Cherrystone Soapworks officially exists! I’ve been toying with the idea for a few months now, and thanks to the encouragment of my husband and sister-in-law, I finally took the steps I needed to get started.
I’m not really ready to start selling anything yet — I need to order supplies, make some batches, and let them cure before I can do that. But I’ve actually started, and that’s so exciting. Look for more changes as I continue this journey, and hopefully I’ll be ready to open shop at the end of July. I’ll try to keep a log of how things are going, so you know I’m still working on it.
Why so long?
Just a note on why it will take so long to start selling: It’s all about the cure. You see, cold-process soap needs a cure time of between four and six weeks before it’s at its best. Technically, a batch is fully saponified (turned to soap) in about three days, but at that point it’s soft and a bit harsh on the skin. Letting it sit for several weeks allows excess water to evaporate out, making the bar harder and longer-lasting, and also lets the soap mellow so it’s nice on the skin. So we’ll all have to wait… but believe me, it’s worth it!
