Consider solving your problems with soaps made in Puerto Rico. There are two advantages, the first being the large presence of a cottage economy on the island of Puerto Rico and the second being the relatively cheap labor. The reality on the island is that it has electricity and the basic means to operate small businesses, but labor is still cheaper than in the United States. If you need authentic handcrafted gifts, then consider this a great buying opportunity.
The main ingredients of soap are some type of lipid, lye, and more than likely one or more fragrance. Soap making is not difficult and can be done slowly at room temperature or quickly using an oven or some industrial heating device. The resulting soap solids must then be separated from glycerol and then melted and mixed with essential oils before allowing to sit and cure.
There is a learning curve to making soap, but it is not an expensive business to start. Finding a supplier in this enchanting little island is quite easy. There is an overabundance of suppliers willing to sell handcrafts to willing customers. It is possible to buy from one or many businesses, and it is all authentic artisan products.
Soaps made in Puerto Rico are from potassium lye are much softer than that made from sodium lye. Potassium lye can be purchased in bulk as a relatively cheap household product or it can be obtained by soaking wood ash in water. Either way, it makes for a superior product to the process often used in factories to make cheap soap.
One thing that might be different is that the soap contains just the chemically altered oil and a fragrance as opposed to soap that might contain more complex plant derivatives. Expensive soap from factories might also contain saponins from soap-producing plants as well as healing extracts from aloe plants. A cottage industry might be able to experiment with different ingredients, but not to the extent of a factory with high-end product.
One great thing about handmade products is that they are worth substantially more than factory products. Not only do they have their own unique ethnic names, but locals often find all sorts of interesting molds into which to press their soap to create interesting forms. They might even grate their raw product, lightly wet it, and then squeeze into a mold to create both a unique shape and texture.
Your business could do wonders using the skilled and relatively inexpensive hands of the good people in Puerto Rico. They have local factories, both big and small, that produce a wide range of low-tech products. If you want to buy from artisans or hire them directly, count on them to make a great product while helping out a Caribbean community.
