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| As some of you know I ran a test with some of my customers, comparing SCFI base with WSS base (because some people who have used both to make soap thought one was definitly better than the other.), so I thought I'd see what my customers thought.
Its been about 2 weeks since I sent off samples-I made ½ size bars of soap, colored & scented as I normally would. They each got 4 differnt scents, 2 of my old scents, 2 new ones I am considering adding to my line, plus a bar of the SCFI oatmeal base soap. Now, I'm still waiting for a few of the results, & hopefully they will be in within the next day or so (they have promised they WILL get them to me ASAP), but so far this is what I've got:
As I said I'm still waiting for a few results-I have heard partial reports from all but one person (ironically, the local tester...). Now believe me this was no scientific test, there were 4 participants, 1 local, 1 about 2 hrs away from me, 1 in NC & 1 in PA. They were all asked to use both bars of the same scent in the same bath/shower, one bar on one side, one on the other side, so they had direct comparissions as to lather, afterfeel etc. As I get the rest of the results coming in I will let you know a final vote from everyone, but at this point I will probably just stick with the WSS base. Hazel |
Follow-Up Postings:
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| Hazel, Thanks for letting us know! I've been dying to hear what others have to say. I find your testers right on the money! As much as I love SFIC bases, I do agree with your testers that the bar doesn't last as long as WSS's. However, SFIC's low sweat/cp soap DOES last as long, if not longer than WSS's. I'm not trying to change your mind, this is just an FYI. By any chance did you find out if they were using soft or hard water? lol! Susan |
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| I was happy to be a tester for Hazel's WSS vs. SFIC base comparison. Have well water here, and honestly found just a small difference between the two. Actually, I had to use one bar on one arm - stroke 10 times, then do the same on the other and compare lather...that's how close it was for me. The scents--heavenly! The colors--beautiful! DH participated too and had the same remarks. Jill |
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| I did hear from my local tester, but his results aren't really complete...... he took his tester bars on vacation to TN this past week, & he says basically the opposite of everyone else: **he DIDN'T think the new base lathered as well as the old **he thought the new base lasted better than the old. However, he also didn't compare them side by side, although he said he would this week. (he's a male.....they DON'T follow directions all that well.......) As far as the water, not sure who had what, BUT I figured that sending it to several places (& TN wasn't a "planned" test) would give a variety of water types. Glad to hear that Jills well water test went good, & interesting to see that she had the same results as "city water" folks.... If I get any other results, I'll pass them along.......now it's on to scent testing for new fragrances...... Hazel |
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| Where do we sign up to become a scent tester??!!!! lol! |
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| Sorry, already have 10 testers lined up, some people from across the country, a couple are my wholesale customers.....I usually just pick my scents by what I like, & by "instinct", but this time I decided to to some scent testing, just to see how close, or far off I REALLY am......then again, I may NOT want to know. I also thought it would be a good idea to let the wholesale folks preview upcoming things........ Depending on how this goes, I may just go back to the old way (me). It's been a borderline pain....I spent the weekend making tons of ½ size bars of soap, wrapping & labeling, now packing & getting ready to ship. Anyway, off to pack the soap, & the ebay auctions....... Hazel |
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| Hazel, I appreciate your information. I am new to soap making, and I have to admit that although I love doing it, I was disappointed in the fact that the soap didn't last long at all (I am using the SFIC bases). I thought perhaps all melt and pour soap was like that. There are five of us, and we use up one whole bar (full size) every day. If we use the "guest size" bars I made, they only last one washing. Now, if I were buying this soap at three dollars a bar (full size suggested retail), that would be very expensive! Do all M&P bases go so quickly? A bar of Zest or similar will last us a week. Susan |
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| Susan-- I have used WSS bases for most of my soaps. They hold up well and the lather is pretty good here (we have well water). SFIC lathered great but I think that's where most of the soap went LOL. I have about a 4 oz. bar of WSS soap that I've been using daily for about a week, and there's more than half left. I guess the trade-off is the way your skin feels afterward. I thought I'd be a die-hard Dial user, but I can't believe the difference in the way the soap leaves my skin feeling. Even my DH likes the glycerin soap better. Jill |
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| Susan, No all M&P bases are not "created equallly"....some last longer, some lather better, some are hard to work with, or don't take scent well. you just have to try various ones till you find something YOU like. Good luck! Hazel |
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| Aren't there things you can add to the soap to make it 'harder' and longer-lasting? I think I've heard that citric acid can do that? Anything else?? Also, I just got my first order of SFIC base (drove up to Bellingham to get it from Brambleberry - wonderful folks!) and when I opened the bag, it smelled distinctly of alcohol. Now, isn't added alcohol a bad thing? SFIC is supposed to be the best, and I believe that, but what's up with the smell?? |
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| never heard that about cirtic acid....I know some things don't work well in M&P... as to the alcohol smell, I don't know, the samples I got from SCFI didn't smell like that....... Hazel |
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- Posted by tanner2135 (My Page) on Thu, Feb 13, 03 at 0:51
| Hey, I smelled alcohol when I broke open a case to take some bars out (waving to Ellen)...I caught a big whiff but it dissipated quickly. Interesting... |
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| I didn't get the alcohol smell when I opened my sample pack from SFIC but maybe the drunk had the day off. ;o) |
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| My SFIC sampler (which came from SFIC) had no alcohol smell when I received it, either. In fact, it didn't have any smell at all. Susan |
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| It's stearic acid that can be added to harden m&p for a longer-lasting bar (thanks to a little birdie for clearing that up for me!). Î've never done it though, so can't comment on results, recipes... Anyone else know? |
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