Just starting your making journey? Looking for a new product to add to your lineup? Maybe you're having friends over for craft night? Whatever your reason - your in the right place! Our short and simple Soaping 101 Recipes are great for all levels, and have been categorized into the four sections below. Happy crafting!

General Making Tips & Best Practices

Whether you’re crafting for fun or creating products to sell, it’s important to follow good manufacturing practices to ensure your creations are safe, effective, and compliant. Here are some general guidelines to keep in mind:

Safety & Sanitation
• Always work in a clean, sanitized area.
• Wear gloves, a hairnet, and protective clothing - especially when making products for sale.
• Sanitize all tools, molds, containers, and packaging before use.
• Label all your ingredients and keep them stored properly between uses.

Responsible Formulating 
• Refer to the IFRA (International Fragrance Association) guidelines to ensure fragrance usage levels are within safe limits for your product type.
• Avoid making therapeutic or medical claims (e.g., “heals eczema” or “treats anxiety”) on products you plan to sell—doing so may classify them as drugs in some countries.
• Be cautious when working with essential oils, botanical extracts, and preservatives—research safe usage rates and interactions.

Labeling & Selling
Always label your finished products clearly and accurately. Include:
• Product name
• Full ingredient list (INCI names recommended)
• Net weight/volume
• Responsible party name/contact
• Batch or lot number (for traceability)
• Follow your country’s cosmetic labeling laws.
In Canada, check the Health Canada Cosmetic Regulations; in the U.S., refer to FDA cosmetic labeling guidelines.

Extra Tips
• Keep detailed records of your recipes, batches, and ingredient sources. 
• Patch test new formulas on a small area of skin before wide use.
• Use dedicated equipment (especially for colorants, fragrance oils, or lye).
• Don’t substitute ingredients unless you’ve researched how they’ll behave in your formula.
• Always test new ingredients (especially fragrances) in small batches before making a large quantity of products

When in doubt, research it out! Crafting is fun—but making safe, sellable products takes care, testing, and a sprinkle of fairy wisdom.