing. This is quite uncommon for a regular "off the shelf" body wash. It also contains a paraben and formaldehyde donor free preservative. It's absolutely heavenly!

Pumpkin IPA whipped soap, topped with nutmeg. OH MAN.

PLUS, we will be in several shows this holiday season, so come check us out! The links are all on etsy, at the bottom left side of the page:

Our markets bring all the boys to the yard.

As always, our products will remain phthalate, sls, silicone, nitro musk, and dye free. Because why? Because you deserve the best. We spend countless hours perfecting our formulations to insure that you get a good product. Besides, why would we make something that we wouldn't even use? Now that's just silly.

Be on the lookout for new products and new branding to hit our etsy shop soon. Make sure to follow our facebook page for updates as well!

Shop on Etsy

Follow us on Facebook!

Thanks for holding on with us folks!

New blog! New name! New everything!

Hello everyone! I am happy to say (which sounds weird, but wait for it..) that this will be the LAST blogpost for The Soap Distillery blog. Since we have changed our name to STILL - Spirited Bath and Body Care, our blog name has changed as well! Etsy, Facebook, and Twitter have all been updated. Please follow us over at our new blog!

New blog, same good products!

Check us out, and thanks for following along! STILL - Spirited Bath and Body Care

Gettin' re-stocked, testing, and a name change!

This past month and a half, we've been spending all of our time re-stocking old favorites, and coming up with what we hope will be new favorites. We've been on the hunt for even higher quality supplies, and ways we can improve our products in both feel and appearance. I gotta tell ya, it's been quite the exhausting time, but it's been totally worth it! Research and testing is the name of the game. We've been doing some pretty small test batches, and so far everything is coming out the way we'd like it to.

White Whiskey (back) and Gin (front)

In terms of aesthetics, we've been going for a slightly cleaner and more simple look. Many bars will look exactly the same, but a few will be different. Instead of spending a ton of time focusing on a complicated design, we're spending that time formulating an even better recipe and packing each bar with goodness that your skin will appreciate! Let's see some more photos!

Gin, in the mold

Gin, prior to pouring. It kinda looks like a nice pudding...

Bourbon, right after pouring. This is what it looks like before the vanilla discolors the bars to a nice warm brown!

After the ginger is added. Looks like some kind of spiced bread!

I love how soap looks like pudding before it's set up! Well, we've also been tweaking our sugar scrub recipe and working on some new stuff, but we'll see more photos of that later.

Also, we should mention that the company name, The Soap Distillery, will be changing to something that's a bit more inclusive for our other products. We'll continue to make booze inspired goodness, but keep an eye out for STILL - Spirited Bath and Body Care! We'll have more on that later, and will be changing our facebook name, etsy shop, etc to reflect this new hotness :) Make sure to follow the blog and facebook for updates!

Cyber Monday Sale!

Yes, that's right, it's time for a SALE! From 12 midnight on 12/2/13 to 12 midnight on 12/3/13 everything in the shop is 20% off! Because you'll save more money using the coupon code SMALLBIZ, we are making our 3 packs unavailable during this time.

And that's not it! Our Fig Bitters soap is now available for pre-order! Check it out, and get all of your holiday shopping done!

https://www.etsy.com/listing/171388766/pre-order-fig-bitters-cold-process-soap?ref=shop_home_feat

Vegan vs. Vegan: Understanding Ingredients

It seems as if more and more, recently, the trend in bath and body products is to make plenty of vegan options, or have your whole line be vegan. Making a milk based soap can offer some incredible differences in the properties of the soap itself, as well as the benefits you get from it, but it's definitely possible to make a vegan version of that soap that has some similar benefits as well. And in terms of making lotions, body creams, etc, from a manufacturing standpoint it's much easier to not have to deal with milk than it is to include it. While most of the time The Soap Distillery will offer mainly vegan products (things that are vegan are clearly marked!), from time to time we will offer something a little different. We want to make sure that we are offering the best products that we can, in the highest quality possible. 

