More updates soon, I need to write more on my blog.

I use Mailchimp for my newsletter program. Its a great way to see who is opening my newsletters, and the click rate/conversion rate to see if these newsletters are successful.  You pay a certain tier a month depending on how many people you have on your list.  $10 for 1-500, $15 for 501-1000, and so on.  Today I pruned about 1000 people off of the list.  Why? Because none of them actually ever opened any of the email campaigns.  I figured, no point in paying more a month to send out a newletter that some will not read.  In this economy, we have have to watch our $$$, and I dislike seeing my being washed away.

Now my newsletter is nicely comprised of subscribers who actually open it and take the time to read and click  for me.  It actually brightened my day a little!

If you are a small business and pay for a newsletter service each month, you would be surprised at how much money you end up saving yourself a year just by pruning your list down a little. I just saved myself $180.

Join us at the Indie Craft Bazaar in Fort Lauderdale on April 25th! Details can be found on the flyer below.

Took the Et Une Rose out of the mold last night. It is a stunning bar. I also ordered a smaller stamp because I thought my old stamp is a bit too big for these cubes.  These weigh 4 oz, and they are quite the compact bar, fit right in your hand. I enjoy the way they shrink with use in the shower too, I have the cutest cube sitting in mine now that I started using 4 weeks ago from the tea soap line I am still testing.

Enjoy!

The other day I told you on my Facebook Page that I had new molds coming.  Well, they are here, and I love them!  With all the energy spent  getting the huge 2500 bar order of beer soap en route to Korea and a show tomorrow in Davie that we have been preparing for, I have not been able to unwrapped all the molds and fill them with soap.  Which I had planned to do once they arrived.   But one did get  the best of me, and I just had to soap something!  Here is Et Une Rose, made with lovely Rose Clay.

12/27/09:

A word on new shipping rates- This year we will only be using USPS for first class shipping of one or two bars, per your request. If you would like to have your order ship USPS, you can purchase 1-2 bars here:

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37353042

Any order more than 2 bars will have shipping calculated to our new flat rate FEDEX rate of $7.95.  Canadian and overseas orders of 3 bars or more will be shipping with USPS flat rate international rates, but will be covered with full insurance to protect your package. This also gives us a sense of security in knowing that your package arrived safely.  Shipping to Canada will be $13.50, and shipping to any other part of the world will be $15.50.

You may ask why I am making these changes? Well, this past holiday season taught me that USPS is not the company we can rely on to deliver packages on time when they need to be. When a 2-3 day mail package takes 17 days to get from Miami Florida to Tampa Florida, you know there is a problem. My feedback and my company’s integrity has had to suffer because of late shipping. How can one explain to a customer that although their tracking number is not showing any updates, yes, they package has indeed been shipped out? How can a package be left to sit in a sorting facility for 8 full days before it is processed? I don’t know what happened.  The list goes on, and this has made this past holiday season extremely difficult.

There were so many emails, so many accusations, and it really felt as if all the hard work we put in this holiday and all year to get to where we are went down the drain once a package left our hands.

FEDEX will be our #1 route for delivering packages from now on. The $7.95 rate covers as many bars as you would like to order, and will arrive via FEDEX Ground or Home Delivery.  Fedex 2nd day air and Express Saver is also available at additional costs if you need a package super fast.

Shipping time frames is something we are working on to shorten, which is why your packages will now be shipping within 1 business day of your order.

Thank you so much for reading this, and understanding why our shipping rates have changes.  Customer service is very important, and this is a way for us to strengthen that aspect of our business.

Please feel confident that this is the best change we could think of for our company and the well being of our customers. A little peace of mind knowing where your package is and how long it will take to get to you goes a long way.

Have you started buying your gifts yet? Soap is usually a great gift for anyone, especially when its a unique product line like our beer soaps:

Since we have the new packaging launcing soon, here is a soap sale for you:

This is the fragrance list with Most of the scents listed so you can have an idea what your soap will smell like:

Acai Berry is a miracle fruit that is being used worldwide for its high antioxidant levels and wonderful health benefits. This berry grows in the Amazon rainforests on the acai palm trees. Tropical and sweet, this is a juicy berry treat.

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Aloe & Watercress starts with citrus notes of lemon peel; cool palm leaves, watercress and aloe, and ends with jasmine & eucalyptus.

