| Personal Care Corner | |
Producer Profile: Sumptuous Soaps
by Sarah Long, Personal Care Assistant Manager, from the April 2005 newsletter
Pullman resident Kathleen Tetzlaff’s passion for soap making is the result of a lifelong interest in chemistry. From her days in high school and nurses' training to the home schooling of her sons, chemistry has always fascinated Kathleen. It was a newspaper article about making soaps and a book on the topic that finally inspired her to put her chemistry knowledge to use.
Although Kathleen had to stir her first batch of soap for almost three hours, she was quickly hooked on the hobby. This first batch was made without scent, but she has since discovered that adding essential oils to her soaps lends them a wonderful fragrance while also imparting health benefits. Lemon, lavender and peppermint are among the essential oils she now adds to her soap formulas.
Kathleen found that her family loved the soaps so much that they couldn’t go back to the store-bought variety. In order to continue making soaps, Kathleen realized that she needed to sell them. Thus was born Kathleen’s home-based business, Sumptuous Soaps. Her business is dedicated to making “high quality handcrafted soaps which are healthy for the skin and pleasing to the senses.” Kathleen’s formulas use 100% vegetable oil and no fat. Kathleen uses the cold-process method to ensure that all of the glycerin, a byproduct of soap making, is left in the bars. Glycerin is a humectant, which means it attracts moisture to the skin. Kathleen and her family have found the soaps to be so creamy and moisturizing that they no longer have to use lotion, even during the dry winter months.
In addition to leaving the glycerin in, Kathleen slightly “superfats” her soap, which means she adds extra oil to the soap. The extra oil ensures that all of the sodium hydroxide is used up in the reaction, resulting in a very mild, soothing soap. The oils added in this step include olive oil, coconut oil, and palm oil, all of which were chosen for their skin care qualities as well as their ability to make a good soap bar that lathers well. Jojoba oil and shea butter are also used in her soaps to add extra nutrients.
Sumptuous Soaps bars can now be found in the Health and Beauty section of the Moscow Food Co-op in such scents as Beloved, Orange Glow, and Sweet Earth to name just a few. Aromatherapy sprays, a newer addition to the Sumptuous Soaps product line, can also be found in four different varieties at the Moscow Food Co-op.
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