I love Yankee Candles. The votive ones,
jarred and even the Car Smart Scent Vent Clips. That got me thinking
of some small scale candle making. So as we do, I Googled for raw
products and Soap Barn popped up.
At first I was confused because I felt
like this was some secret place that was kept from the world then I
got angry when I found that this place was right under my nose! You
literally pass it on the N3 Highway at Linksfield. I browsed the heck
out of that website to make sure I'll get all the items. Since I
found them I go in at least every six months.
The store looks basic but it is truly
the Aladdin’s Cave for DIYers and hobbyists. You can buy single
portions to bulk of raw items like fragrance, bicarb, Epsom Salt,
clays, waxes to finished products like shampoo, bath bombs, lotion
and soap. Even packaging and storage for finished
items. This “basic” store can be genuinely overwhelming as
the product possibilities are endless so I do suggest going on the
website and browsing the recipes if you are not sure.
I have had multiple hauls
from the store but here are a few repeat buys:
What disturbed me about
mainstream dog shampoo is that I had
to wash my pets with soap that I have to wear
gloves for. How is that safe? This bubbles up nice and rinses out
with ease.
The African
Black Soap range also has hand wash, shower 'gel' and shampoo,
as wel as a solid soap for our not-so-millenials.
I have bought a normal pet shampoo in between the black soap, but it
dried out my pets' skin. I love this stuff. Add to cart 4 eva!
Pro Hack: I also
add Tea Tree oil and in Mosquito time, Lemon Balm or Citronella, then
re-poured it into their reusable pump bottle for easy use. (Also
wastes less because it dispenses measured amounts rather than an
endless stream) I wash two Amstaffs (mid sized dogs) weekly for 3 to
4 months with 500ml.
Shea Butter:
Now I know Black Girl
Magic is about the mystic,
beauty and strength of black women. But I bet if we
reverse engineered Black Girl Magic,
that a segment of it would be Shea Butter. It
absorbs well and leaves skin with a glow.
This winter is rough on my skin because I've been outside in the dry
air more often. Also my feet become so dry i can litterally peel skin
off my heels.
TMI. I started dipping straight into my tub of Shea. It's expensive for
the bigger 500ml tub
but it will last longer
than you think. It's heavy so you don't need a lot. NOW
teach me more of your magic beautiful Black girls!
Pro
Hack: I bought wind
up lip balm tubes, melted some Shea and poured it. I'd like to think
it work like those hip new type balm make up removers. It melts the
make up off. I needed to remove a heavy liquid lip and it worked like
a bawse.
Zinc
Oxide:
The
struggle with sunscreens for me was real. A few years ago, like, 5, I
got a few red dots on my hand when I was on vacation. I chalked it up
to stress. You know the type when you go away to relax and come back
to triple the work because “It's-not-my-job”. That next year
(exactly), after two days at the coast MY WHOLE BODY was covered in
this rash. I was allergic to sunscreen.💀💀💀
For
the next few years I had the worst time finding sunscreen. Then I
decided to check out natural/ organic sunscreens and the prices shot
up. It is double the money for an already expensive product.
When I
saw this it just went straight into my basket and look at that price
though. . . 👍👍
Pro
Hack:
Instead of mixing up a weird batch of a mixture of Shea and Coconut
oil, mix it in with their Gel, Lotion or Aqueous cream Bases.
Bicarbonate
of Soda:
I use
this for a few applications. Here is my carpet powder. I also use
it as a exfoliater, to remove build up of products in my hair, to
stretch out washing powder. I use at least 1 kg a month so it's super
economical for me to buy bulk.
Pro
Hack: For stinging burns make a paste of bicarb and water and apply
it on the burn. A few years ago I had a bad burn (I think it was
close 3rd
degree) and today I can't even tell that I was burned. (images too graphic to post)
Candle
Supplies:
 |
| This was my first haul here. AAW! That is why the clay is here as well as the balm tubes. |
I
wanted to make candles to use/ give as presents. The upfront starting
price was a large amount but I still got more candles out of that
than if I had to use that money to buy candles. I also made a
healthier candle because I used soy wax.
The
thing that really caught me out was the large fragrance range. From
Almond, marshmallow to Watermelon and ylang-ylang. I wanted it all.
Pro
Hack: Here is a website that works out fragrance loads. You're
welcome.
Facial
Mask Items:
If
I had to have a 'True Life: Addicted to . . .', it would be face
masks. I try and apply a mask at least once a week. I definitly can
see the improvement in my skin, Break outs are more controlled and my
skin looks more even. For the same price of a month's worth of clay
masks, you could buy a bag of clay (Bentonite/ Kaolin/ English China)
and few Essential oils (Lavender/Tea Tree/ Rosemary) and have masks
for days.
Pro
Hack:
You can trend it up with some activated charcoal and because you are mixing it up yourself, it's fully customize-able to your skin's needs.
Containers:
I love
the variety of containers available for finished products. From 500ml spray bottle to 2ml atomizer (I bought a few so I could decant some
perfume for on the go in my handbag)
Pro
Hack: Their packaging is super reusable. I like whipping up things
and storing them in the tubs I bought them in.
Final
Thought:
I feel like this shop is selling items anyone could make a business
out of. A bath and body range.(I'm imagining with the Spa fragrance
of Avo and cucumber or Bamboo) Candles. (Marshmallows or something
weird like banana) Skincare. (Just add water mud masks or SLS & Paraben free face wash) House hold products. (Thinning out the Black
Soap, add essential oils and use as a natural dish soap) Even
cosmetics and fragrances. There are a million creative possiblities.
É's
tips:
-
WARNING!!! As with any new hobby, start up is a bit expensive but
after that, you just buy as you use
- If you are looking into making candles, body butters and potions that require you to melt products. I suggest to buy a small pot and stirrers for your hobby. I lost a good pot to candle wax. 😢
- If you decide to use fragrances, be sure to work in a well ventilated area or else you will need to stop because headaches get real.
- International company, Yankee Candle, started with a guy who made a candle for this mom and people saw it and wanted one too.
- Hoelson Sisters Facial oils started with experimentation of basic oils.
- Lush started as a small business that made everything in-house.
- The Body Shop was started by Anita Roddick as income for her and her children
That place is my jam. Go there.
