Well Don, you ask a very important question. I think the issue of scents, which to include, how much to make and how/when to add new ones is one that all artisans face and I am inclined to think how they address the issue plays a part in whether they are successful or not. With CBL still in its infancy I am still trying to figure out what scents I want to make part of my regular line-up and which ones I don't. I like the scents I have already but I think there is room for more. Eventually I would like to have a pretty fixed offering with few newer additions. I think the fixed offering is necessary to expand and become more mainstream. The problem with a fixed offering is it also puts a cap on how much an individual consumer can buy, perhaps this is why so many artisans branch out into aftershaves etc.
To answer your question(s) more specifically I will need to describe my process. When making a shave soap there are two basic ways to do it, scent and package the freshly made batch OR make a neutral base and scent/package later. In either case it is necessary to age the soap at least a week to get the best from it. I choose to make a neutral base, age it in buckets and scent prior to packaging. I think this ultimately leads to a better product (based on my formula) than a hot pour of a freshly made and scented base. My method affords me the opportunity to make and age soap without committing to the scent until I am ready to package. As a start-up I use this opportunity to explore new scents, once I am more established it will allow me to control inventory better.
If I were able to devote more time to CBL soap I might be able to maintain a large inventory of fragrance oils and scent each tub on demand. From a practical perspective this just doesn't work. I think it can lead to too many variations from tub to tub and it takes a LOT of time. As an alternative, I mix batches of 15-30 tubs worth of a scent. I can scoop from the tub as needed OR package the whole batch all at once. The limiting factor isn't just space to store the filled containers (although my wife would say this is a BIG factor) it is also the number of containers and labels I have on hand. One problem with NOT packaging the entire batch at once is that I don't have an exact count for inventory, I really don't want to think I have enough only to end up with a short fill on the last tub. Since I am still getting my name out there (thanks to the Cadre) I need to be prepared for a spike in orders of all sorts. Adding to this particular stress is the interest being expressed by vendors to have my soap on their shelves.
If I had a larger dedicated space (not in my plans right now) I could store more materials and finished product. As it stands now, cash flow and space are somewhat limiting. Fragrances are one of the most expensive parts of the final product. Buying in bulk saves a lot on a per ounce basis but costs substantially more up front. Once I have a more predictable or fixed menu I can justify purchasing in bulk but for now the quantities are a little more limited.
I am also limited in how much soap I can make in a given period of time. I have purchased more cookers and would like to get a BIG one but I will still have limits. Since I manage money by day and make soap by night I am unlikely to have the capacity to fill very large orders on a regular basis. I assume this will keep CBL from being available at Maggards or WCS and probably off Mantic's list of the best soaps.
In short, it is a little risky to have a large supply of any one scent on hand BUT not having enough on hand as the CBL name becomes more widespread could just as easily kill the business.
...about the hemp oil base. It would seem I need to keep this one going since it pleases so many of you. Unlike the beer base, which is very challenging to get right, the hemp oil base requires only a slight deviation from the norm. I will make a batch soon and have you give it a test to confirm it is as good as my first batch.
