Friday, October 30, 2009

Video Tutorial: Making Clear Linen Sprays

This video shows how trial and error helped us solve a readers problem manufacturing clear linen spray products. Whether you prefer a clear product or not, we've vlogged about 6 separate formulas for making your own linen sprays from scratch!

Not feeling crafty? We carry pre-formulated Linen Spray bases ready for you to scent or we can Custom Scent our pre-made base for you from over 100 stock fragrance choices!

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Thursday, October 29, 2009

Manufacturing Non-Beverage Alcohol Products - Where Do I Start?

Feeling undeterred by the taxes, fees and regulatory documentation required for your company to be compliant in manufacturing/shipping non-beverage alcohol products discussed here and here?

You will need to acquaint yourself with the regulatory agencies involved:


Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB.gov): http://www.ttb.gov/ssd/faqs.shtml#no

Information for Specially Denatured Spirits Applicants (Application): http://www.ttb.gov/tax_audit/p51503.pdf

Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF.gov): http://www.atf.gov/alcohol/alfd.htm

US Food & Drug Administration (FDA.gov): http://www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/DOCKETS/02n0278/02n-0278-c000024-vol3.pdf

US Dept. of Transportation Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA)
:
http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/hazmat

US Dept. of Transportation
:
http://www.phmsa.dot.gov/

International Air Transport Association
:
http://www.iata.org/training/regulation-compliance/

Ohio State Liquor License Agency
:
http://www.com.ohio.gov/liqr/docs/liqr_ResourceDirectory.pdf (You will need to check with your own state liquor license agency to be sure you are within local compliance requirements)

US Postal Service (USPS.com)
:
http://www.usps.com/aviationsecurity/

United Parcel Service (UPS.com)
:
Hazmat Service Definition

Federal Express (FedEx.com)
:
Hazmat Service Definition

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Shipping Hazardous Materials - What's the Law?

If you missed our discussion regarding the regulation of alcohol in cosmetics, see our post here to get up to speed.

Once you have procured an ATF license to ship products containing alcohol and paid the required fees, you still need to be aware of the requirements for shipping dangerous goods. Two organizations govern shipping of dangerous goods like alcohol.

The Department of Transportation (DOT) has created rules for shipping dangerous goods by ground transport. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) has rules for shipping dangerous goods by air. The IATA rules are much more stringent than the DOT ground shipping rules.


Specially Denatured Alcohol (often called Perfumers Alcohol) is defined as a dangerous good because of its flammability. Bulk shipments of SDA alcohols or products containing SDA alcohols must conform to the shipping rules. These rules include selection of the proper container, proper labeling of the container and any packaging, and the preparation of appropriate shipping documents. Additionally, training is required for all shippers to ensure compliance with these requirements.

For the producers of consumer products, exemptions from these rules do exist. DOT allows an exemption from the labeling and documentation requirements for consumer commodities. IATA, however, DOES NOT allow an exemption. Consumer commodities are defined as products which are packaged and designed for direct use by consumers, like a bottle of perfume or linen spray.


Both DOT and IATA rules provide limits on the size and construction of the inner containers as well as the amount of product per package. Air Parcel, Express and Priority Mail are air shipments. United States Postal Service (USPS) forbids shipment of alcohol via these services. Parcel Post may be used, but there are limits on the percentage of alcohol that may be shipped using this method. Refer to www.usps.com for more details. Additionally, your outer boxes must be labeled "ORM-D" and "inner packings comply with prescribed requirements".


