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New scents

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Georgia's Pampering

While I anxiously await the delivery of my sale order with delightful new options, I finally wrote up the previous new scent descriptions lol.

The Deluxe Vanilla is just what you expect. *wink* I honestly think that I’ll replace my regular vanilla with this, so I can have a stronger scented product. I don’t know why the government has limited the percentage of the main vanilla that I use to such an extent, but this is perfect for that extra punch of yumminess. *grin*

I got a good Piña Colada to replace my drunken version. It’s very tropical with a strong pineapple note (as expected). The coconut is a little lighter than I expected, but I really like this version.

The Cedarwood EO smells amazing. I’m a sucker for the smell of a wood shop anyway, so this just delights me. To top it off, it is thought to have medicinal properties, so bonus!

A new FO that totally intrigues me is Frosted Snowdrops. I’m going to have to rename that, because it is so misleading in my opinion. It’s definitely not a holiday themed scent to me. It’s a complex floral with some musk. This FO has me coming back, trying to identify the notes. It’s very clean, feminine, and sexy though, so I’ll need to pick an intriguing name for it. I want to hear what notes others pick up when checking it out. *grin*

Oh, pure yummy bakery describes Angel Food Cake. It’s similar to the Deluxe Vanilla, but with a baked pastry note to it. *happy sigh* It’s like sniffing at the bakery without the temptation to add to the hips. *grin* I get the slightest note of almond to soften the scent too, which just delights me. Can you tell that I’m excited about this one?? Lol. I bet that customers who like Cake Batter FO will love this one too. *crossing fingers with a smile* Yum!

I also found another chocolate that I actually like. I have so many FOs in my “meh” box, with several being variations of chocolate, but this is a keeper. It reminds me of the chocolate that is used to scent chocolate candles. Do you know what I mean? It’s almost a brownie scent with some attempts at milk chocolate. I’m excited to blend this with the Fudge Brownie FO to see what bit of PMS heaven I can get. *grin*

Two last FOs have a lot in common. Caribbean Coconut FO is much better than the plain coconut FO that I have, which will retire to the meh box. This is a great coconut with the softest note of pineapple to sweeten it slightly. The other, Sun & Sand, also has coconut, but it’s the coconut suntan lotion variety. *smile* This FO is just how it is named. Salty water, fresh air, and suntan lotion. A vacation at the beach all on one FO. I’m really happy with these two.

Now, before I get too antsy, I better get my new order to huff all over. Lol. I can’t really say “drool over”, since I sound more like a cocaine addict, sniffing and huffing all my stuff. Rofl. Or so I’m told. *grin* Anyway, my cold medicine is kicking in, so time for a nap. Have a great day and I hope you had a wonderful holiday! 🙂

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A lot of money later lol

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Georgia's Pampering

I sat and made myself a priority list of what I really want to accomplish in the upcoming months, then made my order for that fantastic sale I wrote about earlier.  I couldn’t resist a few new scents to enjoy and got two new ones from the company for the amount I spent. *bashful smile*

Anyway, I focused mostly on bases and essential oils, since they’re usually so expensive.  I got five EOs that are thought to help with inflammation, as well as a lotion base that has Evening Primrose, another antiinflammatory.  *happy dance* A great start for making some items to potentially help ease chronic pain. I also got some more menthol crystals and a mortar and pestle, to improve my rub and because I’ve never seen the tiny bag of expensive crystals on sale. Lol.

