Handmade natural soap has been available from Great Cakes Soapworks for over four years now. I registered my company with the Kansas Department of Revenue on January 11, 2005. Before that, I was selling my soaps under the business name of Amy’s Handmade Soap for about a year. There is something about milestones that make me reminisce a bit. Back when it was Amy’s Handmade Soap, I remember a lady who bought soaps from me at the farmer’s market for her granddaughter named Amy. In fact, I remember my first Saturday at the farmer’s market, selling just four kinds of handmade natural soap on the old card table that my neighbor had let me borrow, covered by a simple plastic tablecloth. There was a sweet farmer selling his vegetables next to me who suggested that I leave some soaps out of the wrappers so people could smell them. Genius! And then I couldn’t believe that people would actually buy my handmade soap!

But they did, and they continue to. The recipe for my handmade natural soap has been tweaked quite a bit since those first four batches. No more vegetable shortening or canola oil. Now I stick to rich olive oil for its conditioning properties, coconut and palm kernel oil for their hardness, shea butter, apricot kernel and rice bran oils for their moisturizing and conditioning, and castor oil which actually provides more lather. I’ve discovered some higher quality fragrance and essential oil companies since then, and developed new scent blends. One of the best ingredients I’ve discovered for handmade natural soap is fresh goat’s milk. The lather is super creamy and moisturizing for the dryest skin. I believe the healing properties of the goat’s milk is also retained in the soap.

If you are looking for some truly wonderful handmade natural soap, I highly recommend checking out Great Cakes Soapworks: dedicated to creating beautiful cakes of handmade soap that are gentle and moisturizing, richly scented and luxurious. Besides, we’re not just soap – you will also find some wonderful lotions, Dead Sea products, lip butters, and more!

Stay tuned for the next post – a trip down memory lane! I will have three soaps by Great Cakes Soapworks from years past. Whoever can identify them will win a prize! I’ll probably give some hints…