Now, let's say you, our fabulous potential customer (or current customer!), are on the hunt specifically for a vegan product. There are many manufacturers that offer vegan products using vegan ingredients, but all vegan ingredients are NOT created equal. Please, do not be swayed by "cruelty free" and "no animal by-products". While these are all great things to consider when purchasing a product that claims to be vegan, it's not the only thing to consider. We see this time and time again: a product is, by definition vegan, but the ingredients are, chemically speaking, proven to be bad for your skin and sometimes your overall health. This means that, even though anyone can have a reaction to anything, these ingredients are shown to be irritants or even worse, linked to cancer causing materials. So, how do you know which ingredients to avoid to limit your potential irritant response? Well, let's do a breakdown of some common "vegan" ingredients that skincare companies frequently use:

Parabens: Parabens are a part of a class of chemical compounds that are commonly used in preservatives for skincare products. While all chemicals are not bad, parabens are definitely on the list of ingredients to avoid. You may commonly see them listed as methylparaben, propylparaben, isobutylparaben, isopropylparaben, and benzylparaben. These chemicals, while mostly non sensitizing, have been linked to breast cancer cells as they can sometimes mimic estrogen. (read on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paraben)

Formaldehyde donors (DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidiazolidinyl urea, and quaternium 15): These compounds are also commonly used in preservatives. As a preservative, their efficacy is very good. However, they work by releasing formaldehyde into our cosmetics. Formaldehyde can naturally occur in the air we breathe and can be emitted from fruits and vegetables. So, why are they so terrible? It seems there isn’t a great way to find how much formaldehyde actually ends up in the product, or how much can end up in your body. I personally avoid them because of the uncertainty and they are also known carcinogens (http://ntp.niehs.nih.gov/?objectid=03C9AF75-E1BF-FF40-DBA9EC0928DF8B15)

Lauryl/Laureth Sulfates: This should be an easy one! More and more consumers are aware of the irritation that can be caused by these chemical surfactants. These powders are commonly used in body washes, toothpaste, and dish detergents, as they are great for degreasing. The main issue with these sulfates is that the particle size is very tiny, and is easily absorbed by the skin which can cause irritation. Also, their strong cleaning ability can strip your skin of the moisture it really needs. Because they are penetrant enhancers, they can draw other irritants into the skin as well. (Read on: Why sulfates are bad https://www.google.com/search?q=why+sulfates+are+bad&oq=why+sulfates+are+bad&aqs=chrome..69i57j0l5.5037j0j7&sourceid=chrome&espv=210&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8)

Cocamide DEA (and MEA): Another chemical surfactant, this ingredient is commonly used in body washes as it is a good foamer and an emulsifier. This ingredient has been linked as a possible carcinogen (read on: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cocamide_DEA)

Propylene Glycol: also known as 1,2-propanediol (which shouldn’t be confused with propanediol which is plant based [1 ,3-propanediol]) is a petro chemical that is relatively safe when used in combination with low irritation ingredients. It’s a solvent that is commonly used to maintain clarity in body wash, and add smoothness to body creams. While toxicity has been found to be low (but existent), this ingredient is also a penetrant enhancer and can assist in causing irritation from other ingredients.

Phthalates: Commonly found in fragrance oils, phthalates are known endocrine disruptors. Now what does that mean? It means that they interrupt the function of hormones, which can cause birth defects, decreased sperm count, early breast development, and other hormonal issues.

Ok, so that’s a short but very detailed list of some very common vegan products to avoid. When shopping for products, make sure that the company states that they are free of these products. If they do not list specific ingredients, feel free to ask what’s in it, or ask if they contain any of these nasties! The Soap Distillery currently does not use, or will ever use, any of these ingredients. We will continue to be 100% handmade, and we will continue to use raw ingredients and spend countless hours formulating our products. But, even if you decide not to buy our products, make sure you are making informed purchases with other Handmade companies. We want to treat your skin well, and we like other companies that feel the same way!

North Shore Distillery and Craft Fair Time!

Yes, you heard that correctly. It's time for two big things to happen. First off, were are more than excited to have two custom soaps ready for sale at North Shore Distillery's tasting room this season! That's right! We blended two custom soaps in the likeness of their Sol Chamomile Citrus Vodka and their Distiller's Gin No. 6. You'll only be able to buy the soaps their, so, I suppose that means a distillery tour is in your future! 

For those unfamiliar with North Shore Distillery, they are a small (but growing bigger and bigger every day) craft distiller just outside of Chicago. They have been making delicious spirits for the finest of cocktails or straight sippin' since 2004. Some say they were one of the first craft distillers in the area. Go check 'em out for more info!