I have some chocolate products that I want to make and picked out a few items to fulfill that line.  I mean, how can chocolate NOT sell?  *grin* While reviewing the recipes that call for soap base and for cocoa butter I had a light bulb moment.  I was happy to see that cocoa butter soap base itself was on sale too for a great price, so why not make things easier and have it all in one?  My nose still likes to remind me of the funky smell of when I accidentally burned a bit of cocoa butter while melting it (has to be melted to add into things).  So, avoiding a repeat and reducing the steps is quite exciting for nerdy ol’ me.  *smile*

I got a few goodies, just can’t help myself, that I’m really happy about.  One customer has psoriasis and I found that neem oil (in a special recipe) should help them.  I can’t wait to see if I can help give her some relief!  For pure fun I got a pearlized and foam booster, to increase lather and silkiness of my bubble wash.  Since the bubble wash can be used for bubble baths I think the kids will enjoy the extra bubbles.  *grin* I also finally found a five star rated coffee FO to use in soap with ground coffee for exfoliation and neat appearance.  Booyah!  Crafters posted that it smells like freshly brewed coffee and always sells out at events.  *crossing fingers that I’m as lucky* 

To finish it off the two FOs they are sending are exciting scents that are more expensive than I will buy to check out (I actually keep my purchasing a bit frugal with the lower cost FOs or commonly on sale ones, and rarely spend a lot of money on a scent that might suck).  I got “Romance in Bed” and “Twilight Woods for Men”.  The woods one sounds like such a sexy blend with musk, spices, patchouli, cedar, and vetiver. *dreamy sigh* C’mon in, Sexy…Anyway, the romance one is suppose to be an “elegant, sensual scent” with florals, amber, and vanilla.  I may have a new signature scent to wear.  *grin* I suppose it is probably time for a more mature signature scent than rootbeer float. *laugh*

Anyway, the upcoming journey with these items should be quite fun and I look forward to sharing this with you.  Happy Monday!

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Sale!

Posted on April 2, 2012 by Georgia's Pampering

My oh my!  I’ve had some health issues lately, but got a great email today to give me a boost.  My wholesaler is having a site-wide sale. *happy sigh* Now to decide if I’m going to get more FOs (if I have to expand to a third page of listing of scents I worry that that might get overwhelming) or should I get some bases to expand what I actually make, instead of tons of scents for a limited number of things to.customize.  *tapping lip*

I know that I’ll stock up on the bases that are my best sellers, like the different lotions and additives.  I think that regardless of the shopping direction that I go I am going to get the key items to have a small, focused, line of Chronic Pain options.  It is so near and dear that while I can splurge a bit, I’m going to make sure to be able to make something that truly lifts my spirit. 

I have so many ideas and not many of them sell, as Larry keeps pointing out following seeing the losses when my business taxes were done (insert groan and please pity me lol).  I like learning new things and as I continue to expand I then create the items that are my best sellers, so it’s hard for me to look at it in the same way that he does.  

I admit to you that I have a few new things that come hell or high water I WILL be creating!  I am itching to make bath cookies and some new lotion blends.  I also can’t wait to get some new silicone molds (o.co has great deals on them – who’d have guessed??) and make some lovely new soaps.  I want to make some rustic soaps, like the coffee scented w grounds in the bars for exfoliation, and chocolate bars with dark cocoa powder.  *sigh*  It’s absolutely exciting to me to think of new things that might bring happiness to someone.  Maybe that one special thing will introduce them to pampering and they’ll finally take a few minutes out for themselves, preventing burn out and depression.  What an awesome chance to have a good impact!

Anyway, I’m headed back to the website and my books to determine the spoils of this sale. *grin* I always get mixed up if clary sage is for the detox or is it…. 😉 Sweet dreams and a happy tomorrow!

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A Little Fun

Posted on March 23, 2012 by Georgia's Pampering

Well, I got injured a few days ago and put my time to good use – I put in a supply order.  Lol.  Remember that post a while back about not getting any new FOs?  Um…slap my hands now *grin*  Since my drunken pina colada turned out so below my expectations Ibought a five star pina colada FO.  I also got a caribbean coconut that has great crafter reviews and an angel food cake FO that sounds amazing.  I’m hoping that it will help boost my vanillas…along with the deluxe vanilla that I added too.  Rofl.  I got a cedarwood EO and a Hershey’s-like chocolate FO.  I want something a little different from the fudge brownie that I usually use.  I got two free FOs too – Sun & Sand (what a great one for Summer!) and Frosted Snowdrops.  I read reviews that most crafters sell it out year round.  Oh, I am so excited! 