UPS ground service is the simplest option for the shipment of consumer commodities. Even they have some restrictions, though.
1) UPS will not accept consumer commodities at UPS Stores or drop-off locations
2) you must have a UPS account and pick-up service

3) UPS will also accept consumer commodities for air shipments if you label and document the shipments correctly. Expensive third party software is required for documentation of all UPS air shipments plus a $35 fee applies to EACH shipment.
UPS ground shipments have several requirements.
1) All packages must weigh less than 20 pounds if packed in EC32 boxes (the most common type of single wall box)
2) a label bearing the notation "ORM-D" and the statement "inner packings comply with prescribed requirements" must be affixed to the outside of the box
3) the inner packages must be tightly sealed and properly cushioned to prevent breakage and spillage. All lids must be sealed to prevent opening during transit. Tape or tamper-evident seals are required. Secondary containment, such as over-bagging, is also desirable.
4.) Glass, metal or plastic containers may be used. Glass containers may hold no more than 500 mL. Metal or plastic containers may hold up to one liter.
While these are ground restrictions, air shipments may require smaller containers and/or additional documentation to be within compliance.

As you can see, there is a great deal of paperwork and expense involved in shipment and resale of hazardous materials. While SD Alcohol has its place in cosmetic formulating, it is important to educate yourself on the safety and regulation of any and all products that you manufacture and/or ship so that you are aware of the requirements. Feigning ignorance or hoping to skirt around the issue do both your business and your clients a huge disservice. Remember, no attorney or court will accept the excuse that, "such and such company is doing it, so we did it too". Save yourself unnecessary hassle and expense by educating yourself about compliance, you'll be glad you did!

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

Beverage Alcohol & Cosmetics - What's the Law?

We get a lot of questions from those making perfumes, linen sprays or other cosmetics using drinking (beverage) alcohol like Vodka. The law regarding beverage alcohol in cosmetics and toiletries is finite. You may NOT legally sell skincare products manufactured with beverage alcohol.

The Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms rules concerning the use of alcohol in cosmetics are straightforward and fairly easy to understand.

The first ATF rule is that beverage alcohol MAY NOT BE USED in cosmetics. Technically, the ATF considers you to be selling beverage alcohol without a license, proper reporting and payment of taxes.

The FDA also has specific rules about the use of alcohol. The FDA rule is straightforward: Bitrex must be added to prevent ingestion and accidental poisoning with no exceptions.

Specially denatured alcohol (SDA) must be used but only in certain approved formulas. Some denatured alcohol formulas contain toxic compounds that are not suitable for skin contact. These forbidden formulas include the paint and lacquer thinners available from the hardware store. Formulas that are legal for use in cosmetics may be directly distributed only to permitted users.

Many of the legal formulas contain compounds such as phthalates and coumarins. Some formulas use essential oils as denaturants, but this can restrict your fragrance choices as these products will smell like whichever essential oil was used as a denaturant. SDA 40 B is one of the more popular choices because it is denatured with other alcohols and Bitrex.

Once you have chosen the SDA alcohol you need for your project, you must legally obtain it in order to use it in your formulation.
Sellers of SDA alcohol must possess an ATF permit to sell such material and may only sell SDA alcohol to a permitted user. A permitted user is someone or an organization that registers with ATF and pays the $250 annual tax. (NOTE: Only users and sellers of SDA alcohol are required to pay the $250 per year tax.)

Obtaining a permit from ATF simply allows you to obtain SD alcohol. It does not allow you to sell products made from it. ATF must approve your formula before you can begin selling. You must submit your formula and possibly samples to the
ATF national laboratory for examination where an ATF agent will approve or reject your formula. Once your formula is approved, it may be sold without restriction to unlicensed individuals who may use it as they desire, but no one may attempt to convert it to beverage alcohol.

Tomorrow we will discuss shipping restrictions for products containing alcohol.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Monday, October 26, 2009

Nylon Mesh Bath Puffs - Update

We have been notified by the producer of our Nylon Mesh Bath Puffs that they will no longer manufacture the small 30 gram size and will no longer offer any color other than white in the large 50 gram size.

We have limited quantities available of colored bath puffs online. By the end of the day, we will have an exact count of the remaining inventory.

If you are looking for an inexpensive accessory to add to gift bags/baskets for the upcoming holidays, now is a great time to stock up on these puffs.
Both the 30 gram and 50 gram sizes are compact and tightly constructed. The mesh used in the construction of these items is a dense, tightly woven material (not the loosely woven construction commonly seen in discount stores, etc.).

