It’s no secret that I love soaps. A bit too much. In the process of packing and moving this summer, I truly realized how many bars I have. Yesterday I calculated how many years (not months!) it will take me to use up my soaps. Granted, I may be overestimating the amount of time given that I also give bars away for birthday, Christmas, and just-because gifts, and I also shred and use soaps I’m less enthusiastic about in my homemade laundry and dishwashing powders.
However, truth be told, it’s gotten out of hand. I am running out of storage space. And my bathtub ledge looks like a bar with so many choices…
So, I made an ultimatum, not to buy anymore soaps until I am down to 5 bars. This is especially trying for me, and it’s hard to remain disciplined when I love soaps so much, and when there are so many new limited edition fall-inspired soaps being released right now. It’s torturous, really.
ZomBee by Alchemic Muse
I will continue to buy soaps in the form of shampoo bars, and if a bar or two of soap is included in a gift or combo set I won’t complain, but as far as bathing soaps go, I’m stocked for a long while.
I was inspired by another person who loves soaps as much as I do that she holds herself to her promise not to buy anymore soaps until she’s used up the ones she has. She held out well until some fall scents were released, and then she (quite understandably) bought more. However, I remain steadfast and look for other ways to enjoy fall scents, such as in body butters, sugar scrubs, perfumes, and in – *newsflash* – food! And, truth be told I have some bars left from last year’s fall scents that were so inspiring. So, let me get to using those up…
What are your bath and body weaknesses? How do you control/conquer them?
Posted by Amina on September 14, 2009 at 10:02 pm
Girl, I need an intervention. PEople know I love soaps so I get them as gifts too.
I think to cut down the damage, I’ll stop soaping..lol
I thought it will be a great hobby but it eats up my precious ingredients.
So I’ll just keep doing body butters….
so no pumpkin soaps from chagrin valley for you?
Posted by scentualsoundtracks on September 15, 2009 at 8:37 pm
Yes, people give me soaps as gifts too. Just stop buying and stick to body butters as you said. Soaping does use up precious ingredients. Maybe when we’re both down to 5 bars we can plan out which soaps we want to buy! haha
No, no pumpkin soaps for me. I just can’t do it. I am getting the CV Ayurvedic shampoo bar though.
Posted by Karen on September 19, 2009 at 3:51 am
Thank you so much for featuring ZomBee!
I definitely had the same problem… for a long time, my bathroom looked like some macabre soap graveyard. It’s especially difficult when you make them!
My solution was to only use my mini bars. Each one is large enough to enjoy for a few showers, and then it’s gone. Lots of soapmakers on Etsy have taken to selling soap samplers – usually one bar cut into four pieces. This way, you get to try four new scents, but at the cost and size of only a single bar. Same goes for creams and scrubs. Small 2 oz mini jars to go with your mini soaps. Now my bathroom no longer looks like a bath and body store threw up on it
Posted by Britton on September 19, 2009 at 7:42 pm
That sounds exactly like my bath tub! My husband calls it the soap graveyard, psh!
I have been thinking about getting a nice looking rot iron looking shelf, or shelf of some sort as both display and safe keeping of soaps in the bathroom. I looove having a different variety of soaps to choose from, and I also think they’re fun to look at
Posted by scentualsoundtracks on September 20, 2009 at 11:15 am
Karen, thanks for the great suggestion. I have a tendency to love the weight of the whole bars in my hands. I will look into samples – in fact, I already have.
Britton, what a great idea! I think I need to start finishing bars before I unwrap others, but I can’t help myself.