Things that please
I discovered that we had almost run out of soap recently. I searched feverishly through my drawers, where I store soap bars, but there were none to be found, so I sent away for some.
The Little Soap Company started life in the Cotswolds. Its original name was the Naked Soap Company and the founder, Emma Heathcote-James, created her first soaps in her kitchen and started selling them at local farmers’ markets. That was more than fifteen years ago, and her business has gone from strength to strength. Her soaps can be found in supermarkets, pharmacies and online.
The soaps arrived securely packaged in recyclable materials. The scent, as I unpacked them, was sensational (yes, that’s a pun!) If one were susceptible to strong perfumes, the package might be overwhelming, with the concentration of many bars, although I didn’t find them so. Individually, the soaps are pleasantly perfumed.
I am aware of how scents can sometimes be too much. I bought a scent diffuser a few weeks ago that had such an overpowering smell – all natural ingredients! - that it made my throat sore. I had to put it at the end of the garden, and even at a distance of about twenty yards, I could still smell it.
The little thing on the box of soap that really made me smile was the packing tape, shown at the top and below.
It depicted scenes of bucolic bliss, bringing to mind the rolling Cotswold hills, the sparkling streams and the honeyed tones of the buildings.
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I know that Alison in Devon, (once upon a time in Wales) makes her own soap. Does she sell locally, I wonder?
I have seen so many beautiful videos and photos of the Cotswolds! How nice that Alison started out small on her own. Thank you so much for sharing. Not sure if I mentioned this to you or not, but myself and my parents were all born here in Montreal, Canada, but my paternal grandparents were born in Kent, England. :)
ReplyDeleteThe Cotswolds are beautiful but in danger of becoming inaccessible for locals who want to buy there - too many rich people moving in and pushing up property prices!
DeleteI was born and brought up in Kent. Where in Kent did your grandparents come from?
What lovely information about a lovely company. It seems as though they certainly pay attention to the little things.
ReplyDeleteLittle details really matter, I think.
DeleteIt's on this kind of occasion that I so wish I wasn't sensitive to scents. I have to stick to unscented soap - if not, my sinuses and my skin rebel. I love the details on the packing tape and I'm glad you are enjoying your new find!
ReplyDeleteLife can be difficult for those with sensitivities. Scents are added to everything these days.
DeleteThe story behind the soap and even the whimsical tape add such heart to the experience, turning a simple necessity into a sensory delight
ReplyDeleteIt certainly made me smile.
DeleteI had a scent diffuser like that once. I put it in a far garden shed & even then I was sure I could still smell it. I'll bet it kept the mice away from the shed!! That soap packaging is so lovely.
ReplyDeleteOne of my daughters smelt it and thought it was lovely. It's certainly overpowering. I wonder if mice have a pronounced sense of smell?
DeleteI am affected by strong scents, particularly the "heady" variety and with so many laundry detergents now being strongly scented I have to hold my breath when going down that aisle. I am able to use some scented personal soaps, usually a cheap brand where the scent is not overpowering.
ReplyDeleteI taught a child once whose mother washed his clothes in strongly-scented powder. It was lovely for him to be in such clean clothes, but it did make me sneeze! 😁
DeleteI'd buy the soap for the tape alone!
ReplyDeleteMy sentiments entirely! 😉
DeleteI thought the picture at the top was a tapestry (until i got to the bottom of course) - think Battle of Hastings style Bayeux tapestry.🙄
ReplyDeleteI wondered why it looked so familiar! 😁
DeleteAnother place for me to try .. although I am wary of online shopping as my parcels tend to go astray.
ReplyDeleteAre these sent (scent) via Royal Mail parcel delivery?
I think Royal Mail was the courier. (Love the pun)
DeleteIt shows how creative one can get. The tape is so beautiful. Thank you for sharing your thoughts :)
ReplyDelete😁
DeleteSomeone gave us a bunch of lilies as a housewarming gift some twenty plus years ago. The scent was so strong, we had to put them out on the balcony.
ReplyDeleteI subconsciously realised something wasn't correct about 'Alison in Devon'. Of course, it was Alison in Wales. Duh.
A lot of people find lilies overpowering.
DeleteI got a box full of handmade soaps one year for Christmas. I had it in a bowl in my bathroom and it smelled so good.
ReplyDeleteThey make the room smell so sweet.
DeleteIt looks like it was a fun package to open. I'm afraid I do have to say that I have too many allergies to have any kind of scented items. On one hand it's nice to have everything fragrance free, on the other hand I do miss when I used to be able to have sweet smelling things.
ReplyDeleteI can understand that it's a problem. I cannot tolerate some strong perfumes on other people. I remember when 'Poison' was a very popular scent - it made me feel quite ill when my daughter wore it, but it was fine on my daughter-in-law.
DeleteI have some asthma and allergy problems since way back, so keep to unscented products, both for personal hygiene and cleaning. Also can't remember when I last bought a 'bar' of soap? I always buy liquid... Yours undeniably came in a cute package though, and if you like them, enjoy! :)
ReplyDeleteA lot of people have sensitivity issues with perfume. I wonder if it's becoming more common, as our senses are assailed at all points by synthetic/chemical additives.
DeleteWe haven’t used soap for about twenty years, or not bar soap.
ReplyDeleteYears ago my late mother-in-law ran out of liquid shower soap and was astonished when I suggested she could use a bar of soap.
DeleteLovely pictures of the quaint packaging, is that Broadway Tower I wonder? I'm a Cotswold girl in a previous life and loved reading this😀
ReplyDeleteThanks for the mention too - yes, I love to make soap but sadly not to sell because the legislation surrounding the sale of anything that goes on skin is strict and complicated and I simply couldn't be bothered with it at my age 😄😉 Where we live now there is a shared septic tank and drains system for a group of houses - when we moved in we were given a list of do's and don'ts to help not upset the drains! I've got a feeling that Soapmaking might do just that because of all the natural oils and fats used, during the clean up no matter how careful one is , inevitably some of the residue goes down the sink - my soap making days may be over 😏
Hope I haven't droned on too long, enjoy your soap x
Alison in Devon x
Oh, that is a shame. You'll have to find another creative outlet.
DeleteI love the little specialty companies that make everyday items seem special.
ReplyDeleteCustomer service is very important, too.
DeleteSome time ago I moved from bar soap to liquid, but I do admire a piece of specialty soap.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if soap bars are a dying fashion.
DeleteI love soaps that are unique and often I just use them as air fresheners…a blogger whom I met last year when she was over from the U.S., gave me a soap which smelled divine and it’s still in my workroom doing a good job!
ReplyDeleteI have used them as air fresheners, too, but mainly I store them in my clothes drawers.
DeleteOh I wish I could smell again! I loved beautifully scented soaps.
ReplyDeleteIt's sad that you cannot smell things. Do you think your sense of smell may return one day?
ReplyDeleteI like when items arrive packaged with thoughtfulness and care. Cool item for a journal
ReplyDeleteIf I still kept a scrapbook it would have gone in there.
ReplyDelete