North Shore Distillery

Now, for the SECOND bit of good news. Chicago, we will be coming to another craft fair for ya! We will be selling our soapy wares at the Red Door Animal Shelter Annual Winter Bazaar! On November 24th (this Sunday!!!) we'll be at the Warren Park Field House (6601 N Western Ave, Chicago, IL, 60645) and we'll have plenty of gifting ideas for you! We'll also have plenty of gifting ideas for you so come on and check us out! Proceeds from the show go directly back into the shelter. It's good for the animals! And we LOVE animals here at The Soap Distillery.

The Etsy shop is back open, AND we have a wholesale account!

Hey everyone! After taking a brief week hiadus after Renegade Craft Fair, we finally reopened the shop, with all new items (and some old ones too!). We now carry body washes, as well as body oils, and a newly reformulated AMAZING sugar scrub. Everything is base free (no melt and pour, no bases to customize) and 100% handmade by us. It's taken a lot of work to get this far, and we have no desire to stop making our products better and better! So, go take a look (and buy!) our new stuff, and feedback is especially welcomed so feel free to email us at thesoapdistillery (at) gmail (dot) com. Go check us out!

https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSoapDistillery?ref=l2-shopheader-name

Plus, as an extra added bonus, you can now buy our soaps at our first retail location, Wiggly Bridge Distillery in York Beach, Maine! How fitting to add our soaps to a distillery guest shop :) So, if you are in the area, go check them out!

http://wigglybridgedistillery.com/

Base free! (NOT free base...you're looking at it backwards!)

Yes, it's finally happened: after months and months of testing out recipes, we've finally developed our own foaming cream base that we use for our sugar scrubs! Not that the pre-made base wasn't good (it was actually awesome and really easy to use) but we really liked the idea of being able to custom tailor this base and have it perform exactly the way we wanted it to. So, yes, our sugar scrubs are completely 100% HANDMADE now! We hated the idea of using a base for anything, and now we don't have to. It's much better this way. Raw materials are the best.

Plus, look how CREAMY and DREAMY THIS IS?

It's so thick the spoon just stands up!

Now, because we have spent ALOT of time on this, the full ingredients list will not be on the etsy website. If you have specific allergies and have questions about it, feel free to ask us. Once the scrub is added to the shop (after we re-open), we'll let you all know! In the meantime, you'll have to dream about this creamy goodness :)

It's almost time for Renegade Craft Fair!

Yes! The reason why we've been so MIA (not the Paper Planes kind) over the past few weeks/months. It's almost time for Renegade Craft Fair! Yes, that's right. For all you Chicago peeps, you are going to get a chance to buy our products in person, and meet me, Danielle, the soap maker! Not only will we be introducing some new products, we will also have some good deals, and combo packs for ya. SO, come check us out! We'll be sitting pretty on Division Ave, in between Damen and Wolcott, and we'll be at booth #95. Don't you want to smell our awesome soaps in person?

Of course you do!

Now go and spread the word!

It's been a while!

Yes yes, I know it's been a while since I've updated this thing! But, it's not because we haven't been doing anything. Let's kick this post off with a couple of new products!

In about a week, we will be releasing TWO new soaps: Gin and Tequila. Let's start with Tequila:

Crushed sea salt on top? YES PLEASE.

Tequila is yet another in house blended scent, and this one is great for people who love clean, fresh, green fragrances. This one has notes of aloe, lily, bamboo grass, white musk and lime. I think that men and women with both love this fragrance! It's not sweet at all, just super clean. We also decided to add some goodies to the batch, including aloe juice, french green clay, cocoa butter, shea butter, and a topping of sea salt. 

We've been using some samples of this soap over the past week, and it feels amazing! It's got plenty of bubbles, and the french green clay gives it a nice slip. It's also a plus that the salt on top doesn't take anything away from the bubbles (salt has a tendency to do this, which is why salt bars don't have tons of bubbles). It's definitely one that will stay in the line for a while.

Ok, now let's talk Gin:

Juniper, juniper, and more juniper, but still balanced. Oh yes.

Now, I hate to be biased when it comes to our soaps, but, I can't hide it any longer...this is my absolute FAVORITE soap that we've ever made. PERIOD. It's another clean scent, but it's on the brighter side. No musky notes, no warm notes, just clean, bright, and natureous (yeah, we had to make up a word to describe this). It's inspired by the more piney, earthy gins, with notes of juniper (of course), clary sage, fir needle, and it's brightened up a bit with citrus. Seriously, I could eat this soap if it wasn't so bad for you (please don't do this...). The soap is the natural off white color, kind of a deep ivory, and topped with whole and crushed juniper berries. 

