Friday, May 29, 2009

Recipe: Room Freshener Spray

I love fresh-smelling living and work spaces, but I hate the chemical smell that comes with traditional air "freshening" sprays. The following recipe is super-simple to make and can also be used as a linen spray (test fabric first for colorfastness before spraying)!

You will need:


16 oz Bulk Linen Spray Base

5 ml (1 tsp) Fragrance Oil

Combine ingredients, blending well to incorporate. Package in a bottle equipped with a fine mist sprayer.


Note:
Keep away from children and pets. Avoid spraying on furniture or near wood flooring without doing a patch test to ensure colorfastness.


FYI: If you need this product scented in bulk, or just don't have time to make it yourself, we can help you out in our Custom Product Lab!

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Recipe: Reed Diffuser Oil

Reed diffusers can be expensive to buy in retail outlets and you are never really sure whether the fragrance you're getting contains potentially harmful phthalates or other additives. It's simple to make reed diffusers at home and you can control the quality and strength of the fragrance used.

(
Reminder: All of our stock fragrances are free of phthalates).

You will need:


6 oz Reed Diffuser Base
2 oz
Fragrance Oil

Glass Bottle
Reed Sticks

Combine diffuser base and fragrance oil and mix well. Pour desired quantity into glass bottle and insert reeds, it's that simple!

FYI: Generally, you will fill your diffuser halfway. Therefore, for an 8 oz glass bottle, fill with 4 oz diffuser oil.

Note: We still have a very limited supply of pre-mixed reed diffuser fragrances which have been discontinued, but are available at a reduced price!


Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

New Directions - We're On The Move!

Those who follow us on Twitter know that for the past year we have been actively seeking a larger work space. Last Friday, we announced (via Twitter) that we have secured a new warehouse and are in process of building-out our new test kitchen/laboratory.

We expect to be operating out of the new space by July 1, 2009. This is great news for our local customers who will now be able to pick up their orders at our facility rather than pay shipping charges (we will post more on this option when we are moved and able to implement it)!

Expect to see deeply discounted surplus items and sales on overstock items to reduce our available inventory before the move!

We want to extend our thanks to you, our loyal customers, who have made this expansion possible! We look forward to continuing to serve you in 2009!

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Recipe: Car Air-Freshener

If you missed our Sachet Bead Tutorial previously, you can revisit Part 1, Part 2 & Part 3.

For this project, you will need:


8 oz Sachet Beads
2.5 oz Fragrance Oil

Mica
Titanium Dioxide Powder - Oil Soluble

We used the following combinations of scent & color:Phase 1: Measure sachet beads, mica and fragrance oil into a glass jar that has a tightly fitting lid.

Phase 2: Cover with a lid and allow to sit for up to 1 week. Agitate several times a day. The beads will eventually absorb the fragrance oil and become dry to the touch. Some fragrances absorb quickly and others require longer to absorb.
Be sure to agitate frequently to ensure color and fragrance are distributed uniformly.

Phase 3: When beads have dried, pack them into a metal cookie cutter (the ring type) to about 1/4" deep. For best results, place your cookie cutters on a non-stick baking surface before filling.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place cookie sheet in oven for 5-10 minutes. Keep careful watch over your ornaments to prevent them from completely melting. The sachet beads will melt slightly and run together, but will not completely flatten out. The beads will retain a slightly bumpy appearance on top. Some smoking is normal as some fragrance oil will burn off.

When time is up, allow ornaments to cool completely before removing the cookie cutter. The ornaments will appear to be stuck to the cookie sheet, but will lift away rather easily. A nail or other sharp object can be used to poke a hole through the top of your ornament. Tie with jute, cord, or ribbon and package.