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Amber Empire – Wrap yourself in notes of tea leaves, vodka, coriander, incense, champagne, cumin, ambergris, cinnamon, vanilla, and leather.

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Ambrosia is a fresh and powerful citrus blend loaded with grapefruit oil and a light touch of green sage.

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Amour Badedas- The fresh and invigorating blend of lavender, fir, lemon and eucalyptus enhanced with orange zests and “cut grass” on a dry down of cedarwood and tonka beans. Amour Badedas is a wonderful unisex fragrance.

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Arabian Sands has a wonderfully rich and mysteriously woody aroma with hints of cedar and sandalwood resin. Fortified with mandarin peel, dried figs, and dates, with touches of nutmeg, cumin, and clove.

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Aspen lets you keep that fresh out of the shower scent all day long. A fine blend of hyacinth, mint and lime give way to a fresh and clean fragrance. The perfect clean fragrance that is great for both ment and women.

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Bamboo Sugar Cane is a sparkling splash of citrus and sweet florals of jasmine and rose, join branches of green leaves with a dry down of pure sugar sweetness.

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Bamboo Tea Zen is an Asian green floral blend with orchid, camelllia and lotus blossom. Green, slightly peppery notes accent this fragrance.

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Bella has notes of honey, amber, vanilla mingled with leafy greens, orange flower, spice, peach, melon, jasmine, white lily, ylang; with a sweet-soft dry down of sandalwood, musk, and oakmoss.

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Bergamot Coriander has green top notes of bergamot, Italian lemon oil, basil, and orange oil from Brazil. A spicy-floral heart of the lily of the valley, coriander, and ginger leads to a long-lasting bottom of precious woods, musk, and amber.

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Better Than Sex is a mouth watering treat with notes of cocoa, hot fudge and truffles blended with caramelized sugar!

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Birds of Paradise – Not only are these flowers beautiful, but they also smell amazing! Birds Of Paradise is a sweet, fruity combination that blends heady florals with a soft fruity dry down.

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Black Cherry smells just like those delicious juicy cherries that we all enjoy.

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Blackberry Amber is sweetness and seduction wrapped into one. Features notes of Blackberries, Red Raspberries, Jasmine, Dew Berries, Caramel, Heliotrope, Vanilla, Sandalwood, Amber, Patchouli and Musk.

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Black Raspberry Vanilla- sun ripened raspberries mixed with creamy decadent vanilla.

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Blackberry Vanilla Musk – Sweet dreams await you with touches of blackberry and vanilla musk, ending with the seductive touch of white rose.

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Blooming Dogwood flowers are so sweet and pretty! This soap takes that enticing dogwood aroma and blends it with just a slight hint to cream. Very southern belle!

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Bonsai Tree is a pine and lime aroma on a background of greens and woods with a touch of floral undertones.

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Brown Sugar and Fig is a slightly sweet scent with notes of fresh figs, peaches, and passion fruit, creamy coconut milk, vanilla orchid, jasmine, muguet, and freesia all balanced with vanilla beans, caramel, maple sugar, fig leaves, and musk.

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Butt Naked is an exciting medley of granny smith apples and honeydew melon, middle notes of strawberries and pears, with hints of spice. Who knows why its named Butt Naked, but its been a favorite of mine since I was a preteen!

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Cafe Vetyver and Vanilla has bitter coffee bean notes, vetyver, vanilla, incense, bark, and cream. Quite a complex and alluring house blend.

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Cape Olive is a very complex fragrance with notes of Yuzu Japanese Grapefruit, Fresh Osmanthus Sweet Olive, Watercress, rounded out with notes of Rose, Jasmine and Cassis.

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Chai Tea-  Notes of spicy cinnamon bark and nutmeg marry fresh green tea and creamy soy milk.

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Chocolovers is a delicious blend of sweet citrus hints of orange and bergamot, and malted hazelnut, followed by sweet chocolate and vanilla musk. lily of the valley and coriander lend a spicy and floral accord.

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Cloverfield is a fresh, green fragrance that reminds one of wild summer herbs growing in a field mixed with a floral fruity medley of fresh citrus, green clover and jasmine petals on a woodsy, sweet musk background with a touch of aloe.

