The Botanical Soap Shop
Happy B.C. Day! I so love long weekends that the family can actually take part in. We celebrated British Columbia with our own great Canadian backyard campout last night, pitching a tent, sleeping under the stars, realizing the the ground is very, very hard (oh, my ancient back). If it wasn’t for the raccoons hitting us up for snacks this morning, we would have even gone for the great Canadian backyard breakfast.:)
Anyway, grandma picked the tiny person and me some sweet scented sweet peas last night for the perfect girlified tent and while we sat there with the perfume wafting through the air the talk in the tent landed on an ever-important topic – soap.
Cleanliness is generally something positive. But, around here, soap is rated not by the clean factor, but by the smelly factor.
Based on the realities of a kiddo who loves scents, rest assured that we have (I am sooooo not kidding) tried just about every type of natural-based bar soap available in the Comox Valley.
Our years of rigorous testing has led us to one type of bar, and one type of bar alone – the Comox Valley’s own Botanical Soap Shop.
From coffee bean soap to berries and cream, we’ve been on the Botanical Soap Shop train since discovering them at The Rusty Rooster in Cumberland a while ago.
These organic soaps are so indulgent, safe for everyone in the family and absolutely amazing when it comes to smell and the clean factor (I always seem to have to be a practical mom too), the mom in me can’t help become a loyal fan.
What makes me that extra bit loyal is that they are made in the Comox Valley by soap goddess Natalie Brennan. She uses a whole pile of amazing locally-found ingredients with no canola or soy-based products in them – which makes these soaps a great option for people with sensitive skin.
I totally admit that I am absolutely sold on the scents, which are so true to their origin that it makes me feel like I’m washing up with fruit and veggies.
These soaps can be found around town. But, the most fun way to discover these gems for yourself is to hit the Saturday Comox Valley Farmers Market and talk with Natalie yourself. She can give you the full tour of handmade goodness.
Speaking of goodness, I have a yummy bar of this sweet soap to give away this morning.
The question of the day is…what is your favourite addition to things like soap? One random commenter will get the goods:)
This giveaway is closed.
Category: Businesses Building Community, KIDS, NATURE & OUR HERITAGE
About the Author (Author Profile)
Robin Rivers is Our Big Earth’s Publisher and Sr. Partner. Able to survive on coffee alone. Often can be found leaping tall buildings with the help of great friends. Predisposed to odd hats and the color orange. In love with imagination, her kids and that crazy guy who married her.Subscribe
If you enjoyed this article, subscribe to receive more just like it.
I have to admit to being a sucker for Findlay Creek’s “peachy apple” because the scent is just divine to me.
Otherwise, I’m an old-fashioned gal who quite likes soft florals: roses, freesias, sweet peas, peonies….. you get the idea.
Someone may be able to help me, though. Lad has incredibly sensitive, itchy, eczema-prone skin. He also has thick, curly, hair. He does not have dandruff or flaky scalp but his head is SOOOOOO itchy and I’m sure it is the shampoos and conditioners. I’ve tried LOTS. Anyone got any ideas of what could be used or anything they’ve tried? Cheers and happy long weekend.
I love lots on scents, vanilla, orange, grapefruit, strawberry, I guess food smells
Natalie has a soap with wheatgrass added, and try as we might we can’t move away from this soap. I also got a bar of shampoo recently which works so well!
Another Robin, there was a blog post about going shampoo-free a while ago on the Simple, Green, Frugal blog. She mentions in there that another option to shampoo is just rinsing with baking soda. Anyway, here is the link to the post. You might find some ideas in there.
http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/01/going-poo-free.html
My favourite soap addition is probably real oats. They’re great for an all-over body exfoliating soap, but at the same time it’s moisturizing and great for sensitive skin and my occasional eczema outbreaks.
As for scents, I love all sorts of foodie scents- chocolate, coffee, desserts, fresh fruits, spices and herbs like mint…
I I am a sucker for pineapple, coconut, lemongrass, verbena. I like something feminine but not too floral
My favorite addition to smelly natural sopas is bubble bath or anything that can add the relaxation component to a bath. As a busy Mom of two kidlets and swallowed in the world of entrepreneurship I rarely make it to a spa. I can solve most world issues, balance finances, relieve all worry of “am I a decent Mother” issues in the tub. Even my husband knows to send me to a tub full of hot smelly water when I am overtired and unreasonable!
Pure heaven!
Tip: Hide all the bath toys, pull out the non slip ducks on the bottom of tub, light a candle and your almost at the spa……….almost.
Maybe a hangover from two pregnancies but it is lavender for me as the sure winner! I will look forward to trying the botanical soaps, they sound wonderful. If anyone is heading south to Chemainus, another terrific locally-made soap shop is the Vancouver Island Soap Factory on Oak Street.
Stacey,
Many thanks for the link! I’m looking at it now. We try not to wash David’s hair too often. The best thing would be to cut it short but he is totally against this idea and – for now – his hair seems to be very attached to his personality! We’ll keep trying.
Cheers.