Behind The Shelves: Wendy
Wendy and her daughter, showcasing their home-made soaps
Wendy is the creator of our luxurious bee clean soaps. We wanted to start selling Wendy’s lovely soaps because, not only do they smell great, but they are also all handmade in her Yorkshire home AND she gives 10% profits from every bar to the bumblebee conservation trust.
Here we ask Wendy a few questions about making soap, running her own business and making sustainable toiletries!
Soap – making is such a rare skill, how did you get into it?
I became interested in soap making as a traditional craft a few years ago but did not have the time to indulge in it as a hobby. Then I found out that my neighbour had a soap-making company and asked if I could watch her make some. My daughter and I were considering helping out as it seemed a lovely way to spend some time. Then we found out that my neighbour was emigrating, and I was quite upset that this marvellous soap that I had championed was going to disappear. My son, who uses the shaving soap, was equally disappointed so began discussions to buy the whole business. The discussions were successful, so I had a few training sessions with her, lots of chats, watched many YouTube videos and then took over the process. I have made a few mistake batches and learnt well from them. But generally, they go well now. My experience in baking and experimenting with recipes there seems to have helped me to understand the process and practical ways of making soap.
I’m imagining a soap studio now! Where do you make all your soaps?
In my home, of course. We have a dedicated workroom for the soap-making, to keep the process safe, and dedicated storage areas for the curing process. The packing is done wherever else there is space in the house!
Wendy and her team
Are they SLS paraben free?
SLS parabens are not needed in our soaps so they are SLS free. Natural soaps have a pH of 9-10 so mould and bacteria do not grow on them.
So, how are bees involved in your product?
All of our soaps have locally sourced honey in them, as a natural sugar it helps to create a lather. Honey is also a natural humectant and therefore is a lovely hydrating ingredient.
How are your products eco-friendly?
We use natural ingredients. By this, we mean that the only chemical used in our soap is lye – and this is a necessity to make the soap cleansing. All other ingredients are not produced in a laboratory, are organic where possible, and are sustainably produced. This means they will take less time to biodegrade than liquid soap products that contain chemical preservatives and are less likely to poison our water. Natural soaps do not need chemical preservatives to be added because mould and bacteria cannot grow on them due to their pH level.
As much as possible we use organic ingredients. This means we are supporting local farmers who do not use harmful chemicals in their farming process. This is both good for us, and the incredible wildlife that lives on their farms. We keep travel miles down to a minimum by sourcing our ingredients from local suppliers in Yorkshire. Whatever we can’t find in Yorkshire, we look for elsewhere in the UK.
Finally, the big one, all of our packaging is compostable, recyclable, and plastic free. The packaging that we receive ingredients in is reused as much as is practical or recycled, and we send our products out for delivery in reused cartons.
Soap safety gear!
How do your bee clean soaps help bees?
For every purchase made, we donate 10% of the profit to conservation charities, such as the Bumblebee Conservation Trust. We help educate our customers about bees, their importance, and how to help them through our social media outlets and market stall.
Last question! What is your favourite thing about your business?
I do not have just one favourite aspect to the business. I love making the soap. I love finishing them off. Weighing them is exciting to see how much water has evaporated away. I love seeing them all packaged up and neat in their compostable boxes. I love smelling them. I love selling them. And I love talking about them with people and spreading the natural, environmental, and ethical way of living, one soap bar at a time.