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Cotton Blossom has a sweet, subtle blend of jasmine, violet and gardenia with a sparkle of lemon zests on a drydown of vanilla and musk

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Crème Brulé is my favorite dessert! Just picture your last Crème Brulé serving, and that is exactly how this smells, right down to the caramelized finish!

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Crème is an enticing blend of caramel, cream, brown sugar, and vanilla. You might be tempted to bite it, but save it for the shower!

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Denim has notes of lavender, moss, and bergamot mingled with clean water essence. Reminds me of freshly washed laundry.

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Dragon’s Blood is a well known fragrance enjoyed by both men and women worldwide. Commonly found in incense, Dragon’s Blood has notes of resinous amber, sandalwood and a light touch of musk.

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Egyptian Spice is a rich spicy concoction of myrrh and frankincense.

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Embargo is like nothing you have ever smelled before. It consists of a blend of sweet and resinous incense, soft vanilla, woods and a whiff of transparent cherry in the beginning, we also smell almonds in the mix, creating a delicious mixture of cherry marzipan offset by very dry wood and otherworldly incense.

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Et Une Rose is one of our best selling rose fragrances. It envelopes you in a complex, multifaceted rose fragrance that will draw you in and never let go. Composed of several different types of roses: dune rose, musk rose and Bulgarian rose. Absolutely one of the most beautiful fragrances, being full-bodied, complex, with a warm peppery touch that seems to enhance its radiance.

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Fallen is a blend of sweet vanilla, gardenia, blackberry musk and amber.

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Ginger Milk is a luscious ginger aroma mixed with nutmeg, and allspice,sweet milk and rich vanilla, enhanced with hints of sandalwood musk.

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Ginger Soufflé has fresh ground ginger notes with clove buds, cinnamon sticks and vanilla beans enhanced with light nuances of apples and peach.

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Gingered Lime – Tart citrus lime essential oil blended with tangy ginger, all on a slight sugary drydown.

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Halo Halo is a rich creamy dessert popular in the Philippines. Notes of sweet jackfruit, lychee berries, mango nuggets, macapuno and crushed ice married with rich thick cream and sweet pineapple.

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Hey Sugar is sweet and full of rich citrus notes. The perfect blend of sugar, lemon, and yummy shortbread.

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Honey & Nectarine is a sweet, summery blend of nectarine, peach, black currant, green apple, lemon, and green mandarin notes atop a midsection of jasmine, lily, ylang, and honey, with clean musk and earthy vetiver in the drydown.

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The Japanese Grapefruit is a hybrid of a grapefruit and a mandarin, so it is not as tart as your usual grapefruit. A full blast of citrus with notes of grapefruit blossom, a touch of mandarin.

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Japanese Ume is a wonderfully rich and inviting fruity-floral fragrance that combines sweet notes of Bartlett Pear, White Peaches, Apricot, Plum Blossom and fresh notes of Mimosa and Spring Air.

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If you love Juniper Breeze, then you will adore Juniper Cade. This scent is a blend of ozone balanced with juniper, basil and berry with a slight musk undertone, and a dash of patchouli and sandalwood.

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Wrap yourself in a meditative blend of patchouli, sweet orange, lavendin, pine, lemongrass and elemi, with notes of incense, amber and musk. This will hypnotize you with its sensuality and real essential oil blend.

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Karma Kaze wraps you in a meditative blend of patchouli, sweet orange, lavendin, pine, lemongrass and elemi, with notes of incense, amber and musk. This will hypnotize you with its sensuality. Even devout patchouli haters reach for this one!

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Named after a river in Japan, KYUSHU is a revitalizing medley of sharp citrus notes of orchard limes, grapefruit and tangerines atop of a velvety green heart of thyme with a smooth woody base.

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Heady herbal Lavender is blended with a dense and dark vanilla base that is complimented with a nuance of orchid to create a balance that is sophisticated and relaxing.

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Lemongrass & Sage displays fresh accord of Thai lemongrass balanced with soft nuances of herbal sage flowers and hints of white musk and crisp ozone.

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Lick Me All Over is a sweet yummy blend of fruity raspberry, cantaloupe, and watermelon, floral jasmine and violet, and citrus grapefruit and kumquat.

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Lilac smells just like a blooming lilac bush. If you are a lilac lover, this is the perfect fragrance for you. A best seller!