I got a few other items, too.  I got some citric acid powder to make some fizzy bath salts (fun idea, isn’t it?!).  I also got some honey powder to improve the Acne Bee Gone soaps, too.  I’m so impressed with the awesome benefits of honey that I figured a versatile version would be an awesome additive in some of my products.  Super sparkle iridescent glitter has been on my wish list for awhile and I went for it.  Lol.  Now that I’m experimenting more and inspired to make new soaps, it became a must. *grin* The last additive that I am so excited about is another emulsifying wax.  My other one gives my lotions a thicker, creamy, and protective feel.  This new one is more of a soft, silky, whipped, and powdery feel.  Some people just aren’t into the feel of lotion and I think this will be a great alternative. 

I also found an e-book that gave some great inspirations, too.  The most exciting thing I want to try is “bath cookies”.  What a neat idea!  They even get baked! Lol.  This book is where I read about making fizzy bath salts, too.  I’m very happy that when I’m out of commission I can find great inspirations.  Back to recovering for now, but exciting things to come!! 🙂

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Odd ramblings

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Georgia's Pampering

When I start to lose that glow over my products I turn to apps like craft gawker and crafty crafty.  Seeing such amazing, endless talent revitalizes me.  Not enough to get me over whatever I caught and do more than write notes or save inspirations (not even FB is getting attention from me).  I kind of look at this research like an inspiration wall that fashion designers use.  Today’s research also helped me finally find out how to do paint accents on my soaps, which I’ve been wanting to do for so long.  It is absolutely scary what some suggest, like using acrylic paints and what have you.  Thankfully I have lots of immobile time for doing extensive research and quadruple checking everything.  I also read a crafter’s review of how she does an ice cream cone soap, which I’ve been puzzling over since I spontaneously bought the mold.  (Pour the whole mold in the cone color, let set, and then cut off the top.  Prep the set soap to accept more soap, let new pour cool down to the point that it won’t melt the other, and let set.  It takes some finesse and experience, but what an easier way than trying to block portions with sculpted playdough!)  Now I can paint accents on my princess carriages and have a successful pour of my ice cream cones.  Yay!

Anyone that knows me knows how my mind works, so it won’t be surprising that I was simultaneously looking up display ideas for my next event.  There is a fantastic idea to stack milk crates with a board across their top to make three tiers on your table.  It dawned on me that since I’m fun sized, customers would probably not see me behind the double high stack.  Lol.  After further scoping of images from farmer markets and craft sales, then some brainstorming of cost-effective alternatives, a shoe cubby cabinet is now on the grocery list.  *smile*  I can set that at an end of a table with my cash box behind – no more stooping!  I’ll still be visible since it will only be a section blocked.  I will use the cubbies to lie down and group bottles of matching lotions.  No more overwhelming sea of bottles to lift to find the scent you want.  I can also stick the bath salts cello cones in a cubby (yeah, on that very long to do list). 

In the meantime I’m still debating my kid combo contents.  I easily made two $20 combos, but I think that’s probably way too much for a bath gift for a kid.  So I’m trying to decide what I think they will be most happy with. 

Anyway, that’s probably more cold medicine ramblings about research than was appropriate.  *grin* You might want to worry…I have lots more that I hope to look up, get inspired by, and rattle on about. *teasing smile*

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So close!

Posted on March 1, 2012 by Georgia's Pampering

Whew, I came so close to performing a big no-no! If you know me very well then you know that I prefer to follow every guideline to the T, want everything to go according to plan, and really hate to make mistakes (that’s what makes a disability so hard!). Knowing these little quirks of mine, I got some soaps that were ordered boxed almost completely, literally just about to tape shut, when I realized that I didn’t have weights written down on the labels. The government has a huge requirement that the weights/sizes are listed on the labels, with at least the minimum in it, if not exact. So I had to do a hallelujah dance that I was able to open the box up and fix the labels. *cheesy grin* I know, I’m beyond weird, right?! Lol

In the meantime each day I’ve tried to get a little something done. I made some amazingly awesome Soda Shoppe Bubble Wash and then some Watermelon Sorbet ones. I have to say that rootbeer is becoming a favorite scent. *grin* I also made some sample oils of Lime Margaritas Anyone? and Soda Shoppe (see?! I’m becoming obsessive! Lol). I need to make some child gender-focused soaps and get those combos posted now. It’s slow going, but I’m getting a little bit done each week.