We will continue to stock the White 50 gram Nylon Mesh Bath Puffs. Unless we are successful locating another supplier of high-quality, affordable, colored puffs we will no longer be able to stock the colored versions.


Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

The Importance of Communication

Our website was down for nearly 6 hours on Tuesday. We received no advance warning and there was very little communication from our web host during the outage. As you can imagine, we were a bit flummoxed trying to determine the cause and navigate the consequent lack of communication.

This morning we received the following email from the COO of Volusion, our webhost:
As you likely noticed, we experienced a critical hardware failure yesterday that resulted in your storefront not functioning properly. We take full responsibility for this incident; our mission is to help you succeed online, and yesterday we didn't live up to that promise. We apologize for the issues this caused you and your customers.

In addition to the technical issues, we also did not communicate with you throughout the incident as we should have. In our efforts to get your store back up and running, we neglected to keep you informed.


While I cannot promise that problems will never arise, I can promise that we are committed to mitigating future issues in a way that minimizes the impact on your business.
I've attached a technical explanation of what occurred yesterday to the bottom of this message.

Sincerely,


Clay Olivier

Chief Operating Officer

Volusion


Technical Root Cause Analysis


Early yesterday, one of our blade server chassis lost connectivity to our Storage Area Network. This resulted in many of our customers experiencing downtime or errors on their storefronts.

Upon identification of the issue, we immediately brought HP on-site. After extensive troubleshooting, HP engineers diagnosed the issue as a failed mid-plane within the chassis. The engineers replaced the mid-plane, and all connections were restored.

This is the second HP mid-plane that has failed in the past 30 days. While the chances of two failures of a similar nature are very remote, HP was able to confirm this to be the case. Based on the serial numbers of the two failed components, we have reason to believe that both came from a bad batch. We are researching this further with the help of HP's labs, as well as performing a full audit on all of our HP equipment


We recognize the impact that yesterday's outage may have had on your business. We are working diligently with HP to prevent a recurrence of this issue in the future.
While this update provides much more insight into the problem that severed our connection with our online customers, I can't help but feel that a little transparency from the beginning would have saved a lot of anger. Not to mention the subsequent finger-pointing that occurred on Twitter as those who were affected desperately tried to get immediate answers using the only medium readily available to them (A very public medium).

What's your company policy? Do you believe in being transparent up front or do you prefer to fly by the seat of your pants and follow up with damage control later?


Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Video Tutorial: Scented Straw Brooms/Wreaths - P2

This video (Part 2 of 2) shows how easy it is to scent and/or refresh home decor items using Manufacturers Grade Fragrance Oil.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Website Issues

*UPDATE: As of 6:00PM EST, the site appears to be up and functioning as per normal. If you encounter any difficulties, please contact us!

Since approximately noon eastern time today, our website, Live Chat and email have been unavailable. Our ecommerce software is hosted through
Volusion, and while we have rarely ever had down time since we started using Volusion service, today has been an exception.

Email was restored at approximately 3:00PM EST, but we still do not have Live Chat capabilities and when trying to access our site, you will likely receive a "Page Not Found" or "Server Timed Out" error. We have been assured by Volusion that most other stores have been restored and that the remaining "few" (ours is apparently one of the "few") will be restored shortly.


We apologize for any inconvenience this causes as you are trying to place your order or find product information. We are accepting orders by phone: 330-467-1637, fax: 330-467-2166 or via email: admin [at] bathbodysupply [dot] com until this issue is resolved.


Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Monday, October 19, 2009

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Balms, Ointments, Creams & Salves - What's in a name?

In a recent interview, I was asked how to avoid getting stuck in a rut as a business owner. Part of my reply was that you should challenge yourself every day by learning something new.

Today, I am researching the difference between a
Balm, an Ointment, a Cream and a Salve. All of these products appear to contain moisturizing ingredients, but their technical uses are very, very different.

