Have you ever seen soap that is so adorable that it’s hard to imagine using it? Aubrey Elizabeth has a wide range of bathtime creations, from the bizarre (like her sushi that looks so real you’d think it was real) to the delicious (her Eggnog Soap smells just like eggnog!) Her Etsy store, Aubrey Elizabeth Apothecary, is part of the growing trend of handmade products powered by ecommerce. Aubrey stopped soap-making in her Connecticut cottage for a few minutes to talk with us.
B: When did you first start making soaps?
In 2009, I decided to make perfume as a Christmas gift for my mother. She always wants something “homemade” for her birthday. Online, I found a wealth of information about oils and ingredients. After learning about scents, I was intrigued by the art of making soap. I tried it instead and couldn’t stop. I read blogs and forums online and borrowed a lot of books from the library. When I want to know something new, I am a sponge for information. But I’m definitely self-taught.
B: Why soap
I have always been a fan of scents. I had a serious candle addiction that I had to stop because there was no more room in my house for them. After learning how to make soap, I discovered that I could switch my addiction to fragrance oils. I now have hundreds of scents. It’s a great feeling to open a new scent. I have always been a beauty junkie, so I was intrigued by the idea of making my bath products.
B: Could you tell us about your process?
The process begins with a brainstorming session, where I usually see a delicious food or bakery item that I would like to transform into soap. To match the scent, I spend hours searching for the perfect fragrance. After I had mapped out my idea, I melted glycerin, added color and aroma, and then poured the soap into a mold. My molds are usually made of silicone. I began with plastic mass-market molds, but they were too rigid for me. I knew that I needed something more flexible. After it had been set, I added the seaweed to the tuna-maki soap in the sushi set. After that, I packed it up and sent it to its new owner!
What was the first piece you ever composed?
I layered bar soap to look like candy corn. I’m a holiday fanatic, and anything that gives me an excuse to make something for Valentine’s Day, Halloween, or Christmas gets me inspired.
B: Has anyone ever tried to eat one of your pieces of art?
Yes! It’s good to know that everyone survived. She decided to eat the soap while in the bath. It’s true, it tastes like a cake. She even made her sister lick the soap to confirm her claim. It is probably just soap. A customer told me a story about gummi bear soap: after a long run, a man decided he wanted some sugar. He realized that after he had popped a few into his mouth, they did not taste much like candy.
B: How did your business expand into “lip Lovelies”? Are you planning to expand your reach in the beauty industry?
From the very beginning, one of my closest friends has been my human test guinea pig. She is always enthusiastic about everything I do, regardless of whether it is a crazy idea. I created a lip scrub for my chapped lips from winter and gave her the tester jar. She raved about it and wanted to buy it for all her friends. After hearing that ‘using your Lip Scrub ensures a first-date kiss,’ I became obsessed with making lip products. I also love body polish. A shower is not complete if I don’t use it, then apply the Shea Butter Body Whip afterward. I create products I would use myself, and this is what drives me to try to develop new products.
How has Etsy empowered your business, according to you? Do you think that technology has changed the way we do business?
I’ve been shopping on Etsy for years, but I never considered myself talented enough to start a store. I was encouraged by friends and family who wanted to buy soaps, and I thought I had nothing else to lose. Etsy’s shop owners are treated with great support and help. They make you feel special and like you can do anything. Many artists would not have the same global reach they do today without Etsy.
It was also a big difference to start while I lived in Boston. Everyone is so excited about handmade! Boston magazines always share local items, which helped me to let people know that I was in the area and part of the community. After establishing myself in Boston, I knew that I would be fine moving back to my little slice of paradise in northwestern Connecticut. My shop is still associated with New England because I travel there to attend markets. But I am so happy that technology allows me to live wherever I want.
As a small company, you must realize that there is a delicate balance between being an online shop and selling to the public in person. Indie craft markets are a lot to do, but they’re so rewarding. I love to see strangers react to my work. **
What advice would you give to aspiring artists who make handcrafted beauty products?
I believe that handcraft artists need to be hungry for knowledge, regardless of their medium. I read a lot of soap-making and business articles, Etsy forums, and forums on Etsy. Today, starting a business doesn’t have to be as expensive as it used to be. It would be best if you had the guts to do so online. When it comes to skincare, makeup, and soap makers, you need to be unique and pay attention to ingredients and quality. It’s important to be knowledgeable and skilled in your craft, as these products will be applied to someone’s face.
Leave a Reply