Sneak Peak

Here's what I've got in store for Valentine's Day - it isn't too early to pre-order!

For the hot and heavy ...


Red Hot Gift Set
$25.00
Includes: Chocolate Covered Cherry Soap, Chocolate Mint Massage Bar, Cinnamon Bath Cake, Chocolate Mint Lip Balm*

For the Swinging Singles ...


Anti-Valentine's Day Gift Set
$20.00
Includes: Coconut Cream Soap, Mango Sugar Scrub, Pineapple Bath Cake

Simply drop me a line and let me know if you would like to order a set. I anticipate that they will be ready to ship the last week of January.

* lip balm is made with bee's wax, therefore it is not a vegan item.

The Balm

I just finished making these delicious chocolate mint lip balms. Yummy!

Valentine's Day Notes

I found the perfect box to serve up your Valentine's Day treats!

I've ordered all of the ingredients for Stella Marie's first Valentine's Day, so stay tuned for the details. Personally, I can't wait!

P.S. There is an anti-Valentine's Day Gift set in the works for those of you who prefer to flip the proverbial bird in Cupid's general direction.

Behind the Scenes

How is soap made? Several different ways. Methods range from Cold Process to Hot Process to Melt and Pour and there are variations within each method.

I use the Hot Process Method. Selecting a method is a personal choice - no one way is better than another. My reasons for using the hot process are more for practicality than anything else. When you make soap using the cold process, individual bars need to cure for several weeks. I simply don't have the available space! The hot process is similar to the cold process, but with HP, the soap cooks for about an hour or so after you mix all the fats and lye together. This creates saponification, a process that occurs naturally while CP soap cures. There are pros and cons to any method, however, I think that one person's disadvantage could be another person's benefit. I am a serious soap lover, so I can appreciate the fruits of just about anyone's soapmaking labors. Here is another hot process soap maker's beautiful work.

For a quick tutorial, please visit Hot Process Soap Notes by Gracefruit. She has summarized the steps nicely and concisely. She makes a pretty sweet hot process line.

Welcome!

Hello and welcome to the official Stella Marie Soap Company blog!

I want to first thank all of you who have made our launch successful! I opened my cyber doors on December 1st and the soap lovers came rushing in. I hope to keep you bathing in our delightful soaps all year round, so stop on by every once in a while to find out what's new at Stella Marie.

Here is a book that has become quite near and dear to me since I first purchased it at Ira's Book Store in downtown New Bedford, MA. It's a very intriguing historical account of perfumes, spices and soaps, and cosmetics. It was published in Boston in 1940. There was a note card in the book which must have gone unnoticed by Ira. It reads:

For Mary and Burr, too, if he likes it -- because it was a bargain and because it fascinated me and because there ought always to be a book in every Christmas box. Read it by the fire, if any, some cold night (there is sure to be one) and think of me. No cookies to munch with it because we have to mail early and we're all tuckered out from too much Thanksgiving.

Here is a sneak peak at a soap I will be offering soon. It is basil mint scented, and it is meant to compliment my She Smells Sanctuary yummy sugar scrub.