Blueberry Fields Artisan Soap

A big thank you to everyone who came out to the final Farmers Market of the season yesterday! It was such a fun night. See you tomorrow at Harwin Park for the Food and B**r Festival from 2 to 7.

🧪🫧 SOAP NERD THURSDAY 🫧🧪

🥥 Why Is Coconut Oil in Soap?

Coconut oil has a bit of a reputation.

In the kitchen? Popular.
In skincare? Everywhere.
In my soap pot? It has a very specific job to do. 🧪

One of the reasons soapmakers love coconut oil is its fatty-acid profile.

🥥 Coconut oil is naturally rich in lauric and myristic acids. When those fatty acids are turned into soap through saponification, they help create a bar with:

🫧 Big, fluffy bubbles
🧼 Strong cleansing ability
✨ A nice, firm bar
🚿 Lather that performs well in water

Sounds perfect, right?

Well…

MORE COCONUT OIL = BETTER SOAP!

Right?

🚨 NOPE. 😂

Here's where formulation matters.

Those same fatty acids that make coconut oil such an effective cleansing ingredient can also make a soap feel too drying when coconut oil is used at higher levels in a typical bath-soap formula.

And that's a perfect example of why I don't formulate by asking:

“Which ingredients are good?”

I ask:

“How much of each ingredient gives me the characteristics I want in the finished bar?” 🧪

Because coconut oil isn't working alone.

I balance it with other oils & fats that contribute different fatty acids—and therefore different qualities—to the finished soap.

Some contribute creamy lather.
Some contribute hardness & longevity.
Some contribute to the overall feel of the bar.

Put them together in the right proportions and you get something very different from what any one oil could produce on its own. ⚖️

That's the fun part of formulation.

More isn't always better. BALANCE is better. 🫧

And that's why coconut oil earns its place in my soap pot. 🥥🧼

💬 SOAP NERD QUESTION:

Before today, did you know that using more coconut oil could actually make a bath soap feel more drying rather than automatically making it better?

🥥 Yep! I'm officially a Soap Nerd.
🤯 Nope—I thought more coconut oil sounded great!
🧪 I'm learning something new every Thursday!

The final Farmers market of the season! Costumes are encouraged for the Pumpkin and Potions theme

Im popping up at the last Gloucester Township Farmers Market on Thursday and I need your help! I have to make room for our winter soap collection! I'll have the last of our summer soaps with me, if you buy 3 you get 1 free! This Thursday only, while supplies last.

I have some exciting news to share! 💙

Blueberry Fields Artisan Soap was chosen as the winner of BoothKeeper’s 10,000 follower giveaway. I won a full year of BoothKeeper Pro! ( I never win anything!)

You see the soaps, the bath bombs, and the market table. Behind those are hours of making, packing, planning, and figuring out what comes next.

This opportunity will help me better understand my market results and make thoughtful decisions as I grow my wholesale and online sales. Seeing BoothKeeper recognize my goals for Blueberry Fields made this especially meaningful.

Thank you, BoothKeeper, for this generous gift and your encouragement. And thank you to everyone who shops with me, follows along, or tells a friend about something I’ve made, I am truly flattered. You’re part of what I’m building, too. 🫐


BoothKeeper

🧪 Meet the Maker Monday
Fragrance Blending 101

First step: the paperwork.

Before I blend the first drop of a new Blueberry Fields fragrance, I review the supplier’s IFRA certificate.

IFRA stands for International Fragrance Association. Its standards help guide the responsible use of fragrance ingredients, and the certificate lists maximum fragrance levels for different types of finished products.

Why does that matter? A soap washes off. A lotion stays on your skin. A candle is used differently again. The same fragrance can have different limits depending on where it’s going.

Those percentages are ceilings, not recipes or targets for how much fragrance to add. And when I combine fragrance oils, each bottle’s certificate is a starting point, the resulting blend needs its own evaluation. Below is a screenshot of the IRFA categories and the other screenshot shows you the percentages that you can you use of that fragrance oil in different products. If a company doesn't provide this information, I won't purchase from them.

My biochemistry background shapes how I approach this work: understand the materials, then explore the possibilities.

My favorite part comes next, layering notes, testing combinations, and developing the distinctive fragrances that make Blueberry Fields special.

Thoughtful formulation starts long before a fragrance reaches your shower. 💙

Blueberry Fields Artisan Soap

Never ordinary.

Slow Down Sunday

Hello, Gourd-geous. 🎃🛁

Before the new week begins, take a little time that belongs just to you.

Run the warm water, put your phone down, and let our handcrafted pumpkin bath bomb bring a sweet surprise to your Sunday soak. 🧡

Scented with honey and orange blossom, Hello, Gourd-geous pairs golden sweetness with delicate florals. It smells absolutely delicious, and a little unexpected for a pumpkin. 🍯🌼

I love giving a familiar shape a little surprise. Something to make you smile as you settle into a quiet moment.

The to-do list can wait. Tonight, enjoy the warm water.

What’s your favorite way to slow down on Sunday?

Blueberry Fields Artisan Soap
Never ordinary.