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Lily of the Valley – fresh and green muguet de bois; true to name lily of the valley aroma.

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London Lemon Curd is made with real vanilla extract and touched with a delicate hint of sugar. Has notes of lemongrass, litsea cubea, orange oil and vanilla.

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Love Elixir is a sweet jasmine blend with undertones of African violets and exotic musk.

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If you are a chocolate lover, then Love, Chocolate is the fragrance for you. Rich chocolate mixed with vanilla and bitter orange. One of my best selling fragrances.

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Lust Spell is a sweet bouquet of mandarin orange, bergamot, and tangerine with by nuances of fresh peaches, strawberries, raspberries on an undertone of white musk.

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Mango Papaya – Sweet juicy mangos mixed with sweet payaya, oh what a delicious treat for the senses!

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My Chamomile Romance is simply soothing and aromatic. Reminds me of a calming warm cup of chamomile tea, herbaceous and enhanced by lavender and rose. I added chamomile infused Olive Oil and chamomile flowers for an enriched blend.

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Some love Patchouli, and some hate it! If you are a Patchouli lover, then this is the bar for you.

Padparadscha Stone- a wonderful mix of pepper eases into glorious warmth: sandalwood, cedar and musk melt into an enveloping fragrance that is sensuous, yet genuinely unique. This fragrance is not fruity, sweet, foody or floral. It is soft, but spicy; dramatic, but not overpowering; elegant, but easy to wear.

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Peppermint Java is a wonderful wake me up made with a rich straight coffee aroma, and a dash of peppermint.

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Sweet fruity pomegranate blended with tart lime essential oil!

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Propolis & Honey- a soft, delicate blend of sweet honey with hints of refreshing green notes.

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Pumpkin Icing is rich and sweet with the earthy sweetness of the pumpkin comes through with a well-balanced blend of clove, nutmeg, allspice and ginger, and just the right amount of cinnamon.

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Rosemary and Spearmint essential oils combined. Both are very relaxing fragrances, and will soothe your senses.

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Sandalwood Neuvo is a melody of soft florals mixed with musks and sandalwood.

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Sands Of Chergui has become one of my best selling fragrances this year, and one of my own personal favorites. Named after a dry and hot wind in Morocco; this creation is a magical journey of honey, musk, incense, tobacco leaf, hay sugar, amber, iris, rose and sandalwood.

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Scent of a Woman is a blend of spicy florals, citrus splashes; with green bergamot and sage top notes and a sandalwood drydown.

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Secret Indian Nights fills your senses with rich woods of sandalwood and patchouli notes that end with soft, velvety, and sensual amber.

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Sovereign Sandalwood is a heady and exotic profusion of Amber, Nutmeg, Cardamom and Coffee along with a sensational sandalwood that has more of a wood essence rather than the usual incense fragrance. Resinous notes of myrrh are also present. The middle notes bloom with subtle Patchouli and earthy vetiver. A touch of vanilla is added for a gentle touch. An addictive dry down of moss, amber and wood, and off course more sandalwood.

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Sun Kissed Raspberry is a fruity sweet mix of raspberries red delicious apples, oranges with herbal tones of ylang ylang, rose, basil, tagette and vanilla beans.

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The Geisha’s Kimono- The art and beauty of a Geisha is so inviting and tantalizing. As you sit mesmerized by her calculated moves and delicate motions, you catch a trace of delightful exotic white tea leaves with a sparkling nuance of mulberry, fragrant mimosa, and plum wine. She flips her elegant sleeve and your senses are enlightened with notes of peony and rare white flowers blended to perfection. Whispers of airy petals and soft white musk perfectly envelope this well rounded unisex fragrance.

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Tibet takes you away on a heady amber cloud lotus blossoms, powdered rose, amber, musk, all mingling with jasmine, patchouli, and rich vanilla bean.

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Wasabi is the hottest new fragrance this year! It has a blended aldehyde melody of lime, fresh cucumber, grapefruit guava, and passion fruit; married together with wasabi, fern wood, and cilantro.

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Wood Sugar entices the senses with notes of coconut milk, caramelized benzoi, bitter almond, licorice, sandalwood, mellowed with Gaiac woods, Tonak bean, and black vanilla absolute.