Translated from Berita Mediacorp Feature

While soap is usually sold in a variety of different fragrances, this Home Business (HBB) produces soap in various forms and 'flavours'.

Among the products that Ms. Siti Izyan Hussain has produced include watermelon soap, avocado, goat's milk and more. Mocha chocolate and coffee flavours are also available!

Try to imagine yourself bathed in coffee that smells like the real deal? That's definitely an awakening scent! No need to go to the spa to enjoy this experience. Just use her coffee soap in the bathroom.

In the first year Ms. Izyan sold the soaps she made herself as a home-based business, around 200 soaps were sold.

This amount is actually remarkable as each soap can take up to 6 weeks before it is finally ready to use and can be sold.

Secondly, the 36 -year -old psychology graduate and mother of two is not a housewife but works as a full -time youth worker. This means, trading this soap is only a side business for her.

So how did she get the inspiration to sell soap and what made her a soap artisan? Here's the full story.

FIRST MAKE SOAP TO CURE HER SADNESS

As a youth worker at a non-profit organisation, Ms. Izyan needs to reach out to at-risk young people as well as those in need. Unfortunately, about two years ago, she faced an event that made her feel heartbroken and dejected.

"At that time I lost a youth with mental health problems. I have been with her since he was around 16. There was an incident and she passed away. From there, I started looking for a positive mechanism to move on with life," Ms Izyan said.

She was then invited by her friend to attend a soap making workshop in a studio.

"I realized that the process of making soap was easy and it made me feel calm. When making soap, I was in the zone," she said.

The composure later turned into an "obsession" with Ms. Izyan wanting to keep trying new soap recipes until she thought:

"Okay, there's a lot of soap. If you don't sell it, you won't want to pile it up at home, right?"

That’s the starting point of Sabun Tales - the name of a small business from Ms. Izyan’s house.

LEARN FROM SOCIAL MEDIA, YOUTUBE

In producing soaps of various scent and flavors, according to Ms. Izyan, requires a lot of research. This is because, she needs to first know the nutrients of the ingredients she wants to use before finally finding out the exact dosage to ensure that the soap sets up nicely.

"So even though we've learned the process of making soap, we don't necessarily know everything. We need to keep learning and read a lot. We have social media, we have the Internet, we have YouTube, right?" share Ms. Izyan.

She added, there are also many websites and forums where soap makers from other countries are willing to share interesting tips for making soap.

"(For example) I learned that I can use avocado in my soap. I make one soap using avocado puree and it's great for the face," she added.

Asked how she knew the soap produced was safe to use, here is Ms. Izyan's explanation:

"By using litmus paper, it will show whether the soap is safe to use. Another way is to lick the soap - something I don't recommend because it's bitter. But the point is if we make a mistake and the dough we make contains too much sodium hydroxide, it will 'zap' your tongue. "

But in principle, Ms. Izyan explained, the saponification process will not take place and soap will not be made if the mixture of ingredients used is not balanced and correctly measured.

"Furthermore, you will see the mixture doesn't mix properly and the batter looks weird. The process is like making a cake too. If the cake doesn't rise, there must be some missing or mis-measured ingredients. The concept is the same," she explained.

COLORFUL SOAP, IN THE SHAPE OF A SCULPTURE ATTRACTING CUSTOMERS

In fact, what’s even more alluring about Soap Tales is the color or even the ‘little figurines’ - or soap toppers - on the soaps that Ms. Izyan produces. Her handicrafts are brilliant.

There are soaps that have Yoda-shaped figurines and there are also those in the shape of ducks, books, flowers as well as the characters of the game Among Us!

The one below is not a tart to eat! It is also a soap that Ms. Izyan makes herself. tart

"I really want to try to make soap that looks like food. I enjoy making something realistic. I just don't want people to actually eat it," said Ms Izyan.

Interestingly, she did not go through any formal education in the field of art. But the creative touch is quite remarkable.

"I love art. I love making things. That's why I tried the soap dough concept. The 'dough' - the soap dough - is just like the polymer clay that is now often used to make earrings and so on. The dough just needs to be dried and it will harden on its own, "she explained.

Ms. Izyan has also received an order where her customers asked her to produce a 'graduation' themed soap.

Looking at the soaps produced, BERITAmediacorp asks questions about which one is preferred-the ingredients that are beneficial for the skin or the color and shape of the soap.

Her answer was spontaneous:

"Both. You can't choose just one of them. Because if it's good but not attractive, people won't buy it. They will ask: Why buy from Sabun Tales?"

Usually all Ms. Izyan soaps are made from three basic ingredients of olive oil, coconut oil and castor oil.

Every time she makes soap, she has to go to a soap studio because making soap requires a chemical known as 'lye solution' or sodium hydroxide.

The chemical can only be obtained from soap studios as its sale is strictly controlled in Singapore due to safety factors. This is because if not mixed with the right mixture, the material can heat up to extremely high temperature and injure the user.

DO NOT HESITATE

To be sure, Ms. Izyan is brave enough to produce her own soap for sale despite knowing that there are so many bath products produced by other giant companies.

She is confident that demand will continue to be there for products that are specifically made from natural ingredients.

"Today's buyers, they're smart. They'll look at the ingredients list and think if it's good for themselves. Then they consider the options that are out there. Social media also helps them make choices.

“There is a demand for home-based businesses like mine, especially from buyers who like to think about factors like this,” Ms Izyan said.

She also hopes, other HBBs will not hesitate to produce their own products. Here's her advice...

"Go on. Don't hesitate. I was worried at first too, afraid that my business would fail. But if I don't try, I don't know? So we have to try, otherwise we will always wonder: What will happen if I do this. Don't think like that, instead be determined: We do, see what happens. "

The soaps that Ms. Izyan sells cost around S$12 each - depending on the size and 'flavor' of the soap.