Growing up, dad was always telling us “never wash the car with anything
that has harmful chemicals, it goes straight to the ocean.” For some
reason, that never seemed to equate to hand soap as well until long
after I was already an adult. After that, it was a long and arduous
search for soaps I could use without hurting either the environment or
my own skin. This last November I had the great fortune of being hired
at Green Earth Organics and discovered Lakewood Lye’s products. Three
different bars have already made their way home with me and I’m eager to
try the rest as well.
Nicole
has been making soap for over 10 years now, ever since she took a class
from an experienced soap maker in her community. She began selling
locally almost immediately and, two years ago, officially registered
Lakewood Lye as a business. “I wanted to see if I could work from home
and turn my soap making “hobby” into a viable business that would allow
me to have time for my 3 children.” Soap making at home has even turned
into a family project, with her eldest daughter helping to cut the
soaps, package them for market, and even wash the dishes! I imagine
washing soap making dishes must be a bit easier more interesting than
doing the dinner dishes.
Lakewood Lye’s products are always
“100% natural” and contain only 4-6 ingredients. Usually, 3 types of
vegetable oils, one essential oil (or a blend, but NEVER any fragrance
or artificial scent mixed in), and natural earth clay as a mineral and
detoxifyer, and sometimes a small amount of oatmeal, almonds, honey, or
goat's milk. “I believe the clays I use make my product very unique -
other soap makers make one or two types of soap with clay in them, but
each and every type of soap I make contains a different type of clay, to
both mineralize the skin, and act as a draw for toxins and impurities,
which are absorbed daily through our skin from the environment. So they
take out the bad, and deposit the good.”
My
personal favourite (so far!) is the cinnamon spice, which uses red clay
and ground coffee for a nice exfoliating effect with cinnamon essential
oil to provide its signature scent. Nicole also does seasonal soaps; I
recall a lovely orange and black swirled one which was
inspired for Halloween. (I took that one home too!) When asked what was
on the line-up for spring and summer she shared, “right now it’s Coconut
Lime, a very fresh bar loaded with green clay, lime essential oil, and
shredded coconut.” Another popular product line not currently listed on
her website is her bath salts. “There's one called Lemon Lime Escape
that customers have been really loving - It's a combination of Epsom
salts, Sea Salts, and Lemon and Lime essential oils.”
Considering
that her customer base is almost 100% local, it comes as no surprise
that she spends quite a bit of time giving back to her community. Nicole
often donates soap to local women’s shelters and various other
charities, as well as partners with “Mis’ cel’ la ‘ny” a charity
organization that runs a thrift shop on Hastings Street to raise money
for re-training women who have come out of substance abuse programs and
women’s shelters. 40% of all profits from Lakewood Lye soap sold on site
at the thrift shop go straight to “Mis’ cel’ la ‘ny.”
Green
Earth Organics is eager to hear from you, if there are any Lakewood Lye
products you are interested in that we do not carry, please let us know!
