SoapMaker 3 Launched!‏

www.soapmaker.ca

I have been using the soapmaker program since 2002 and could not run my business without it. I depend on it for making formulas, pricing, inventory and much more. The new version has so many upgrades that I am not sure I have found them all. The new version is truly an amazing tool. Here are just a few of my favorites, feel free to post your favorite features using the comment feature at the bottom of this post.

• Creates a shopping list
• Once you print the recipe it will list the ingredients in the correct order and includes the INCI names. Great feature when creating an ingredient deck
• Let’s say you want to discontinue using an oil like almond oil from your product line. This program allows you call up a list of recipes using almond oil so you can revise your recipes. This is a great time saver for me!
• You can create invoices for clients
• You can add your soapmaking purchases into the program. It keeps track of your sales tax paid, shipping charges, ingredients purchased..

To check out the Soapmaker program go to www.soapmaker.ca. The brain behind this soap making calculator program is Crawford Woodman of Perth, Ontario Canada.  His wife Diane is a successful well known soapmaker in the handmade soap industry. I had the pleasure of Diane staying with me for a visit back in 2002. Wish she lived closer, she is such a dear and caring person and such a great friend.

The Bulk Herb Store

This is one of my favorite sites to go to when I need to do research on herbs and they supply herbs, books….  Go to http://www.bulkherbstore.com/ and check it out. Then go to http://www.bulkherbstore.com/Licorice-Root-Square-Cut  and look at all the information it gives you. There is excerpts from The ABC Herbal, excerpts from Herbal Antibiotics, excerpts from The How to Herb Book, list of conditions that licorice is good for and sometimes they will post a case history, excerpts from the Nutritional Herbology, a section they call, From our Reading and /or experience, related rememdies and customer review.  I believe they sell all the books I mentioned. 

Be sure to bookmark this site, it’s a keeper.

Laurie

One of My Favorite Supply Places

When I first started out making bath and body products, almost 10 years ago, one of my first shopping experiences with FPI-America.  Through the years I have continued to purchase certain items that are not available anywhere else for the same quality and price.

FPI-America, http://fpi-america.com, has the best Cinnamon Leaf (imo), Basil, Ylang Ylang III, Bitter Almond that is very affordable essential oils. My favorite fragrance oils are Hyacinth, Green Leaves and Rain English (one of Rosi’s favorites).

While you are at FPI, they have very nice unrefined Hempseed oil, organic Evening Primrose oil, a beautiful dark green unrefined Avocado oil, Sea Buckthorn oil.. Granted their carrier oils are a little pricey but if you only need a pound, it is well worth the price.