Simple Roots Soap has simple beginnings

BREMERTON — Making soap for Kelsey Thomas was at first an extension of her “do-it-yourself projects,” but it has since become more than that.

When she started, it was a matter of achieving a bucket-list goal, Thomas said, as well as helping her husband get soap that was appropriate for sensitive skin.

“As soon as I made my very first batch of soap, I was instantly addicted,” Thomas said. “It was pretty much love at first sight. I started making it more and more — we ended up having more soap than we could ever use.”

She said she began to share the soap she made by hand with friends and family until eventually, she realized she wanted to make a business out of the hobby that had become a lifestyle for her.

“It’s so much fun,” she said. “For me, soapmaking is a perfect mix of my art and design background, and science and chemistry. I sometimes feel like a mad scientist, making a batch of soap. I also feel like I’m getting to use my artistic skills.”

Thomas celebrated the one-year anniversary of creating her business, Simple Roots Soap Co., at the beginning of April. Since she started, it’s grown pretty steadily. Now, she sells varieties of soap, both hot- and cold-cured, body butters, beard oil, essential oils and chapstick. She said in the near future, she’ll be expanding her inventory to bath bombs and liquid soap, as well.

“I’ve been spending a lot of time this last year especially on groundwork, setting up the groundwork for the business,” Thomas said.

She’s taken a Business Education and Support Training (BEST) class, taught by Kitsap Community Resources, to learn how to best grow her business. She’s also recently launched a full website, simplerootssoap.com, where online shoppers can buy her products.

“I’m hoping in the near future to be at some local events,” she said.

“I currently have my soap in a gift shop in Wenatchee, the Rocky Reach Discovery Center. I’m looking into some local locations to have it, possibly some farmers markets as well.”

Besides the fun of making soap in and of itself, making custom batches to suit the needs of her customers is of particular interest to Thomas.

“I’ve worked with several people with eczema. I’ve worked with a local mom here, with a new child with really sensitive skin. We made some soap for her with her milk for her kid. That was interesting and lots of fun. I also get to work with some local farmers. I’m currently doing some goat’s milk soap for a local farmer,” Thomas said.

One of her favorite parts of the job, she said, is when she first cuts into a new batch of soap and gets to see the pattern for the first time. Because she makes the soap by hand, they always look a bit different, even if she uses the same recipe.

“You have a certain amount of control,” Thomas said, “but in the end, you don’t really know what they’re going to look like until you’re cutting them.”

Also a favorite aspect? Getting customer feedback.

Thomas said that she sometimes is asked why people should spend a little more for a bar of handmade soap from her instead of getting mass-produced bars from any store.

“It’s not the same as store-bought,” she said. “It’s way different. Your skin will be so much happier.”

Thomas explained that most store-bought soap has detergents added that can be extremely drying or irritating, especially for people with sensitive skin. Also, those soaps tend to have the glycerin removed from the soap, she said.

Thomas said glycerin is “really moisturizing for your skin” and it’s removed so that companies can then make lotion. Simple Roots Soap doesn’t remove any of the glycerin.

“When someone uses handcrafted soap for the first time, they instantly can see the difference, feel the difference,” Thomas said.

Thomas also uses as many fresh, natural ingredients as possible, including those that she grows in her own garden.

“Our ingredients are simple. Most of them you could eat if you wanted to,” she said.

“I think the part that really makes me unique is I am doing custom batches of soap, creating things specifically made for (customers) that they’re going to enjoy using and benefit from using.”

Thomas added: “I really, really enjoy what I’m doing, and I’m enjoying that I’m getting to pursue a career that I am in control of, and using the things that I really value … this has been a fun process, where I am taking the things that I love and turning them into a business.”

Learn more about Simple Roots Soap at simplerootssoap.com or www.facebook.com/SimpleRootsSoap.