Note: It is best to hang these air-fresheners rather than to lay them on any surface as the fragrance and/or mica may damage plastic or upholstered surfaces.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Monday, May 25, 2009

Recipe: Triple Scented Bath Salts

You will need:

4 oz Atlantic Sea Salt
4 oz Epsom Salt
8 oz Dead Sea Salt - Coarse Grain
2 oz Dendritic Salt
2.5 ml Summer Berries Natural Fragrance Oil
1 ml Coconut Macaroon Natural Fragrance Oil
1 ml Vanilla Bean Fragrance Oil
FD&C Red #40 - Liquid Colorant
D&C Red #33 - Liquid Colorant
FD&C Blue #1 - Liquid Colorant


Phase 1: You will need three (3) small stainless steel or glass bowls. Divide up the dendritic salt in the following way:
  • 1 oz dendritic salt and Summer Berries Natural Fragrance Oil in the 1st bowl.
  • 0.5 oz dendritic salt and Coconut Macaroon Natural Fragrance Oil in the 2nd bowl.
  • 0.5 oz dendritic salt and Vanilla Bean Fragrance Oil in the last bowl.
Mix each combination thoroughly until blended and set them all aside.

Phase 2: In a plastic, zip-style baggie, combine coarse dead sea salt and the dendritic salt/Summer Berries mixture. Close baggie and shake vigorously to mix. Set aside.

Phase 3: In a second plastic, zip-style baggie, combine atlantic sea salt, the dendritic salt/Coconut Macaroon mixture, 10 drops FD&C Red #40 liquid colorant & 3 drops D&C Red #33 liquid colorant. Close baggie and shake vigorously to mix. Set aside.

Phase 4: In a third plastic, zip-style baggie, combine epsom salt, the dendritic salt/Vanilla Bean mixture and 10 drops FD&C Blue #1 liquid colorant. Close baggie and shake vigorously to mix. Set aside.

Phase 5: Layer salts in an airtight container.

Allison B. Konur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Friday, May 22, 2009

Offices Closed Memorial Day

For your convenience, orders can be placed online 24/7/365 or faxed to 330-467-2166. All phone calls will be returned when we reopen on Monday. Urgent correspondence should be made to email as we can better serve your requests in this manner.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Recipe: Milky Foot Soak

You will need:

16 oz
Epsom Salt
1 oz
Tapioca Starch
2 oz
Goats Milk Powder
5 ml (1 tsp)
Rosemary Mint Fragrance Oil

In a stainless steel or glass mixing bowl, measure Tapioca Starch and fragrance oil. Mix thoroughly to combine. When completely blended (no lumps), add Epsom Salt & Goats Milk Powder and mix thoroughly to incorporate all ingredients. Package in an airtight container.


To Use:
Dispense several ounces of soak into a warm foot bath. Soak feet for 15 minutes, then pat dry.


FYI: To make this recipe vegan, substitute Powdered Coconut Milk for the Goats Milk. Powdered Coconut Milk is available at most health food stores and in the ethnic section of many grocers.

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Recipe: Silky Foot Cream

You will need:

8 oz Shea & Aloe Lotion

1 ml Black Walnut Oil (Infusion) (Use one of our handy: Mini White Plastic Scoops)
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) Menthol Flavor Fragrance Oil (optional)


Combine ingredients until thoroughly mixed. Package in an airtight container like our airless pumps.


To Use:
Massage into feet starting with the tops and working around to the arch and heels. For additional moisturizing, apply a thick layer before bed and wear socks overnight.


Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Recipe: Cuticle Balm

You will need:

1.5 oz Olive Butter

0.50 oz Beeswax Pastilles, White

0.50 oz Shea Butter - Refined

1 oz Calendula Oil, Infusion

0.50 oz Candelilla Wax
1 ml Orange, Sweet Essential Oil


Phase 1:
In a double boiler over low heat, melt all ingredients except Calendula Oil and Essential Oil over low heat until liquid.


Phase 2:
Allow mixture to cool slightly and add calendula oil and essential oil. Mix well to incorporate throughout.


Phase 3:
Pour into containers and allow to cool before capping.


To Use:
Apply balm to cuticles on fingernails and toenails daily. Massage into the area and across the nail bed to keep area hydrated.


Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Monday, May 18, 2009

Recipe: Pumice PediScrub

You will need:

8 oz Bulk Dead Sea Salt Scrub

0.50 oz Pumice Powder

0.50 Bamboo Silk Exfoliator
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) Pear & Quince Fragrance Oil (optional)


In a sterile glass or stainless steel mixing utensil, combine Dead Sea Salt Scrub with additional exfoliant powders and mix thoroughly to combine. It may be helpful to use a hand mixer reserved specifically for formulating (one that will not ever be used in contact with food). When combined, add optional fragrance and mix again until incorporated. Package in an airtight container until use.


To Use:
Apply a small portion of scrub to wet/damp feet focusing on tough spots like heels and the ball of the foot under the toes. Work scrub into skin in a circular motion, adding more water if the mixture is too dry/pasty. Do not rub vigorously, rather allow the exfoliants to do the work for you! Rinse in a foot bath or use a damp towel to dab off of feet before applying moisturizer.


FYI:
Our Coffee Salt Scrub is excellent for pedicures due to its deodorizing blend of ground coffee and minty essential oil blend!


Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Friday, May 15, 2009

Recipe: Sea Salt Foot Soak

You will need:

8 oz Epsom Salt

4 oz Dead Sea Salt - Fine Grain

4 oz Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)


Combine all ingredients until thoroughly mixed. Package in an airtight container.


To Use:
Add 4oz or more to foot bath before soaking. Ideal for aiding in the softening of tough feet prior to pedicure treatment but can be used in full body soaks as well.


FYI: Don't have time to blend your own? Check out our Custom Epsom Salts available in a variety of fragrance and color options for ease of use!

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Put A Spring In Your Step With A Pedicure!

A pedicure is a way to improve the appearance of the feet and their nails. The word pedicure is derived from the Latin words pedis, which means of the foot, and cura, which means care. Pedicure refers to the care of both the feet and toenails.

It's easy to give yourself a pedicure at home, and you'll save up to $65 over having the procedure in a spa. Use the following guidelines to pamper your own feet or have a pedicure party and take turns giving each other a pedicure!


Easy Pedicure Tips:
  • Fill a foot bath large enough for both of your feet with warm water to soak. Add scented bath salts for added softening power! Choose a comfortable chair where you can relax and place the bath in front of the chair. Soak feet for 10 minutes to soften the skin.
  • Remove nail polish with a non-acetone polish remover to avoid drying out nails and cuticles. If you have a tendency towards dry skin, add a little oil to your foot bath as well!
  • Stimulate foot circulation by massaging each foot in a circular motion from the top of the toes to the bottom of the heel and back. Use a little oil if you need added slip!
  • Use nail clippers to cut toenails straight across. Follow with an emery board to smooth nail edges. File in one direction without drastically rounding edges of the nail.
  • Soak feet in warm water for another five minutes. Raise feet out of the bucket and apply a mildly abrasive scrub to the bottoms of the feet, paying special attention to rough spots like heels and the ball of the foot. Allow the exfoliant to do the work rather than grinding the abrasives into the skin. Make the scrub work for YOU, not vice versa. Remove scrub with a damp towel.
  • Use a fresh (dry) towel to pat feet dry making sure to dry between each toe. Apply a medium-weight cream to seal in moisture. Before painting nails, rub a cotton ball dipped in non-acetone polish remover across each nail to remove excess oil. Otherwise, your polish will not stick!
Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Now Available! Botanical Dead Sea Salts

Botanical Dead Sea Salts offer you a pre-mixed, scented, botanical salt to simplify your production needs. These salts are ready to be packaged when they arrive!

Choose from two grain sizes, ten (10) botanicals and over 100 fragrances to create a truly unique bath salt for your product line!

Botanical Bath Salts - CUSTOM - (10 lbs)
Our Price: $21.00

Botanical Bath Salts - CUSTOM - (55 lbs)
Our Price: $105.00

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

New! Custom Epsom Salt

Now you can purchase Custom Epsom Salts pre-scented and colored for ease of use! Ready to package upon arrival, we help you take some of the guesswork out of creating your product line.

