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Posts Tagged ‘Goat Milk Soap’

Honesty and Hard Work Does Make a Difference

Posted in In The Soap Shop, tagged , on January 7, 2010| 3 Comments »

Today I am sharing a story with you that goes beyond a lesson on soap making.

I have a valued customer that entrusted me with several large standing orders for rosemary peppermint goat milk soap.

She loved her first bars.  Savored them.  She said, “They are aromatherapy in the shower.  Especially after a 12-hour shift at work.” 

Then the troubles began.

I could not reproduce those luxurious soap, regardless of what I did.  I checked and double checked.  I followed the same recipe.  I purchased ingredients from the same supplier.

No luck.

I began to fret.  But I knew there was an answer.  Patience, diligence and prayers were very much needed. 

While batch after batch of soap failed, I continued to stay in touch with the customer.  I was open and honest.

I finally called a person very well versed with milk soap.  She was excellent.  As soon as she asked me the first question about my shop I knew the problem.  Yes, it was written on the wall, in bold black and white!

 I turn the shop’s heat dial down in the winter months to save on electric bills.  I had forgotten to adjust for the cooler room!

For those of you new to soap, or wanting to get into it, keep in mind, at times you need to adjust to the climate.  For example, last spring I adjusted the pour temperature while adding the oils to the lye/milk. 

Goat milk soap making is trickier than non-milk soap, especially with fresh goat milk.  Milk differs from goat to goat (both in water content and fat), and from season to season (grass-fed vs. hay fed), which adds to the delicate workings when making goat milk soap.  Milk also reacts differently to certain fragrances and essential oils.  

And for those of you new to small business, expect challenges.  Honesty pays.  Diligence pays.  Reaching out to others pays.  If I had been less stubborn, and had asked for help sooner, I might have saved both time and supplies.  I might have gotten the job done sooner.

Lesson learned.

A good lesson in life.

I have a beautiful 3-day old batch of rosemary peppermint goat milk soap on the curing rack for my customer.  Soon, it will also be listed on the website again!

Have fun, stay warm, and remember…nothing in life is too challenging!

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Product Monday – Still Waters Goat Milk Soap

Posted in Products, tagged on January 4, 2010| 13 Comments »

 Still Waters Goat Milk Soap

Today I am spotlighting Still Waters goat milk soap. 

With this soap I looked for a fragrance fitting for the new year.  I wanted a fragrance that left a person with thoughts of, “Ahhh…I am leaving the last few weeks behind me, no more rush, all is calm.  The new year is going to smoothly settle in, just like Still Waters.” 

Still Waters fragrance is a combination of apricot, geranium and cucumber.  Refreshing, clean, subtle, yet it makes its own statement. 

And such a beautiful statement it is in luxurious goat milk soap!

Still Waters soap, and others, can be found at www.anniesgoathill.com .

Happy new year!

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What Type Of Soap Should I Use?

Posted in Products, Skin and Hair Care, tagged , , , , , on December 27, 2009| 12 Comments »

goat milk soap

When I receive questions that I think others will benefit from I like to post them here. 

These are some recently asked questions:

Is your goat milk soap considered a body or facial soap?

  • Both.  When I create a soap I keep skin types in mind.  Some of the soaps are good for oily or combination skin (such as lemongrass, cedarwood).  Some are a good match-up for skin blemishes (such as lemongrass, patchouli, or tea tree). Some of the soaps are less drying, great for mature or dry skin (examples are:  unscented or honey oatmeal soaps, lavender, and orange mint).

Can your soaps be used as a shaving cream replacement?

  • Yes, I consider the lather from my soaps to have a thick luxurious feel.  This enables a smooth shave with less skin irritation, resulting in less nicks and chafing.  Honey oatmeal, for example, provides a wonderful rich lather that leaves the skin less irritated (as compared to shaving cream).

Do any of your soaps contain an exfoliant to assist with dead skin removal while cleansing?

  • Yes, the honey oatmeal is very mildy exfoliating.  The lemongrass poppyseed contains a natural exfoliant, poppyseeds. ,

Are any of your soaps or lotions helpful to those with”special or sensitive” skin conditions?

  • When using a new product I advise the client to 1) begin using the product in a small test area, 2) use the product sparingly, 3) overall body use must begin gradually. 
  • I suggest, when a person has tried many products that have failed, to give your skin a rest.  Try one product at a time.  There is something to be said about goat milk soaps and lotions, with their  lack of detergents and chemicals, but I cannot say they cure, heal or treat any certain condition.   Results (if any) depend upon your personal skin type.  Always consult with your physician!

