Soap, first made with leftover ash and fats, was one of man’s first creations after the discovery of fire. In the early days of the United States, it figured prominently as a staple that each pioneer made on his own farm. Southerners still take pride in their handmade soaps, lovingly made from the bountiful milks, fruits and vegetables that grow on the land. Today, handmade soap is a way for many a family farmer to add to his income – something we wholeheartedly support here.
Freedom Farm Goats Milk Soaps – Maiden, N.C
Who knew that good-for-you could smell so good? Bill Reed is the boss at www.freedomfarmsoap.com. What started as a way to use surplus fresh goats’ milk from his family farm grew into a successful cottage industry on its own. He prides himself in using only “the finest vegetable and nut oils” in his production. The result is a long-lasting bar that still is tender to the skin and is great for shaving.
Freedom Farm Soaps have branched out into many varieties and even other products. Depending on your skin type and preferences, you might select clay soap, lye soap, loofah soap or for that real Carolina touch, Pine Tar soap. Two scents that are especially unique and delicious are their “Red Clover Tea” and also “Country Style,” which incorporates chamomile and black pepper.
Round Top Natural Soap Company – Round Top, Texas
Jann, a former teacher and her husband Beau, an engineer and gentleman farmer, are the creators of Round Top Natural Soaps. Jann is very crafty and first made soap to be her Christmas presents. A friend with a gift shop smelled the wonderful products, suggesting she go professional. She did just that, setting up shop in her family’s century-old farm house.
The company has allowed the couple to spend more time with each other and their children, with everybody helping to make their products by hand. The line now includes lotions and men’s products.
Learn more at http://roundtopsoap.com/.
Chantilly Lace Soap Company – Johnson City, Texas
Sylvia Dunnaway is the creator of Chantilly Lace Soap. Nestled in Texas Hill Country, Sylvia has her fingers in several pies, including an inn that she runs on six acres of gardens. Her recipe includes a mixture of many nourishing oils: 60% olive oil, as well as coconut, palm, palm kernel, canola, almond, soybean and cocoa butter. All of her soaps, except for Lavender Swirl, contain goat milk, too.
The soaps are colored with natural ingredients, just like the days of yore: cocoa, paprika and herbs lend a gentle tone. The delicious scents, such as Texas Rose and Raspberry Goat’s Milk, create a bar that’s not only terrific in the bath, but also wonderful to scent drawers and linen closets.
For more information, check out www.chantillylacesoaps.com .
Anna’s Essentials – Owenton, KY
Nature boys and girls will definitely be attracted to Anna’s Essentials soaps. These are vegetarian products with back-to-the-earth scents and ingredients. Owner Sharon Lombardo focuses primarily on the health-giving properties of her soaps, eschewing artificial colorants. Coloring, which is kept to a minimum, comes from spices and roots. The fragrances are derived from essential oils, so that users get the benefits of the herbs, along with the aromatherapy.
All of the Anna’s Essentials soaps start out with an olive oil base. To this, they add things like shea butter, almond butter, honey and oatmeal. For the flower-child in you, they have “Sacred Sweetgrass”, “Orange-Patchouli” and “Hemp, Hemp Hooray”. For our wilder friends, there’s a “Biker’s Bar Soap”.
For more information, check out www.annas-soaps.com.
South Texas Naturals- Schertz, Texas
It figures that a soap company from Texas would have a Texas-sized selection! Their all-natural, vegetable oil soaps come in dozens of varieties. You can choose from Men’s soaps, several milk soaps (including buttermilk), green tea, sunflower, vanilla hazelnut and many more. If that isn’t enough, you can get their luxurious silk sensation soap – enriched with Apricot Kernel oil, Castor, cocoa butter, coconut oil, mango butter, olive oil, palm oil, palm kernel oil, shea butter and sunflower oil – custom scented.
South Texas Naturals prides itself in doing a great job with “secret pal shopping”. If you have a secret crush, they will make sure that your gift arrives anonymously.
For more information, check out www.southtexasnaturals.com .
The Parsonage – Lovettsville, Virginia
When you cross the Potomac River into Loudon County, you just feel more Southern. And certainly, if cleanliness is next to Godliness, it’s hard to beat soaps made in the kitchen of a 150-year-old former parsonage. The Parsonage’s soaps are vegetable oil based, colored and enriched with herbs grown in their organic garden.
Along with shaving soaps and shampoo bars, The Parsonage carries dozens of bath soap scents. Some of the more unusual varieties include Earl Grey, Fresh Cotton, Scottish Wedding and Watermelon. All are packaged in little country fabric remnants.
For more information, look at www.parsonagesoap.com.
Bourne in Style Handmade Soaps – Katy, Texas
Sharon Bourne is the proprietress of Bourne in Style. She does everything with style, too. Orders come beautifully wrapped. Labels have unique designs. But the products themselves are especially high-end. She uses such luxurious ingredients as Monoi de Tahiti, Kukui nut oil and Dead Sea mud, normally only found in the most exclusive of department store beauty products.
Bourne also has a grasp on very Texan scents and ingredients. She uses Bluebonnets, limes from her own backyard (imagine her fresh Margarita soap!), and Texas peaches. The company has a full line for women and men.
For more information, click on www.bourneinstyle.com .
Louisiana Soap Shoppe – Minden, Louisiana
How do you know Louisiana Soap Shoppe’s products aren’t just pretty to look at, but they’re good for you? Owner Jo-Ann Cook is a registered nurse, a Family Nurse Practitioner and a certified herbalist. She carries a wide range of soaps: shampoo bars, glycerine, loofah, goat’s milk and real Louisiana honey. Ms. Cook even donates soaps to nursing homes and shelters.
Many of her soaps come in great shapes. “Louisiana Magnolia” is shaped like the state. The honey soap is made to look like a honeycomb. There are glossy flower shaped soaps, as well. Another unique aspect is her ability to custom scent and color her soaps. Imagine that for Valentine’s Day, bridesmaid gifts, little (or big!) girls’ birthdays, etc.!
Soap Angel – Aubrey, TexasSoap Angel – Aubrey, Texas
Monica Hoppe is the owner of Soap Angel, open 24/7 at www.soapangel.com . Handmade in her own kitchen, Ms. Hoppe uses such oils as coconut, olive, canola, palm and shea butter in her soaps. Along with a full spa product line, she carries two lines of soap: fragrance oil soaps and all natural soaps.
Hoppe’s fragranced line is a carefully considered variety to appeal to everyone on your gift list. They include such fresh scents as Berry Wine, Starfruit Mango, and Blue Water. The all-natural soaps are scented with natural essential oils and colored by herbs and botanicals. Along with unscented “Nature’s Wish” and a dog shampoo bar, the all-natural line includes a tea-tree oil soap with green clay and a “Citrus Bliss” bar that repels insects.
For more information, check out www.louisianasoapshoppe.com
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