A Balm (also called liniment) is traditionally a medicated topical preparation to be applied to the skin. The viscosity (thickness) of a balm is somewhere between that of a lotion and a cream or ointment. However, unlike a lotion, a balm requires friction and must be rubbed or massaged into the skin for proper application. Most balms or liniments are sold to relieve pain and stiffness such as sore muscles or arthritis and are typically formulated with fast-evaporating solvents such as alcohol or counterirritants such as menthol or capsaicin. (This definition excludes Lip Balm which will be discussed in another post).

An Ointment is a semisolid product generally consisting of 80% Oils and 20% Water to provide a barrier on the skin which prevents moisture-loss. An ointment may or may not be medicated. They are used as emollients or for the application of active ingredients (such as herbal infusions, tinctures or medications) to the skin for protective or therapeutic purposes. Ointments allow slower delivery of active ingredients as the lower percentage of water content prevents excessive evaporation.

A Cream is a semi-solid emulsion of oil and water in approximately equal proportions which penetrates the outer layer of skin. Creams are generally applied with ones fingers or palms. Creams are easy to apply but may be inappropriate for application to regions of hairy skin such as the scalp, while a lotion is less viscous and may be readily applied to these areas. Creams create a barrier on the skin, help skin retain moisture and help to soften and smooth skin.

A Salve is an ointment, cream or balm with soothing, healing or calming effects. Generally, salves are used as an adhesive substance for application to wounds or sores.

So, while all for of these products create varying levels of a barrier on the skin, the purpose of the barrier is not necessarily the same. It is important to note that Balms, Ointments and Salves may all be associated with the delivery of medications or other drugs. If you are using active ingredients that fall into this category, your product may be regulated by the FDA as a Drug rather than a Cosmetic. This can create an issue if you are making claims about a product that you have not proven through proper testing and certification. The simple act of naming your product can create an issue if the end user will "imply" a specific use for the product (even if that implication is made in name only). Keep this in mind when naming your products and remember, if you can't PROVE it, you can't CLAIM it.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Save 10% on Organic Liquid Soap Bases*

It's a great time to try out (or stock up on) our Organic Liquid Soap Bases!

Help protect the environment from intensive farming methods and chemical treatment of natural ingredients, while also passing these benefits directly to your skin. Contains a natural liquid soap base derived from organic oils, blended with gentle surfactant & skin enhancing ingredients. All of our bases will accept fragrance or essential oils; However, in the spirit of providing a product in as organic a form as possible, we do not offer custom scenting for these products. Although color could be added, the natural color of these bases ranges from Amber to Yellow.

For a Limited Time, you can save 10% on both of our Liquid Organic Soap Bases (*excludes 5 Gallon sizes and Overstock items.)!

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Recipe: Cuticle Cream


Cold weather settles in, my hands start feeling parched, then my cuticles get ragged and catch on everything. I also talk with my hands, so I get self-conscious about how they look (not to mention the strands of sweater clinging to my shredded cuticles). This simple cuticle cream offers a burst of moisture for winter-weary hands. Use as a spot treatment for cuticles or slather it on to condition skin, your hands will thank you!

You will need:


Oil Phase:

0.50 oz Shea Butter, Unrefined
(Ivory)
0.75 oz Olive Butter

0.25 oz Emulsifying Wax NF

0.25 oz Polysorbate 20

Water Phase:

2.25 oz Distilled Water

1.25 ml (1/4 tsp) Allantoin
USP

Cooldown Phase:

1.25ml (1/4 tsp) Phenonip (Preservative)

5 drops
Tea Tree Essential Oil
5 drops Lavender, Bulgarian Essential Oil

3 drops Sandalwoods Essential Oil Blend



Phase 1: In a double boiler over low heat, combine all ingredients in oil phase until melted & clear. Remove from heat.