Anyway, I need to fill out some price tags and get stuff ready for my helper to work on in fourteen hours. Lol. I hope you are sleeping well while I stare out at the quiet night. 🙂

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Bloody Brilliant, Watson!

Posted on February 23, 2012 by Georgia's Pampering

Ignoring my love of Sherlock (can’t tell what I’ve been entertaining myself with recently), I hope to fill my reader with the bounding excitement that I currently have. *smile* I am still basking in my happiness over my little Summertime Surprise soaps (the embeds I posted a pic of) and suddenly it hit me that there could be some awesome scent combinations using the same concept.  One of my fav desserts is banana pudding, the one with a fantastically fluffy (and generous) layer of whipped cream on top and the lovely little bursts of vanilla wafers.  Well, if I can get the stabilizer chemistry right, then why not make a soap version?!  A pretty round of softly colored banana scented soap with little chunks of vanilla.  *giddy squirming in my chair* Oh I can’t wait to test this soap! Lol My gaze flew to my flats of FOs and going through my mental list guess what else I decided to try…?  Neopolitans!  I’m not sure about the execution there, like which will be the dominant one or how I’ll get the stabilizer portions quite right, but what a fun idea!  Mmmmm…chocolate covered cherries too.  I think I’m going to be making a fun summer version of my sweet treats basket.  *grin* Anyway, as you can tell from my uncommonly excessive use of exclamation marks I’m really excited, so I’m off to try to make some of these into reality.  Wish me luck! 😉

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Party pooper

Posted on February 21, 2012 by Georgia's Pampering

Now that the thunder storm is completely done and it’s safe to bring up all of my electronic gadgets I decided to write a quick post.  I spent a while during my technology free time (cue groan or even dramatic gasp since I’m seldom far from at least two gadgets) working on new products.  I jumped right in to my most exciting project – the cocktail combos.  While my base was warming so that I could incorporate the emulsifying wax I worked on some embedded soaps which I’ll discuss in a few, since that’s a lot more cheerful. *grin*  Anyway, the first round of lotion samplers that I made went pretty well.  It’s kind of hard to mess up lime margarita scented lotion honestly.  Lol.  I moved onto the Island Margarita samples and was very disappointed.  First I must admit that I seriously dislike peach and mango.  As I started blending the FO into the lotion I instantly developed a massive headache and started feeling sick to my stomach (See!  Every cell in my body hates those scents, especially peach.).  I decided that I needed to mellow it a little so that I could tolerate making these if anyone ended up liking these and added some of the lime to it, which actually did help, but the scents lingered in my nose.  After I finished I moved on to creating a pina colada blend and things really went downhill then.  Oh man!  I think that the candy-sweet pineapple and super mellow coconut FOs are the wrong varieties for this, but I really didn’t want to waste all of this.  The mad scientist started rummaging through my flats of FOs, pondering scent profiles if I added this or that.  Finally I added a tiny bit of Jumpin’ Jellybean FO and a healthy dose of Buttercream FO, and it finally became decent enough to leave be to cure and check in a few days.  The vanilla really helped to mellow the funkiness from the odd scent created by the two FO variations, but I still swore that I smelled peach (bleh!).  I have no idea how I could get peach from pina colada, but thankfully the quick thinking and touch of jellybean boosted the fruitiness without the odd sweetness that the pineapple has.  At this point I was so discouraged, but really wanted to finish and started the mojito lotion.  I swear that when I originally smelled and described the mojito FO that it was crisp with citrus and mint notes.  I swear that somehow I started smelling more of that wretched peach this time though!  Thankfully my grandpa flashed through my mind and I dug out Wintergreen EO to add, which worked perfectly.  (Grandpa often had wintergreen chew and it’s quite a comforting childhood scent for me despite how disgusting chew is to me.)  Anyway, I was so happy to be done working on the cocktail varieties since I was so disappointed.  I’m hoping that the scents will be better after they cure (and I will smell the rest before going near the Island ones! Lol).