This particular soap is also laced with cocoa butter and shea butter, as well as macadamia nut oil and olive oil. Plus, don't forget the kaolin clay, which also gives this bar a nice slip. It. Is. Fantastic!

So that's it for the new soaps for now. We've got a couple more that we will be making this week and next week, but there's also this:

We will be in the Renegade Craft Fair in Chicago this Summer! The fair is the weekend of September 7th and 8th, and for those who like to sniff before they buy, this is a great chance for that! We will have soaps, scrubs, and a couple of new products, along with gift sets! Here's the website for more info. We've been SO busy preparing for this, and we can't wait to talk to you all in person!

http://www.renegadecraft.com/chicago-summer-home

The Time Has COME!

Ok we've kept you guys waiting long enough. Without further ado, here are...SUGAR SCRUBS! Our "On The Rocks" Sugar Scrubs are finally available for purchase through our Etsy page!

It's about time!

Not only are they a sugar scrub, but they also double as a body wash. Finally, a non oily scrub that also cleans! Pro tip: Want to switch up your shower routine? Put a scoop of your scrub on your bath poof and agitate your poof to get some bubbles!

As of right now, we only have three scents that we are offering in the scrub, and only in the smaller sizes. If the public demands more, guess what we'll give them? :) And keep in mind, this little 4oz jar gives you 6 OZ of product, so you get more bang for your buck. Here's the line up at the moment:

Bourbon: Newly reformulated! Now a little sweeter and spicier. This is our most popular scent! A classic, kept classy. Smoky vetiver wrapped in a blanket of vanilla with just a touch of spice are blended to create this all time favorite scent. With just a whisper of oak, this scent has a very sultry depth that is cherished by men and women a like.

White Whiskey: Also newly reformulated! Another great unisex scent. White Whiskey is has been growing in popularity on the cocktail scene for the past year or so. It's typically a mildly aged whiskey, that has notes of an aged whiskey that's much lighter in flavor/color and has a greener note to it. It usually has the blendibility of vodka, with the flavor of a very mild aged liquor. This is no different. Green tea, may chang and a hint of balsamic (woody) vanilla give this blend a bit of sweetness as well as a green note

NEW SCENT! It's not even available in a soap yet :)
Elderflower Liqueur: A new scent! Elderflower liqueur has the ability to make even the blandest cocktail slightly more upscale. The flower petals themselves do not carry much scent, as the essential oil doesn't heavily reside in them, but the scent that it does carry is a very mild honeyed citrus fragrance, with a hint of white floral. This custom blend of fragrances, just like the others, is something that you won't find anywhere else. We blended honey, along with tangerine, white flowers, and just a touch of immortelle to take this fragrance to the next level. While this scrub does not actually contain honey, the fragrance may have traces of honey in it so it is not vegan.

As usual, this product is paraben, phthalate, sulfate, -cones, and harsh detergent free. So, go show how much you love us, and get some! Any feedback from buyers is greatly appreciated through Etsy feedback. Here's the link! https://www.etsy.com/shop/TheSoapDistillery

We haven't gone anywhere...I swear!

So, what's all this then?

So, things have been getting pretty chaotic around here lately. We've been busy busy busy with testing formulations, and there's been lots of ups and downs. Formulating new products can be a very rewarding experience, but I'll tell you, it's been a frustrating and difficult one as well. Choosing the right balance between raw materials is far more difficult than people assume it would be,  and making sure you are keeping temperatures consistent and following the process correctly can be trying! But, when it comes down to bringing our customers a good product, it's freaking worth it. So, aside from new fragrance blending, here's what we've been up to:

 Body cream: I'm debating on whether I want to offer a body cream or a lotion in the future, but it doesn't hurt to test out the waters! Look how creamy this is...it came out so well! It's thick, creamy, and loaded with shea butter, macadamia oil, as well as aloe, green tea extract, and beta glucan. I've been using it a bit, and it absorbs surprisingly quickly for how thick it is. This would be amazing in the winter. And I love that it looks like frosting...

