Since becoming a mother, I have a whole new appreciation for quiet moments to myself. They are extremely rare, to say the least, and I know that they will become even more rare as Darah grows and learns how to follow me all over the house! I have always enjoyed shower time because it just feels good to get clean, and I also tend to keep a supply of nice smelling shampoos and soaps on hand to either rev me up in the morning or help me wind down at the end of the day.
My next featured Memphis in May business is Mocha’s Handmade Soaps, and this is yet another company that I’m so glad to have found and to now share with you. Vikki, the woman behind the company, makes a wonderful variety of cold and hot process soaps made with ingredients you can pronounce, and even has a nice selection of vegan soaps for sale. Vikki has been making soap and perfecting her craft for 3 years now. She loves being able to create something new and original that will bring people joy and also promote healthy skin, especially as we age (a fact I’m becoming all-too-aware of now that 30 is just a few months away!). I really enjoyed learning that Vikki makes all of her soaps by hand and cures them for 3 to 6 weeks. Furthermore, her soaps are detergent-free, which is not the case for the vast majority of soaps that you find in the stores.
The soaps I have sampled from this shop smell heavenly, lather beautifully, and help provide a peaceful space just for me when I step into the shower. I was so excited to read about the ingredients that are used in her soaps: “Saponified oils of Olive, Soybean, Palm Kernel, Coconut, Cocoa Butter, Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Palm, Sunflower, Avocado, Sweet Almond, Fragrance, Goats Milk, Vitamin E and other skin-loving oils and butters. Herbs and grains are also added to some recipes for a natural, gentle exfoliation. Some soaps are colored with natural oxides from the earth, ultramarines, & micas.” I recognized every single thing! I had the opportunity to try a cold process soap, and I was so impressed with how silky smooth (but not greasy!) I felt after using it. The bar also produced a great lather, so I can tell that one bar is going to last a good long while! I also had the opportunity to try the Hollywood Pink soap (Vikki’s version of an Avon scent). This was not a scent that I was familiar with before, but let me tell you, the first time I used it I just kept sniffing it again and again! It is light, but warm. I loved it! Finally, I tried the Peppermint Soap with Goat’s Milk. This is definitely going to be my go-to soap in the morning when I need some help waking up. It smells so refreshing and I feel nice and clean after using it!
I asked Vikki to share what she loves most about our great city. Her answers: the weather and the BBQ. May must just be the best month ever to her, then! 🙂 I’m sure she’s still making time to fill orders in between playing outside and eating some of the world’s best BBQ, though!
Vikki takes great pride in her work and stands behind every product she makes. If you can’t decide which soap to try first, though, she did say that if she had to choose 3 favorites, she would suggest Love Spell, Black Raspberry Vanilla and Baby Grace Philosophy. I say that you can’t go wrong if you go with the artist’s recommendation! If you have a particular kind of scent in mind and wish you could have it in a soap form, convo Vikki…the odds are decent that she can make it for you, which is really cool! Also, Vikki gives free samples with each purchase, so what are you waiting for?! Her bars of soap start at just $4.00.
EDIT: Giveaway CLOSED
Win it!: Here’s your chance to bring Mocha’s Homemade Soaps (and a little bit of Memphis) into your home! Vikki is giving one lucky Stuff Parents Need reader a cold or hot process soap of your choice from the ones she has listed on her site. Nice! The contest will run until May 18th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.
Mandatory Entry:
Tell me which bar of cold process soap or hot process soap you would like to win (and choose wisely, as you will get this pick if you are the winner!)
Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to my blog via RSS, email or Google friend connect (only one extra entry, even if you subscribe more than one way)
2. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter (leave your Twitter ID)
3. Add Mocha’s Homemade Soaps to your Etsy favorites
4. Tell me one scent you would like to see Vikki offer in her shop
5. If you left a Memphis in May comment on this post before May 2nd, leave a comment for an extra entry
Disclosure: I received product samples to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.