Phase 2: In a separate, heat-proof container, heat the water until it reaches approximately the same temperature as the liquified oils/wax. Use a thermometer to accurately determine the temperature. Remove from heat and add Allantoin, stirring thoroughly until dissolved.

Phase 3:
Slowly combine water mixture with oil mixture using a stick blender or mixer to fully incorporate. Allow to cool to room temperature.

Phase 4: When lotion has cooled to the touch (as close to room temp as possible), add preservative and optional fragrance. Blend well to incorporate before packaging in airtight containers.


Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Thursday, October 8, 2009

Recipe: Eau de Parfum

You will need:

Fragrance Blend (or experiment to create your own!):
5 ml (1 tsp) Blood Orange Essential Oil
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) Jasmine Fragrance Oil

10 ml (2 tsp) Orange Blossom Fragrance Oil

1.25 l (1/4 tsp) Vanille Essential Oil Blend
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) Patchouli Fragrance Oil

2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) Egyptian Musk Fragrance Oil


Base Solvent: Liquid Perfume Base

Container: Silver Perfume Sprayer


Using a clean dropper for each scent, blend all of your scent options in a glass bottle. For best
results, allow scents to marry overnight to allow the blend to develop. This allows you to tweak ratios before diluting the concentrated fragrance.

Make sure you keep detailed notes so that you are able to duplicate the blend at a future date. There is nothing more frustrating than achieving your perfect scent and then not being able to duplicate it. Once you have achieved the scent profile you prefer, it is time to dilute!

In most Eau de Parfum Fragrances, the scent is diluted at 10-15% of the base. For easy math, this translates to 4.5 ml fragrance blend to 25.5 ml liquid perfume base to yield 1 oz of Perfume. Once you have diluted the fragrance blend and mixed it well to incorporate, it's time to package your masterpiece. We suggest convenient fine-mist purse atomizers for alcohol-based perfumes.

FYI: It is NOT okay to substitute rubbing alcohol (isopropyl alcohol) or Vodka (ethanol) for the Liquid Perfumers Base. In order to formulate with drinking alcohol (ethanol) or Perfumers Alcohol (SDA Alcohol), you are required to register and maintain a license with the ATF as well as pay taxes on the sale of the alcohol. Our Liquid Perfumers Base is formulated so that this licensure and the subsequent taxes do not apply.

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Recipe: "Ooo la la" Eau de Toilette (Roll-On)

You will need:

Fragrance Blend (or experiment to create your own!):


10 ml (2 tsp)
Orchard Peach Natural Fragrance Oil
5 ml (1 tsp)
Lemon Essential Oil
1.25 ml (1/4 tsp)
Cinnamon Leaf Essential Oil
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp)
Rosewood (Renewable Source) Essential Oil
2.5 ml (1/2 tsp)
Amber Musk Natural Fragrance Oil

Base Solvent:
Jojoba Oil, Clear (Organic)

Container:
Roll On Bottle, 7 ml

Using a clean dropper for each scent, blend all of your scent options in a glass bottle. For best results, allow scents to marry overnight to allow the blend to develop. This allows you to tweak ratios before diluting the concentrated fragrance.

Make sure you keep detailed notes so that you are able to duplicate the blend at a future date. There is nothing more frustrating than achieving your perfect scent and then not being able to duplicate it. Once you have achieved the scent profile you prefer, it is time to dilute!


In most Eau de Toilette Fragrances, the scent is diluted at 5-10% of the base. For easy math, this translates to 3 ml fragrance blend to 27 ml jojoba oil to yield 1 oz of Perfume. Once you have diluted the fragrance blend and mixed it well to incorporate, it's time to package your masterpiece. We suggest convenient roll-on applicators for oil-based perfumes.

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Recipe: Solid Perfume (Vegan)

You will need:

1 oz Coconut Oil (Fractionated
)
1 oz Soy Wax Pastilles

2.5 ml (1/2 tsp) Fragrance or Essential Oil
(We used Euphoria Essential Oil Blend)

Phase 1:
In a double boiler over medium heat, melt together oil and wax until clear. Remove from heat.