YUM. (even thought it's not edible)

Body washes: So here's the sad bit: I originally posted a sneaky photo of a body wash that we made, and it came out, again, awesome, and after being tested for a while it was ready to sell. However, dude to human error, I must have written something down incorrectly, or missed something, because I can't recreate the recipe to save my life! So, back to the drawing board. Not really a big deal, because now we get to play around a little more with some new materials. Aloe has been a favorite, as well as glycerin. Just saying. I've used the creamy one in the middle and the clear one on the side several times myself, and my testers will be getting some samples of these soon. We'll also be getting the new recipes challenge tested once we decide on one or two we like the best, all for your safety!

Which would you prefer? Creamy or clear?

 New soaps: We're not called The Soap Distillery for nothing! While we've been messing around with some non soap bar products, we've also been improving our soap recipe (can you believe it gets BETTER?) and blending some new scents. This recipe has loads of cocoa butter, shea butter and macadamia nut oil. It's similar to the recipe that we use for The Hair of the Dog and White Whiskey soaps, but improved! This one in particular is Gin, and as you may have seen in the last post, we've been working to re-blend some old favorites, as well, to make them even better than they already are.

This Gin fragrance has strong notes of juniper (of course), fir, sage, honeysuckle, and bergamot. It's an earthy, but sweet, blend inspired by one of my favorite gins.

Creamy cleansing goodness.

Now, our sugar scrub is just about ready to go. So, if you care about your skin at all, you'll try it out! :) Perhaps it's release will be the next post...

See, we told you we haven't been sitting around doing nothin'!

New scents, new stuffs!

Blending some new scents, and re-blending some old scents. We've got lots of new stuff in the works! We are currently working on releasing some new products, and giving some old products a fresh new start. Here's a little sneak peek at the scents we blended yesterday:

We'll test these out and see how they change (if at all) in soap. Keep your fingers crossed! They all smell sooooo good on their own. Maybe we'll have to make some perfumes as well...

What's the difference?

So, here’s a question I get all the time as a soap maker. People wonder why they should use homemade soap in the first place. We've already covered the “it’s too beautiful to use” problem, but why even buy it over commercial “soap” in the first place?

You’d think this question would infuriate a soap maker. However, once upon a time, many of us were in this same spot. We didn't know why we should buy, let alone make, soap. I know I personally grew up on liquid soaps that we made purely with artificial surfectants, and that was the only thing I knew.  When someone said “soap bar”, I thought of all those commercial soaps that exist on the market these days, and didn't know that they weren't actually soap. They looked pure to me. But what are we really using? When I found out, this is what drove me to buy REAL soap, and it was my crafty spirit that forced me to make it. Well, let me share some info with you.

Here’s the long and short of it. And for the sake of time, we’ll only talk about soap bars today, and save shower gels/liquid soaps and lotions/body creams for another post, okay? Okay. Well, here’s the skinny: Real soap is made with oils that are carefully chosen, not because they are cheap, but because of the different properties they have. Now, we can’t talk about healing skin issues, curing diseases, or treating specific afflictions because, well, the FDA doesn't like that. But what we can talk about is how nice these oils make your skin feel. When handmade soap is made, the most basic form is mixing water and oils with an alkali and it turns it into soap. However, if you only use enough alkali to turn 94% of the oils into soap, and leave 6% of the oils untouched, that left over oil is what prevents your skin from drying out. It doesn't leave your skin feeling oily, just soft and clean. And the glycerin, which is a natural byproduct of soap, stays in the soap and draws moisture to the skin.

No. I don't want you on me.

So what do commercial “soap” manufacturers do? Well typically if they are making an actual soap, they do not leave these excess oils in the soap because taking them out prolongs the shelf life. That means this soap can last for years and years sitting on the shelf in a warehouse somewhere. They also manufacture out the glycerin so that moisture is not drawn to it. Then, they add artificial surfectants as lather and foam boosters. These chemicals, most commonly sodium lauryl sulfate and sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLS, SLES) are the same chemicals we use in floor cleaners, dish washing powders, degreasers, and other powerful cleaners, and can be extremely irritating to the skin. It’s also commonly used in toothpaste, and if enough is ingested, it can cause some, well, unwanted digestive issues…Since the free oils and glycerin is taken out, and irritating chemicals are used, they tend to add cheap waxes to give you the illusion of being moisturized. But, who are they kidding? They aren't fooling anyone. Not anymore!

I mean, if Tyler Durden says it's ok...

So what sounds better to you: Handmade soap made with real ingredients, or a pressed bar of floor cleaner? Yep, that’s what we thought. And this is why we do what we do!

(please note, no organized fighting clubs take place in or around our soap making studio, unfortunately)