From One Bar of Soap to Earthly Ash

I actually started Earthly Ash by making cold process soap—and honestly... it wasn't some big planned-out business idea at first.

For a long time, I used to buy the type of soap bars I now make all the time. I loved them, I used them consistently, and I always appreciated how different they felt compared to store-bought soap or body wash. There was a huge difference in how my skin felt—softer, more comfortable, and never tight or dry. Most body washes always left my skin feeling stripped, and I never loved that feeling.

Then one day, I was out shopping with my sister and my niece, and out of nowhere, it kind of just hit me...

I want to make soap. Totally random.

Completely out of the blue. So while we were out, I picked up a few basic supplies and started with melt and pour soap.

For anyone who isn't familiar with melt and pour, it's essentially a soap base that's already made for you. You simply melt it down, add your fragrance (and maybe a few herbs or other ingredients), pour it into a mold, and let it harden.

I went home, laid everything out, and made my very first batch.

And while I really enjoyed it...

I quickly realized I wanted to do it all from scratch.

That's when the real deep dive began.

I researched nonstop. I watched what felt like a million YouTube videos—literally every chance I had. Laying in bed at night... I watched. Getting ready for work in the morning... I watched. Cooking dinner... I watched.

I was determined to learn the cold process method and truly understand the ingredients, the process, and what it actually takes to make soap.

I started searching for the best places to buy everything I needed—oils, butters, lye, equipment, fragrances... all of it.

And let me tell you...

It was a lot.

Eventually, I ordered small amounts of everything and kept reading and learning while I waited for it all to arrive.

But to be honest...

Once everything showed up, it probably sat there for a month—maybe even two—before I finally worked up the courage to try making cold process soap.

The sodium hydroxide (lye) scared me.

I took every precaution, wore all the safety gear, double-checked everything...

...and finally just went for it.

And I made soap.

I remember standing there thinking,

I can't believe I just did that.

And even more than that...

I loved it.

From that moment on, I was hooked.

I knew I had found something I was truly passionate about, and I knew the skincare world was where I wanted to be.

Soap was just the beginning—but it opened the door to everything else.

It led me into learning why clean ingredients matter and what actually goes into so many products we use every day.

I started learning about ingredients like phthalates and other unnecessary additives, and I found myself wondering why so many products contained things that didn't really seem essential.

I still don't understand that part.

The more I learned, the more intentional I wanted to be about what I created.

At some point during that journey, I came across information about tallow, and I remember thinking...

I want to try that.

So I started looking for somewhere to buy it.

There was basically none available near me. I could order it online, but the amount I'd receive wasn't enough for everything I wanted to make—and honestly, it was pretty expensive for such a small quantity.

So once again...

I decided I'd just do it myself.

I taught myself how to render beef suet into tallow. After even more research, more learning, and more experimenting, I finally made my own.

That's when I started creating face creams and body butters.

And from there...

It just kept growing.

More products.

More ideas.

More passion.

I definitely didn't dip my toes in.

I dove in headfirst.

I created my business name.

Then I formed my LLC.

And that's how Earthly Ash was born.

But Earthly Ash didn't become my full-time job overnight.

For a long time, it was something I poured my heart into outside of my regular career. Every spare moment was spent making soap, researching ingredients, creating new products, packing orders, and dreaming about what Earthly Ash could become. It wasn't always easy balancing both, but I loved every minute I could spend building something that was truly my own.

After 16 years in my previous career, I finally made one of the biggest decisions of my life.

I took a leap of faith and chose to pursue Earthly Ash full-time.

Was it scary?

Absolutely! There were plenty of unknowns, but I knew if I didn't take the chance, I'd always wonder...

"What if?"

Looking back, it was one of the best decisions I've ever made.

Now I get to spend my days doing something I genuinely love—creating products with intention, continuing to learn, and sharing them with people who appreciate handcrafted, natural skincare as much as I do. What started as one random moment of inspiration turned into something I truly love doing. Every product I make today is created with the same heart behind it—clean ingredients, thoughtful intention, and the kind of self-care that feels comforting, nourishing, and real.

One thing you'll learn about me is that I like to experiment. I enjoy creating and trying new ideas, and not every product ends up becoming a permanent part of Earthly Ash—and that's okay. Every experiment teaches me something.

As I move into 2026, I'm becoming even more intentional about what I create. Rather than bringing every new idea to life right away, I'm taking the time to make thoughtful decisions before introducing something new. I want every product to have a purpose and truly reflect what Earthly Ash stands for.

What started as one random thought...

"I want to make soap."

...turned into something I never imagined.

And the best part?

This journey is just getting started.

Thank you for being here. Whether you've been with me since those very first bars of soap or you've only recently discovered Earthly Ash, I'm so grateful you're here.