Magnesium sulfate (Epsom Salt) is used as a bathing salt, particularly in flotation therapy where high concentrations raise the bath water's specific gravity, effectively making the body more buoyant. Traditionally, it is also used to prepare foot baths, intended to soothe sore feet. The reason for the inclusion of epsom salt is partially cosmetic as it helps prevent some of the temporary skin wrinkling caused by prolonged immersion of extremities in water.

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Monday, May 11, 2009

Offices Closed Friday May 15th

For your convenience, orders can be placed online 24/7/365 or faxed to 330-467-2166. All phone calls will be returned when we reopen on Monday. Urgent correspondence should be made to email as we can better serve your requests in this manner.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Friday, May 8, 2009

Custom Bath Salt

For those who don't have the time, energy or know-how to create their own scented bath salts, BathBodySupply.com offers a line of Custom Sea Salts crafted from Dead Sea Salt or Atlantic Sea Salt to assist you in offering personalized products without having to invest your time and energy into the labor!

Simply choose the type of Custom Salt and then select your personalization options (at this time scent is a standard option and
color service is offered on our Atlantic Sea Salt). More options will be available in the near future including botanical additives!

Bath salts have a relatively low price point and a high potential profit margin making them an ideal offering for any skincare company!


Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Deciphering The Differences In Sea Salt

With a plethora of different varieties of sea salt to choose from, it may be difficult to decide which salt is right for your formulation. We hope the following definitions help to make it easier to choose!

Atlantic Sea Salt - This sea salt is a natural sea salt for use in Bath Salts, Aromatherapy, and Soap Making.

Environmental conditions directly influence the salt quality through the quality of its main raw material - sea water. The sea water used to make Atlantic Sea Salt is especially clean as it is collected from a mangrove area, an ecosystem that removes undesired elements from the water. This removal is accomplished through a filtration process carried by indigenous plants and shellfish.

Dead Sea Salt - The waters of the Dead Sea (located in Israel) are unique in that they contain 27% of various salts as compared to 3% in normal sea water. While sodium accounts for approximately 80% of the mineral content of normal sea water, it comprises much less of the mineral total in water from the Dead Sea. The remaining mineral content of Dead Sea water is comprised of magnesium, potassium, calcium chloride and bromides.


Dendritic Salt - Dendritic Salt is a very fine grain salt with a greater surface area than most salts on the market. This greater surface area allows the salt to absorb twice the amount of oil. It has less clumping, greater fragrance retention and dissolves quickly in water.


Add fragrance or essential oil to dendritic salt and blend with any type of sea salt to make your bath salts. Not only will this aid in keeping your sea salts dryer, it will allow you to use a higher fragrance load and will give your finished product a free-flowing consistency.


Epsom Salt - Magnesium sulfate is used as in bath salts, particularly in flotation therapy where high concentrations raise the bath water's specific gravity, effectively making the body more buoyant. Traditionally, it is also used to prepare foot baths, intended to soothe sore feet. The reason for the inclusion of the salt is partially cosmetic: the increase in ionic strength prevents some of the temporary skin wrinkling ("pruning") which is caused by prolonged immersion of extremities in pure water. However, magnesium sulfate can also be absorbed into the skin, reducing inflammation.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Phones Temporarily Out Of Service

5/7/09 UPDATE: Phone service has been restored. We apologize for the inconvenience.

We have just been notified that our phone lines and fax lines appear to be down. We are experiencing poor weather conditions in the area and power has been flickering on and off periodically. If you have pressing issues that need immediate attention, please email sales [at] bathbodysupply [dot] com.


Crews are working to restore service in the area as soon as possible. We will keep you updated as we receive more information.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Link Love From Two Craft Blogs!

Some of our recipes have been reprinted online (thank you for giving us appropriate credit when reprinting)!

You can view our
Foot Bath Recipe at the Homemade Bath Products Blog via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/euphoria-foot-bath

Our Shea Whip Recipe is available at the Crafts and Gifts by Hand Blog via the following link: http://tinyurl.com/shea-whip

Thanks for the Link Love!

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com