If you have anything to add, please jump in and voice your comments. 

If you have questions, this is a great place to ask, someone else may be wanting to know the same thing!

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Product Monday Cedarwood Oakmoss Goat Milk Soap

Posted in Products, tagged on December 14, 2009| 11 Comments »

Cedarwood Oakmoss Goat Milk Soap

With overtones of cedarwood and oakmoss…undertones of geranium and graepfruit, this is definitely a soap with a masculine scent. However, some of us women wo love the “earthy” tones, favor this one as well.  Myself included.

I love the color, a light tan/peach.  Completely natural.

Annie’s Goat Hill Cedarwood Oakmoss goat milk soap has now been added to the online soap store.

Happy Monday!

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2009 Christmas Shipment Schedule

Posted in AGH Business News, Products, tagged , , , on December 13, 2009| 4 Comments »

goat milk soap

Just a little reminder…

To ensure delivery by Christmas, the cut-off date for Parcel Post (USPS)  is 12/14/09.  The cut-off date for Priority Mail  is 12/21/09.  I normally ship Priority Mail.  In most cases it is cheaper than Parcel Post.

In my own shipping department, orders must be received no later than 12/19/09 to ensure delivery by Christmas. 

Reminder:  my Christmas Discount, 20% on all in-store product purchases, will remain in effect through 12/19/09.  The 20% is refunded electronically within 24 hours of receipt of order.  An email is sent when the refund is processed advising of the discount amount and the ship date.

As always, I do accept checks as well, if you wish to place a “manual” order, you may email me at anniesgoathill@gmail.com  . 

For gift giving, I also drop ship to the address you specify, and add a Christmas tag with a hand-written message (of your choice).

Merry Christmas!

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I Am Picky About My Goat Milk Soap

Posted in AGH Business News, Products, tagged , on December 4, 2009| 16 Comments »

Orange Mint Goat Milk Soap

Orange Mint Goat Milk Soap

My soap has to meet many standards.  These are my personal preferences:

  1. Mildness – The soap must not irritate the skin.  Each new recipe is people tested.  Other than washing with the soap, it is tongue tested.  Touch a sliver of the soap to the tip of the tongue. Even the slightest zap means the soap is not mild.
  2. Hardness – I do not like super hard soaps because they seem to lack in other necessary qualities, however, I do not accept a soft bar of soap either. I expect a bar of soap to last more than a handful of rounds in the shower!
  3. Scent – First, I follow the safety guidelines that are established (by the IFRA, International Fragrance Association).  Secondly, human comfort is priority.  Do I want skin irritation caused by the dumping of excessive fragrance in a product?  No.  On the other hand, I want the product to correctly reflect the description that is depicted.
  4. Color – I lean towards natural color, provided by essential oils, herbs, and clays.  I use colorants when necessary, with safety in mind.  Color varies when creating natural products.
  5. Lather – I expect lather, but not tons of bubbles.  Loads of bubbles tend to dry the skin out.  I want a smooth lather, with a slick glycerin glide that leaves the skin feeling silky.
  6. Milk – I handle the milk with care from collection to the time it is used in a product.  I taste test all of the milk before it goes into products.  The milk must fit into the nearly-organic category.
  7. Size – A full-sized bar must meet a weight average (at the 4th and 6th week) of 4.2-4.5 ounces.  Some soaps will continue to shrink as they lose moisture and harden, but they must remain within the correct weight range.
  8. Ingredients – I purchase from reliable suppliers that are quality, safety, non-animal cruelty, and regulation minded.  All ingredients are stored in proper conditions, kept fresh in my shop.

If a soap does not fit into my quality standards, it goes to the discount section of my online store.  I then clearly state why the soap is discounted. 

If  a batch of soap is not good enough for the store, it goes to the trash can, myself, willing friends, or someone in need.

That wraps it up for now…now you know my picky side.  I don’t just make soap, I make soap that reflects my brand!

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The Remaining Dairy Doe In Milk, How She Is Maintained

Posted in Goat Care (and General Farm), tagged , , , on December 1, 2009| 13 Comments »

Alpine Dairy Goat

Iris

As I filtered the ice cold milk this morning, and took my normal sip of the sweet liquid to ensure the collection meets the fresh taste test, I thought about the blessings of having the dairy does on the farm.

I am very appreciative of the single doe that I have in milk right now, Iris, an alpine dairy goat.

