This is my journey with Solitude Soapworks.
Oh, you know that saying about going down the rabbit hole, right?
It's like a whimsical journey into the unknown, and boy, did it take me on an adventure! Hiya, folks! I'm Jenn, the mastermind behind the magical world of Solitude Soapworks.
Picture this – a Christmas season filled with laughter and a bit of teasing. I was accused of having a boring wishlist, and you know what they say about payback! So, I slyly slipped in a soapmaking kit onto my wish list, knowing it would raise an eyebrow or two. Little did I know, that playful act would set the stage for something extraordinary!
Fast forward five years, and now, my better half just looks around our studio, bewildered, and mumbles about Legos.
But let me tell you, the origins of Solitude Soapworks run deeper than that cheeky Christmas gift.
Let's rewind to 2010 when life threw me a curveball – hypoparathyroidism. Yep, rare and tricky, a result of surgery back in 2005. Dealing with this condition brought both challenges and revelations. I had to be a vigilant food detective, examining labels like a pro, thanks to a wonderful holistic nutritionist I met in 2012. It opened my eyes to the mysteries behind the ingredients in my favorite body products.
It got me thinking – if you care about what you put into your body, why not care just as much about what goes on it? After all, our skin deserves some tender loving care, being the largest organ and all!
And there it was, the spark that ignited the fire within me – a desire to create body products that are not only good for you but also delightful to use! With simple, recognizable ingredients, I crafted heavenly body butters for myself and shared them as gifts with my loved ones.
In pursuit of living health-conscious and finding my Zen, I whisked my family away to the pristine Adirondack Mountains of Northern New York. Ah, the fresh mountain air, friendly faces, and outdoor adventures – a recipe for serenity and creative inspiration!
That's when my hobby of creating body butters transformed into a gift-giving extravaganza. Friends and family adored the bars of soap they received, and the word got out. Soon, someone asked for liquid foaming soap for their B&B – and that's when the universe whispered in my ear, "Jenn, it's time to take this to the next level."
And voilà, Solitude Soapworks was born! What started as a playful hobby turned into a boutique business filled with love, intention, and the tranquility of the mountains. I can't get enough of the joy I bring to my customers with custom-made products and thoughtful gifts.
So, here I am, crafting soap and spreading happiness, all because of that mischievous Christmas gift and the twists and turns that life throws our way. If you're ready to dive into a world of enchanting soap creations, come join me on this whimsical journey through the magic of Solitude Soapworks!
Welcome to the studio
Solitude Soapworks studio is situated on the back part of our homestead, overlooking flower gardens, forests, and the majestic high peaks.
It blends in as only an Adirondack Camp cabin can with a green metal roof and dark brown siding. Very unassuming from the outside but indoors is where the magic happens. You’ll find plants, crystals, and a wall of fragrance and color—it’s a hippie’s paradise, and there is always music playing. (It keeps the gremlins away.)
Soaping is part artistry, part science, and part alchemy. It requires focus and concentration.
I make my soaps in small batches, which allows me to oversee every tiny detail of production and put out high-quality products that you can not only feel good about using but that also leave your skin feeling amazing.
Our soaps are formulated to be gentle for all skin types, using only the highest quality plant-based butters and oils we can source, and our leave-on body products are made with organic ingredients wherever possible.
We list all our ingredients on every label. This is done for transparency purposes, because as a consumer, you have the right to make an informed decision about the products you buy.
While I can’t give you the chemical breakdown of fragrance oils as they are proprietary to the manufacturer, I can tell you that my fragrance oils are of extremely high quality and are always phthalate free. The usage amounts are well below the allowed dermal limits for leave-on and wash-off products.
I founded Solitude Soapworks with
three core principles:
TRANSPARENCY
You have so many choices as a customer these days. I believe that by sharing information about my products, you can make an informed decision about what you buy. With transparency, our relationship is based on honesty and trust.
OUTSTANDING CUSTOMER SERVICE
Customer service is quickly becoming extinct in our society, and that bothers me something fierce! Solitude Soapworks would not be where it is today without its amazing customers, and I will always provide you with outstanding customer service.
GIVING BACK
Charity begins at home, and Solitude Soapworks donates 10% of its sales to three charities that matter deeply to me. By buying from Solitude Soapworks, you are also making giving back a priority.
AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR SUICIDE PREVENTION
Suicide hit too close to home and has left my family heartbroken and beyond devastated, which is why I will always support suicide prevention initiatives.
FIRST RESPONDERS CHILDREN'S FOUNDATION
I lost friends on 9/11. For 20 years, First Responders Children’s Foundation has helped support the children and families of first responders who have been killed or injured in the line of duty.
HYPOPARATHYROIDISM ASSOCIATION
This one is deeply personal for me, since I’ve been hypoparathyroid for the last 13 years. It’s a rare endocrine disease that affects approximately 77,000 in the USA. Because of the tiny patient community, there is not a lot of funding available for research, and living with hypoparathyroidism is like walking an impossible tightrope.