Labels and Labeling
There are a couple of things to keep in mind when making labels for your soap creations: market yourself; protect yourself. To look at the latter, first:
PROTECT YOURSELF: There are a number of things you want to include on your label, not the least of which is the term "Homemade". However, you don't want to get overly descriptive. Soap, from a "legal" standpoint, is just soap. If, on the other hand, you say things like "moisturizing" or "skin nourishing" or "antiseptic" or "antibacterial" . . . these can, depending upon regulations in your state (or country) transport your "soap" to a "cosmetics" classification. "Cosmetics" fall under the jurisdiction of the FDA. Manufacturing "cosmetics" requires a special license, in most cases. So, from a labeling perspective, your soap is just "soap".
That said, there are still items that must be incorporated into your label: soap formulation (clear glycerin, goat's milk glycerin, etc.); estimated volume or size of the soap (this will usually be in ounces and will reflect the amount of soap in the bar, not necessarily the weight on a scale); and, any additives in the soap (jojoba beads, poppy seeds, etc.). Though you can, and should, "name" the soap something like "Autumn Vanilla", you don't have to specify which fragrance oils you've put in the soap. "Autumn Vanilla" may be Vanilla and Amber or Vanilla and Cinnamon and Musk, etc. You do, however, have to include "fragrance oil(s)" as an ingredient of the soap. And, of course, you have mention "colorant". Again, you don't have to divulge WHICH colorant or what color of colorant or colorants were used, you also don't have to specify whether it was a non-bleeding colorant or clear liquid colorant. You simply have to indicate whether or not a colorant(s) was used.
Lastly, when it comes to protecting yourself, do your homework. This is really only an issue if you are including some kind of botanical or herbal additive in the soap. For example, you may recall from the descriptive information on the Chamomile Flower Soap, there was a warning regarding it being in the same family as ragweed. If you include any kind of plant or botanical additive in your soap, you must be specific. You don't want an allergic reaction because an additive was not clearly indicated. The same goes for essential oils. You don't have to specify WHICH essential oil was used, but if you use essential oil in your soap creation, you must indicate that it may react on sensitive skin.
It's always a good idea to research and verify the regulations in your area pertaining to labeling your soap creations.
MARKET YOURSELF: It's a good idea to hand out business cards when you are selling your soap creations and to network. A bar of soap is a pretty powerful "business card", but it's also very disposable. If your soap is unwrapped for use, the label will likely NOT be kept. Nonetheless, you need to consider what other information you want to make "public". If you are marketing yourself as a "business", do you want your home phone number or home address on the label? Put your name and/or business name prominently on the label, then provide the most readily, commonly available means of contact. The simplest of these would be an e-mail address or website. These are available to your customers 24/7 . . . your home phone and, certainly, your home address are not.
The label could also contain a phrase like: "For more soap like this one . . . " or "To place an order . . . "; that let's the customer know that they may contact you to get additional soaps like the one they purchased.
Another way to market yourself is by "branding" your soap label. Whether it's with a logo or symbol or a specific kind of packaging, you want your soaps to be clearly, easily distinguishable from any other soap they may have purchased. This may also be a simple choice of font when printing your labels. You can be more creative with the wrapping and label artwork provided you keep the format the same and the font the same from one label to the next.
Finally, let your soaps work for you. You can use a photograph of your beautiful soap creation as a poster, on your business cards, on a brochure and can even produce greeting cards and gift tags using the picture of your soap. Of my soap creations, one comes to mind immediately . . . the snowman soap featured in the WINTER COLLECTION tutorial (available in the online store). In the picture below, you can see that I have placed the snowman soap in front of a piece of snowy scrapbook paper. When I downloaded the picture into the computer, I added computer-generated snowflakes. I have used the image for greeting cards and on the back of seasonally used business cards and on homemade gift tags. He's the hardest working little snowman soap in the world.
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When selecting your labels, consider to what kind of paper they will adhere. If you are wrapping the soaps in a standard paper, you have a lot more options. If you are wrapping the soaps in a clear cling wrap, you'll want to make sure the labels are "permanent". Even with "permanent" labels, I will cover the label in a strip of clear packing tape. This serves two purposes: I currently use an inkjet printer and a little moisture would make my label illegible. The packing tape helps protect the label. As I generally wrap my soaps in a clear cling wrap, even "permanent" labels will peel away more easily than they would from standard paper. The packing tape helps keep them attached to the soap.
Another possibility for packaging would be to make a wrapping paper from the photograph of your soap. Obviously, this will depend on your level of comfort on and the availability of a computer and printer and a software program that can afford you that capability.
I hope that this information is helpful to you as you give thought to and develop your soap labels.
© 2011 NORMA W. THOMAS. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