Phase 2:
Allow to cool slightly before adding your choice of fragrance. Stir well before pouring into small containers.


To Apply:
Rub finger over solid perfume and allow body heat to slightly melt the solid before applying to pulse points. Reapply as needed!


Alternate Packaging Idea: Natural Slim Lip Tube & Cap

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com

Monday, October 5, 2009

Perfume: A Brief Description

Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils, aroma compounds, fixatives and solvents used to give the human body and/or living spaces a "pleasant" smell.

Perfume oils are often diluted with a solvent, though this is not always the case. The most common solvent for perfume oil dilution is ethanol or a mixture of ethanol with water. Perfume oil can also be diluted by means of neutral-smelling fixed oils such as fractionated coconut oil or liquid waxes such as jojoba oil.

Perfume types reflect the concentration of aromatic compounds in a solvent. The concentration by percent/volume of perfume oil are listed below and are generalizations:
  • Perfume Extract (Extrait): 15-40% (IFRA: typical 20%) aromatic compounds
  • Eau de Parfum (EdP), Parfum de Toilette (PdT): 10-20% (typically less than 15%) aromatic compounds. Sometimes listed as "eau de perfume" or "millésime".
  • Eau de Toilette (EdT): 5-15% (typically less than 10%) aromatic compounds
  • Eau de Cologne (EdC): Chypre citrus type perfumes with 3-8% (typically less than 5%) aromatic compounds
  • Body Splash and After Shave: 1-3% aromatic compounds
Fragrance compounds in perfumes will degrade or break down if improperly stored in the presence of heat, light, oxygen and/or extraneous organic materials. For these reasons, proper preservation of perfumes involves keeping them away from heat and storing them out of direct light.

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Friday, October 2, 2009

Using Fragrance as an Accessory

brought to you by: Erin Sharplin Love, Panache by Erin

When you think of an accessory, what is the first item that pops into your head? Most likely, the image will be that of a piece of jewelry or a purse; if so, you might be missing one of the most important accessories a woman can wear…fragrance.

As a matter of fact, fragrance just might be the most important accessory because it has the power to leave an impact long after the wearer is gone. The simple act of smelling a certain scent can jog a memory as far back as childhood for some people. Now what other accessory can do that?


So, just as you create a wardrobe of clothes, shoes, and jewelry, you should also create a wardrobe of fragrance. There are, however, so many different scents to choose from that finding the right one can become overwhelming. Here’s a little tip, though – To make the task much easier, know what genre of scent you like before you go shopping, and don’t be afraid to ask the salesperson for help. For instance, do you like citrus, musk, or floral scents? Each genre will have the right fragrance to fit every occasion and mood. You should also keep in mind that building a fragrance wardrobe takes time and effort.

Treat your fragrances as you would a new pair of shoes…try them on and walk around for a few minutes. If they feel good, buy them!!
I can even go so far as to suggest that certain scents mesh better with certain colors than others. For instance, when you catch a whiff of lavender you probably envision the color purple. Look below at Pantone’s fall/winter color trends. What scents come to your mind?


It is unbelievable how many ways fragrance can be used and how it affects our lives. Use it to its fullest potential. Have fun with it in every aspect of your life!

Be sure to check out Erin's BLOG: Panache By Erin's Blog

Erin is a Certified Fashion and Image Consultant, for more information about the services she provides, be sure to check out her website: Panache By Erin

Allison B. Kontur
www.BathBodySupply.com

Thursday, October 1, 2009

September Product Feedback Winner!


Monica, you have won yourself a $20.00 gift certificate good towards goodies at BathBodySupply.com! Check your email for your coupon code!

We appreciate your feedback! For more information on how to enter, visit our blog post here! Remember, we will be choosing one comment per month through the end of 2009. You can re-qualify each month by giving more feedback on products you have purchased!
The more feedback you give, the more times you are entered to win!

Allison B. Kontur

www.BathBodySupply.com