Always learning from Venezuela

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analora

Member
Joined
Sep 7, 2018
Messages
13
Reaction score
16
Location
Venezuela
Hooooo Great! here goes my test
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The system forces me to lower the resolution but it works... Here is one of my SeaSalt Soap.
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Last edited by a moderator:
¿Alguna razón por la cuál usas “barra limpiadora” en lugar de “jabón”? Se me hizo curioso.

And love the name “pecado” y “océano”
Hello!
Thanks, I like the fun names!
here in Venezuela the price of personal hygiene products are regulated by the socialist government. Within the list appears soap, shampoo, toothpaste, etc. So the entrepreneurs have had to change the name to these items so that we do not fall on the regulation, so instead of soap is called cleaning bar (Barra limpiadora) the Shampoo is called capillary pretreatment, etc ... Yes,.... is crazy! It is another of the obstacles that we have to overcome.
 
@analora Wow, you've got it even harder than me! Glad you're persevering though, it's so much fun. What kind of oils do you use?

I'm in El Salvador, an expat originally from San Francisco, CA. I write and, sort of, speak Spanish. Writing it is easier! Your English is REALLY good!

Welcome!

Jessie
A happy soaper
 
@analora Wow, you've got it even harder than me! Glad you're persevering though, it's so much fun. What kind of oils do you use?

I'm in El Salvador, an expat originally from San Francisco, CA. I write and, sort of, speak Spanish. Writing it is easier! Your English is REALLY good!

Welcome!

Jessie
A happy soaper


Hello Jessie!

I'm sorry, but no, my English is not really good. I write in Google translate and then I check if the translation is not too literal. My English is like a 5 year old child. But thank you very much!!:p
For me reading English is much easier than writing or speaking it.
I owe a lot to English language because the best quality information is always in English. In Spanish it is quite deficient or poor.
Everything I have learned about soap has been by English speaking people who share their knowledge, such as Soap Queen. ;)
About my Soaps I basically use coconut oil (cosmetic use), soybean Oil, Castor Oil and Cocoa butter and, sometimes, olive oil.

But what does a native from San Francisco in El Salvador? Migration is usually the opposite!o_O

Regards!
 
That is so true about te information in spanish. If found that they tend not to be very... clear? Or just give information like “a good quality soap can not have lard in it” or “soaps made with animal fats are not good”. “Only choose soaps made with vegetable oils”.
 
@analora You're right, info in Spanish for soap makers is almost nonexistent!-Plus, like @Alfa_Lazcares says, there's a prejudice against using animal fats, which for me, is really sad. I made some lard-based soap and even my housemate, who generally likes my soaps, wouldn't use it. Even with some nice lavender essential oil in it! Ugh!
I'm stuck with palm/soy blends and olive oil as my basic oils. Maybe I'll sneak in some tallow and lard later this year, if only because the prejudice is that lard or tallow soaps smell nasty and are only for the poor. I want to try to change that.
I'd love to start a thread for Spanish-speakers/readers. Maybe we can start sharing all that valuable soaping knowledge!

Jessie,
Enjabonada y feliz!
 
Truth be told, i love my soaps that contain lard, however my first ones were unscented and I could smell the lard and I am not a fan. Now i am adding FO’s and you cant notice the smell of lard at all. I absolutelly adore those soaps. We really should start spreading the word that lard soaps are really good. Besides, isnt or wasnt dove made with tallow? And everyone and their mother loves Dove. I dont, cant get over their smell.
 
@Alfa_Lazcares You're right about Dove. My housemate's 2 girls won't use my soaps because they don't smell pretty enough (they're teenagers born and raised in rural El Salvador). Here, if it's not store-bought, it's not something that's good quality. So they only use Dove. Sad, really.

@analora I have some family here but when I was little I would spend time with my maternal grandmother. I've always loved the countryside and dreamed of one day living in it here.
My dream came true after I met my now-late husband. He and I moved here about 12 yrs ago and found the house where I live now. It's beautiful!
 
@Alfa_Lazcares
@Iluminameluna
Yes, there are many prejudices against handcrafted soaps and soaps made with animal fats.
The issue, at least in my country, is that there are many people making "artisan" soap without calculations between fats and lye, they do inaccurate calculations because someone sold them a guide without explaining about theory or chemistry. The result is that customers complain that their skin itches or dries, or that it melts very quickly, and they end up thinking that all handmade soaps are the same.
It's a culture problem. Also, when you warn them that they can not use it near their eyes or avoid contact with that area, they think that it is not natural... it's very crazy!o_O

Here the Soap artisans have to do education work with the clients.

About the use of animal fats I personally do not use them, But I am absolutely clear that it has many advantages in soap: hardness, foam and conditioning, all in one!
In the economic situation that my country is experiencing (where the national industry is almost non-existent) I believe that everything is valid as long as it is done correctly. There is audience for everything and, the more good quality offer, the more we win: producers, suppliers and customers.

I used a lot of Olive oil, I liked it a lot that because it allows to work more slowly and the final result: A gentle bar!! but here in Venezuela it is VERY expensive and it is also imported, so many times it is not achieved, so I had to stop using it (remember that I live in a socialist economy ...).
That's why I use much more coconut oil, but the handicap is that I have to work VERY quickly.
The rule that a lot of coconut oil results in a very aggressive bar is not entirely true, I balance with other moisturizing fats such as Castor oil and Cocoa butter, plus a higher superfat.

Regards to all, thank you very much for talking about your experiences with me, I no longer feel alone jiji ;):D
 
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