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April 14, 2002REPRINTED BY PERMISSION OF THE VINCENNES (IND.) SUN-COMMERCIAL.
BEECH HILL SOAP WORKS
Cleaning up
Hobby bubbles into business for Monroe City woman
BY RICH AZAR staff writer
What began as a hobby has bubbled into a growing soap-making business for a rural Monroe City woman.
"A friend of mine got me started six years ago and I've been addicted to it ever since," said Lisa Garrett, owner of Beech Hill Soap Works. "It got to where I was making too much for the family to use, and it was getting expensive so I thought I'd sell some."
Friends and family members told others about the luxurious soaps, lotions and balms Garrett concocts in her kitchen. She's since branched out with presentations to local groups, and is developing a web site.
Although some items are made with synthetic fragrances, most are all-natural, with their bouquets emanating from essential oils such as sandalwood and patchouly.
"I like the fact that you can pronounce the names of the ingredients," she said.
Garrett, adorned with protective wear, starts out with pure lye and distilled water, added to vegetable oils including olive, coconut and palm. Some bar-soap varieties include exotic oils such as "shea butter," from the seed pits of a central African tree.
Unlike many commercial soaps, Garrett's contain no animal fats. Although she does make a specialty goat-milk soap.
A four-ounce bar (hand-cut, no less) typically costs about S4 or $5, but is milder and lasts much longer than commercial soaps, primarily due to a month-long "saponification," or curing, process.
Lotions and balms include many of the same ingredients, absent the corrosive lye, which starts a chemical process to bind oils together, she said. "If made properly the finished product contains no lye," Garrett said.
To date, most of the orders are custom-made in line with the customer's preference, she said. Although some items are available in stock.
Specialty items include a gardener's balm to repair rough hands, comprised of beeswax, mango butter and almond oil, she said. A whipped body butter "I call it a body souffle" is an excellent moisturizer that "melts on contact," Garrett said.
The entrepreneur, who said many of her products provide "aroma therapy," is increasingly making appearances before area groups. But none of that would be possible without the support of her husband, Marty.
"I want to thank my good husband for supporting me in this venture. I take up a lot of space, and at first he thought I was crazy," she said.
"But now he knows I have a talent for it - he just wants it to make money," Garrett said.
People wanting more information can contact Garrett at 812-743-9267 during normal weekday business hours.
Rich Azar can he reached at 812-886-9955, or by e-mail: razar@suncommercial.com.