My name is Garfield and I'm the owner and creator of GMHB Handmade Soap! I came across a video of someone making cold press bar soap on YouTube back in 2024, and was instantly intrigued. I spent the better part of the next two month watching cold press soap making videos and learning about the process. Once I gathered the courage, I bought all the ingredients and supplies and proceeded to make my first batch of soap. I was a nervous wreck the first time I tried making my own soap. I chose a simple recipe with only a couple ingredients and went at it. The first recipe “worked” (technically). It was unscented and no coloring, and it also did not look very appealing. After thirty days of curing, I tried it for the first time and fell in love with the feel on my skin, the bar of soap was not hard like it should be, but it generated a great lather and felt really moisturizing, I was hooked. I spent the next three months watching countless videos on YouTube, and reading articles to understand the process, understand different oils, and experimenting with colors and scents. I was tweaking my batches to create the perfect batch. I also made several bad batches of soap on my learning journey, but I was learning a lot. I finally found the oils I love working with and created a recipe that made a good-looking bar that has a rich lather, and good hardness. It has become a passionate hobby of mine and I have become more comfortable making soaps. My soap bars now look great, and I am now more comfortable working with colors and scents. It’s been a great, and sometimes frustrating learning experience, but so much fun.

 

I’ve had my fair share of failed batches, bad looking bars, and frustrated moments along my journey into the world of cold press handmade soaps, but they've all been building blocks that created the stairs that have led me to where I am today. My family and friends have been my sounding board, provided valuable feedback along the journey as they have willingly used my creation and given me feedback that has encouraged me to continue. I have learned so much about making cold press soaps but am also humbled by the fact that I have just scratched the surface, I still have so much more to learn.