Next I moved on to some fun soaps.  I made some amazing watermelon scented, strawberry colored, soap squares a few days back and diced them up to embed into other soaps for some creative soaps that children might really like.  I admit to being puzzled for awhile over what the complementary main scent should be and decided that the smartest course was to ask my young helper.  We agreed that bubblegum would be neat, since the little bursts of watermelon while using and exposing the embeds would remind people of watermelon bubble yum.  *smile*  I dropped in six little cubes of watermelon and then poured slightly cooled bubblegum scented white soap.  I figure that the white main soap will make the jewel tone pink cubes really pop when they are seen.  I also made sure to adjust the little cubes to poke out and make odd non-patterns to make them even more interesting.  I am beyond excited to take some pics and post on here once they set and I can unmold. *happy dance*  I really think that these are some fun soaps and hope that they get a lot of attention at events. 

Although I feel that the main goal of tonight’s work didn’t go well, I’m happy that my creative and random soap project has given me something new to be excited about.  I’ll keep you updated on the cocktail situation (I can always omit one type from the combos I suppose) and hope that you don’t mind crossing your fingers that they turn into winners after setting up.  *grin* Sweet dreams and I hope that your catch up day from the holiday goes well if you have to go to work. 🙂

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Smell-a-vision

Posted on February 15, 2012 by Georgia's Pampering

I’m always amused by people bantering around the term “smell-a-vision” and right now I wish there was a version available so that I could post the new FOs for you to smell 🙂

The new snowflake FO (not yet renamed, but it’s down to a few for me to decide on) is amazing. I am really happy with it and excited. Plum is the main note and I’ve never smelled such a nice version. There is a moderately strong under note of pine that really deepens the plum and adds an amazing complexity. When you hear pine you automatically either think Christmas or car fresheners usually. I honestly think it gives such a great earthiness to scent profiles, especially when a scent could have been really perfume-y otherwise. There are hints of orange and clove, which certainly does tip the FO into a holiday scent profile, but it is so robust and almost sensual that I think it’ll be awesome most of the year (I just have to have my bubblegum and bright scents during the hottest months *grin*). I really hope it sells well, because I’m so excited about it. I think I’m adding it as a massage oil in the seduction basket maybe. *little excited jig*

The Island Margarita FO is a lot more complex than I expected, that’s for sure. For a tropical scent I didn’t expect a top note of peach. It’ll be interesting to see what notes others pick up, since mine tends to be super sensitive. The pineapple really works well with the berry blend in it, and somehow it comes across as a tender scent in some ways. I think I may change it from “Island Margarita” to some other cocktail; a fufu girly drink that requires an adorable little umbrella. *teasing wink* It’ll definitely be a great addition to the cocktail scented line that I’m so excited about!

The pineapple FO won’t be available for order. I think that I’m going to use it to make blends. It is a very sweet and juicy scent. Honestly it is more like a candy or overripe fruit. Do you know what I mean? That extra sweet scent that gets so cloying after a moment that you wrinkle your nose…Instead of being disappointed about it not being great by itself like other crafter reviews stated I think it’ll do great with the coconut for Pina colada, and I want to see what it’ll be like with a touch of vanilla or with gumdrops. I think the vanilla will make a softer fruit dessert scent profile while the pineapple should, in theory, really boost the gumdrops to smell like fresh candies. Yum either way!

Although it’s a replacement for one I’m low on, I’m still super excited that I got more Rootbeer Float FO (aka Soda Shoppe). I got a big bottle of it and love huffing it. Lol. I have to quit saying one or another is my favorite now. I think I currently have eight favorites with this one challenging my lovely Edward’s Kiss for top of the list. *happy sigh* What a delightful conundrum to have! *grin* I hope you also have such wonderful conundrums in your life today!

