Tell me how you started in soapmaking.
I had started making some of my own bath products, and in looking for suppliers closer to Alabama, I found the Alabama Soap & Candle Association annual meeting.  I attended one, and was determined to make cold process soap after that. Dianne Early (Dearly Yours) helped me make my first batch, and I was hooked.

Tell me about a project or experiment that you consider to be the most successful. It doesn’t have to be soap.
I believe my most successful product is our Emulsified Body Polish.  It took me almost two years to perfect, and I’m very proud of it.

If we’re sitting here a year from now celebrating what a great year it’s been for you in soapmaking, what did you achieve?
I didn’t work so hard and made more money!  Harmony Bath & Body Academy was a huge success.

Do you have a specific goal? In one year? In two years?
My goal for next year is to not spend as much time retailing at shows and markets, establishing more wholesale accounts and getting up and running with Harmony Bath & Body Academy, which is a weekly soapmaking class.

What’s your superpower?
Organization

Tell us about a time when soaping didn’t go the way you wanted. What was your “great catastrophe?
I suppose I would have to say it was my first “soap on a stick”.  I had no idea what to do!

All soap makers have them so tell me about your worst “lye burn”.
Actually, I have never had a “lye Burn”, but got a raw soap burn one time.  I use a chopstick to make the peaked tops on my soap, and stuck the wrong end of the chopstick in my mouth! I got quite a zap on my tongue.

Do you get a lot of support from your family?
Yes.  My husband made all of my first real soap molds and bought me a commercial soap cutter when I tore my rotator cuff so it would not be painful to cut soap.  He and my Son have always helped me get setup for big shows and think what I do is wonderful.

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, who would you like to see play the lead role as you?
I have no idea!  Maybe Kathy Bates?

You’ve cast the main character, now what do you think the title should be?
Born to Boss…LOL!!

What would you say are your 2 greatest weaknesses?
#1 would be physical.  I’m getting older, and don’t have the stamina I used to.  #2 would be mental.   Refer to #1. I don’t have as great a desire to work as hard as before.

How would your best friend describe you?
Loyal and funny.

 What is one misconception people have about you?
I’m very direct and tend to speak my mind, so I feel I may come off as mean and non-caring sometimes.  Actually, I can’t bear to have anyone mad at me, and am more sensitive than people think.

If you had to give up ONE of your favorite foods, what would it be?
Steak…no way on Earth I would ever give up chocolate or coffee unless it was a physical necessity.

Tell me about your soap. What is your brand name and company philosophy?
My company is called Harmony Bath & Body.  The philosophy is to bring “Harmony” to your life through aromatherapy.  Products are made in small batches using the finest ingredients I can find.
1) Where can it be found?  Artfire Studio, various retailers.

Are you on Etsy?  No
2) What is your most popular soap?  A stress relief blend I call “Get Over It”. It’s made with Moraccan Rhassoul Clay and is wonderful.

Tell me how you started in soapmaking.

My journey into soap making was a gradual one. I initially started making handmade scrubs for co-workers then melt and pour soaps. That was fun for a while, but I wanted more of a challenge, and discovered you could make soap from scratch. I was more fascinated by the science behind making soap than the actual making of soap. It’s become quite an addiction.

Tell me about a project or experiment that you consider to be the most successful. It doesn’t have to be soap.

My most successful and rewarding project would have to be making lotion. My skin is dry as a bone, and I wanted a product that was thick yet lightweight in texture and easily absorbed into the skin. It took a few trials and a few errors, but I finally formulated the perfect recipe that I love, and my customers seem to love it too.

If we’re sitting here a year from now celebrating what a great year it’s been for you in soapmaking, what did you achieve?

I’d celebrate the simple fact that I still love making soap. I’ve been doing it for 5 years now, and I never expected it would blossom into this-having people interested in what I do and wanting to talk with me about it! I never expected to be selling on a venue and have loyal, repeat customers who have such faith in my product that they won’t buy from anyone else. It’s those little achievements that I cherish the most.

Do you have a specific goals? In one year? In two years?

I think my immediate goal is to continue to perfect my craft. I would eventually like to branch out into wholesale. I’d love to see my products on the shelves of some of the local boutiques and businesses in my immediate area.

What’s your superpower?

Wow…ummm…I have a pretty good memory. I’ll remember the most minute detail of something that happened 10 years ago.

Tell us about a time when soaping didn’t go the way you wanted. What was your “great catastrophe?

My first attempt at making cold process soap was a complete disaster. I didn’t understand at the time that certain fragrances could heat up the soap or that the oils and lye mixture had to be a certain temperature, etc….I think I was more angry at wasting the fact that I spent all that money on soaping oils, fragrance, and lye then the actual soap not turning out. It was totally ruined-rebatching couldn’t even bring it from the dead. I keep a picture of that disaster to remind myself how far I’ve come along.

All soap makers have them so tell me about your worst “lye burn”.

I really don’t have one, but I do live on the edge. I often do not use gloves when I make soap because they get in the way and they’re bulky and uncomfortable, so my hands do get “popped” sometimes like you’re frying chicken in hot grease and you’re standing too close to the pan. I’ve been very fortunate.

Do you get a lot of support from your family?

Nah, I don’t. I’m pretty introverted even when it comes to my family. They know I “make soap” but there’s no “Oh, so how’s the soapmaking going” at the dinner table, and I’m cool with that. I prefer to keep my sanctuary family and drama free..

If Hollywood made a movie about your life, whom would you like to see play the lead role as you?

Nia Long. She’s short and pretty-just like me (teehee)

You’ve cast the main character, now what do you think the title should be?

Who Does She Think She Is?

What would you say are your 2 greatest weaknesses?

1. I don’t like asking for help-even when I really need it. I’d rather walk around a store for 20 minutes til I find what I’m looking for than ask someone where the light bulbs are.

2. I don’t get enough sleep. My brain is on fast forward and I can’t push pause. But some of my best ideas come to me when I’m lying in bed.

How would your best friend describe you?

I honestly don’t know. I’ll have to ask her…She’ll probably say I’m aloof, but I don’t think I am. It just takes me longer to warm up to people longer than others. I’m really great once you chip the ice off the surface lol…

What is one misconception people have about you?

That I’m not friendly-which goes back to my taking time to warm up to people.

If you had to give up ONE of your favorite foods, what would it be?

Give up any food? Are you nuts? LOL…If I must give up one, it would be potatoes. Oh, it hurt to say that.

Tell me about your soap. What is your brand name and company philosophy.
My brand is The Soap Seduction. My philosophy is have fun and don’t take yourself so seriously. I try to reflect that in the naming of my products as well as their descriptions.

1) Where can it be found? Are you on Etsy?
Yes, I am on Etsy exclusively at the moment. I would eventually like to re-launch my personal website, but Etsy has that built-in audience that I just can’t compete with at the moment.

2) What is your most popular soap
My most popular soaps are my Queen of Shaves shave soap and my Go The F*ck To Sleep soap. I’m convinced it’s the names and not the actual soap, lol. Although the soap is great.