Are you asking yourself "where can I find soap making supplies near me?" If so, you're not alone. The rising cost of everything, including shipping, and problems with the supply chain has caused many soap makers and cosmetic crafters to look for ways to save money, including looking for suppliers near home. It is true that for some items you might spend more money on some products when you buy them locally. But this is not always the case. In some instances you will actually save money. And, buying what you need locally allows you to support your local economy. If you don't already shop for your soap making or cosmetic supplies near home, below are some tips for finding what you need near where you live.

There are several places to go when you need or want to buy soap making supplies or cosmetic ingredients locally. These are:

• Farms and Farmer's Markets: Besides fresh produce, farmer's markets are an excellent place to get fresh and dried herbs and beeswax.
• Wholesale/Bulk Grocers: Wholesale grocer's, like Costco and US Foods Chef'Store are good places to find vegetable oils, cornstarch, arrowroot powder, dried herbs (in the spice section) and empty plastic bottles in bulk. Note: You have to be a member of Costco to shop there, but if they have what you need you may find that the membership fee is worth the savings. You don't have to be a member of US Foods Chef'Store to shop there.
•Grocery Stores: Your local grocery store is an excellent place to find dried herbs (peppermint and chamomile in the tea section), cornstarch, arrowroot powder, xanthan gum, guar gum, and vegetable oils (in the baking section), and also distilled water.
• Dollar Stores/Liquidators: You never know what will turn up at a dollar store or liquidator. That's why these are good places to check often. I've seen everything from perfume bottles to baskets to loofah sponges at a liquidator's outlet near me. Dollar Tree is one such store to check out.
• Pharmacies: Pharmacies carry small quantities of lanolin, glycerine and witch hazel extract. Many also carry peppermint and eucalyptus essential oils.
• Local Manufacturers and Distributors: There may be a company near you that distributes or manufactures chemicals or containers.
• Health Food Stores: Health food stores, like Vitamin Shoppe and Natural Grocers, carry just about everything you could possibly need to make cosmetics and perfumes. Visit your local health food store to obtain vegetable oils, vegetable glycerine, essential and fragrance oils, liquid soap, dried herbs, aloe vera gel, empty containers, cornstarch and arrowroot powders, sea salt and lanolin.
•Cake and Candy Decoration Suppliers: These stores sell molds (some of which can be used for soap), cellophane bags, food coloring (which can be used in cosmetics), flavorings, and decorative wrapping supplies.
•Craft Suppliers. Stores like Joann Fabric and Crafts, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby carry melt and pour soap, soap molds, packaging, and fragrances.

Finding these places

Depending on where you live, It may not be easy to find suppliers local to your area. Some will be listed online, others will not. Some you will find by word of mouth, by reading books, or just by accident. Here are some places to start looking.
•Google Maps: Search Google maps in your area under the following categories: Beekeeper's Supplies, Bottles, Cake Decoration Supplies, Candy Manufacturers Supplies, Chemicals, Craft Supplies, Farms, Flavoring Extracts (many carry fragrance oils), Grocers-Retail and Wholesale, Health Food Stores, Oils and Pharmacies
•Chamber Of Commerce: Obtain a copy of the business directory from your local chamber of commerce. Look in it for local manufacturers and distributors of chemicals, bottles and oils.
• Agriculture Extension Office: If you have a local agricultural extension office, contact them to find out about farms in your area.
• Business Paper: Read your local business paper for companies in your area that make or sell what you need.

Tags: soap making, soap packaging, farmer's market, bottles, carrier oils