Iris has been in milk for nearly a year.  Her volume has decreased dramatically, but she lets down enough milk to allow a fresh supply for my goat milk lotion.  What I do not use for lotion, I freeze for soap. 

For those of you considering a dairy doe, you can keep your doe in milk indefinitely as long as she continues to produce  milk. 

My trick is to supplement the dairy does with a good concentrate (grain). 

Watch the doe to ensure she does not thin out.  You can increase the amount of concentrate to allow for the volume of milk, however, too much protein can thin a goat down.  Make sure the doe is allowed to graze (or browse), and in the winter, or during lean grazing months, a good alfalfa mix hay is necessary.

If you need to chemically worm a goat in milk, continue to milk her, but discard the milk for the recommended amount of time. 

If a dairy doe becomes sick, requiring antibiotics, I remove her from the milkstand for the season.  I have only had to do that once.  It seems the does in milk are generally full of health.

I will keep Iris in milk until her final 2 months of pregnancy.  She has not thinned out, she is still eager to milk, and Annie’s Goat Hill always needs fresh milk on hand!

I hope you enjoyed this article.  Let me know if you have any questions.

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Hot Process Honey Oatmeal Goat Milk Soap

Posted in Products, tagged , , on November 30, 2009| 42 Comments »

Hot Process Honey Oatmeal Goat Milk Soap

Soap making revolves around three basic methods:  melt and pour, hot process and cold process. 

The melt and pour process involves a pre-made base that the crafter melts and then pours into a mold. 

Both hot process and cold process follow the same recipes.  The hot process involves heating the raw materials until they form soap (see the photo above). 

The benefit to hot processed soap is that it is mild as soon as the heat process is completed.  A cold processed bar of soap is not mild (cured) for several days, to several weeks.  A cold processed bar of soap must sit on a curing rack, awaiting mildness and hardness, for 4-6 weeks.  A hot processed bar of soap is already mild, therefore, it only needs to harden for a few days to 1 week.

I am a girl that loves to wing-it.  I really am impatient with reading someone else’s instructions.  I dive into whatever I am doing with prayers that it works out, and sometimes that means I learn the hard way.  The good news is the hot process batch of soap was very successful. I was hoping the mottled look would leave as I pushed the thick soap into the mold.

Hot Process Honey Oatmeal Goat Milk Soap

Alas…the mottling stayed in the soap.

Hot Process Honey Oatmeal Goat Milk Soap

Now, for the rest of the story!

I am trying to stay on top of sales during the holiday season.  As I completed an inventory count of honey oatmeal goat milk soap I realized I might run out before the holiday season ends.  So, I decided it was time to dive into the hot process.  What better soap to start with than honey oatmeal!

It smells wonderful.  It is mild.  It is pretty.  But it certainly does not pass for the creamy look of the honey oatmeal goat milk soap that I normally carry.  I used a small piece of the soap already, by the way, it is excellent soap!

What do you think of the hot processed honey oatmeal soap?

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Did You Find the Soap You Were Looking For?

Posted in AGH Business News, Products, tagged , on November 28, 2009| 9 Comments »

Recently a new customer asked if I carried a particular type of soap.   The customer was elated when she learned that I had the soap that she wanted in stock.  Prior to her purchase, I had planned to discontinue that type of soap.  Once the customer received the soap, she responded with ordering a larger batch, along with a standing order for future soap.

If you are having difficulty finding what you are looking for, please ask.  If I do not carry the soap that you want, I will make sure I carry it, or that I make it available to you personally.

In the example above, I now have another happy client.  One that can stop searching for her type of soap.

What is on your wish list?

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving!

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Organic Goat Milk In My Products

Posted in Goat Care (and General Farm), Products, tagged , , , , , on November 27, 2009| 6 Comments »

No, I cannot stake a claim to organic milk.  I cannot say the farmer’s field that contained the corn, or other grains in my feed, was never sprayed with anything other than natural fertilizer.

What I can tell you is this, my hay is raised by a local Mennonite neighbor that does use natural fertilizer.  The fertilizer comes from our local dairy barns, including mine.  There are no chemicals used on any of the dairy farms.

The feed that I use is a recipe that I developed.  It is mixed at a local mill, and the grain comes from local farms.  I know of no farms that use artificial pesticides or fertilizers in this area.  My farm is never sprayed with pesticides.

My dairy animals are not given growth hormones, nor do they receive antibiotics or chemical wormers while they are in milk.

I believe that is about as close to organic standards as you can get without the USDA stamp of organic.

Thank you for your questions, I hope to cover more here, to share with others!

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