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Truffles and FOs

Posted on January 27, 2012 by Georgia's Pampering

My lovely young helper came by after school today and since I haven’t been feeling so great it was mostly just a relaxing visit instead of getting a lot of product done. As she sniffed the new scents she started firing questions at me and I did my best to answer every one of them, although some details are beyond me, like how exactly do they know which chemicals to go together to make an FO. (Pretty complex thought, isn’t it?! The explanation that an FO is a blend of chemicals to reproduce a scent made sense, but the exact lab activities…dude. *grin*) Anyway, as we chatted I could almost see the wheels start turning behind her eyes, saw an eyebrow go up, and then she asked how I know to identify the notes in each scent. I started to explain, although I could tell that she wasn’t overly satisfied by my first explanation. When she started sniffing White Chocolate Raspberry and I said that it reminds me of a truffle she said that she didn’t know what a chocolate truffle was. Cue lightbulb above my head if I was in a comic *grin*. I got out my well guarded box of truffles that I have been amazingly good at limiting my indulgence in, so that they last. We each took one and started nibbling. Not only did I get to share in her first step into feminine indulgence (lol That first bite of incredibly wonderful chocolate should become a celebrated day in my opinion *sassy grin*), but here was a perfect way to help things become clearer for her. I asked her what she tasted and she flashed me one of my own infamous duh looks, and told me it was chocolate. “Really good chocolate, but chocolate.” Lmao. Touché. I managed to keep from laughing (now I realize I need to limit my use of that look since that is a rather insulting look lol), then started naming ingredients. With each nibble, each flavor and nuance I said, she started to nod. She became very excited as things clicked into place, and I said that for me smelling an FO is like eating a gourmet truffle. I enjoy every little thing that makes it the wondrous thing that it is, and each of those “flavors” is what comes together to make it distinctive. The most beautiful grin spread, ear to ear, across her face, and hurriedly she started reopening bottles to sniff again. Bouncing on the couch, then unable to contain her excitement she had to jump up to move around the room, she started sniffing the lids and announcing the more subtle notes that she detected. It was very helpful to have her give a name to a few notes that I wasn’t able to put my finger on, but most of all it was beyond awesome to see that connection and excitement. She has a very unguarded and expressive face, so I could easily see her dissecting memories and applying this new concept to them. *happy sigh* This lazy day has been way more satisfying than any other work session we have had! 🙂

Now that she understood the concept behind putting scents together to make a different variations she started to truly understand how I come up with custom blends. It was so neat to see that newly wise nod of agreement that the freshly zested lemon would work really well with buttercream, and become a more indulgent scent then (although she didn’t know what I meant when I said I wanted to make a blend close to a lemon bar, so guess what we will be baking next week? Lol). She piped up moments later that mojito had a soft note of orange under the lemon and mint, which stunned me. When she catches on it’s like a wildfire! *grin* She is excited for me to start making some products and blends, to see what notes she can distinguish in them, and how the combination of the notes makes something totally new sometimes. Miss Ash was greatly impressed that she could smell the vanilla (“…like the ice cream usually in it!”) in my rootbeer float blend (soda shoppe), and understood that without that note it wouldn’t have smelled like a float, just rootbeer.

Anyway, it was a blast and she gave me a lot of ideas to consider, like the scent combos she recommended for the new kid combo I want to make and how I should package the adult cocktail combo of margarita and mojito scented items. I chose right in ordering some bright plastic baskets to use for the combos, according to her, and next week we will work on repackaging the products bagged in holiday cellos into more year round themed cellos. Apparently I need to get to work on making some donut and ice cream cone soaps though. *grin* My bad lol. I suspect that this is what she wants for her “payment” for helping. So as soon as I get some energy I have a lot of new things to start making. By the way, in case you are as ignorant as I am, kids “…just aren’t that into…” lotion, so “…stick with the bubble washes.” *grin* Lesson learned! Lol

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