Because she has sensitive skin as well as allergies to many chemicals in commercially manufactured soaps and body products, Amanda Vaughan started making soap 3 years ago. 2014 has been her first year making lip balms, healing salves, tiger balms, body butter, hand balms, headache erasers, sleep sticks, and solid perfumes. She started dabbling with with soaps, specifically those made with animal fats.”Once I noticed how great my skin felt I jumped right in. There are many reasons to love the use of animal fats in soap. It makes a mild, hard bar of soap, it is not a drying soap and it actually cuts motor grease and pine tar. It has been used for generations in soap making. It is a local resource that is otherwise considered a waste product, and I get the fat from a farm where the animals are pasture-raised and antibiotic free.”
Amanda also makes pure Vegetable soaps that are great for the skin, lather well and last a long time. She says the possibilities are endless, allowing for creativity and evolution to happen, “so I can't imagine myself ever not making soap. I love making soap. I have fun with the whole process, and I really enjoy using the final product. I also really enjoy making the lip balms and salves and solid perfumes. I feel like an alchemist with all of my bottles of essential oils, carrier oils and equipment.”
Amanda also makes pure Vegetable soaps that are great for the skin, lather well and last a long time. She says the possibilities are endless, allowing for creativity and evolution to happen, “so I can't imagine myself ever not making soap. I love making soap. I have fun with the whole process, and I really enjoy using the final product. I also really enjoy making the lip balms and salves and solid perfumes. I feel like an alchemist with all of my bottles of essential oils, carrier oils and equipment.”
She knows of so many people who have skin problems and allergies, that she “really had no choice but to do something about it. There is no reason to be putting toxic products on your body when there are so many natural possibilities out there.”
When not creating skin products, Amanda and her husband run a farm called “Rainbow Terrace Greenhouse and Garden”. They grow perennials, annuals, vegetable plants and chemical-free garden produce. “We grow varieties of excellent garlic available by the bulb, pound or bundle.”
When not creating skin products, Amanda and her husband run a farm called “Rainbow Terrace Greenhouse and Garden”. They grow perennials, annuals, vegetable plants and chemical-free garden produce. “We grow varieties of excellent garlic available by the bulb, pound or bundle.”
For Amanda, “the most difficult thing is waiting. Soap must cure for at least a month before use. Sometimes it is really difficult to wait that long to see how something turned out.” Working out of her kitchen and spare bedroom while listening to a lot of music (jazz, bluegrass, folk, rock and roll, metal; opera), Amanda makes soap in batches, “taking a day or two and going crazy, so it doesn't really disrupt daily life. The same thing goes for the lip balms and body products. There is no such thing as making one tube of lip balm.
In the winter work on the farm and in the garden slows down and I get a chance to play with things and experiment. That is definitely when I will just follow a whim and create when the ideas strike.”
In the winter work on the farm and in the garden slows down and I get a chance to play with things and experiment. That is definitely when I will just follow a whim and create when the ideas strike.”
Her “favourite product is definitely the Palm Balm. My hands are exposed to the elements every day, I dig in the earth, causing the backs of my hands to chap, and I'm prone to really dry skin that cracks to begin with. I can't live without this stuff. I put a pea size amount on my hands before bed and voila -- smooth hands in the morning.”
Amanda’s headache erasers are amongst her best selling products. “I make Lavender with peppermint and frankincense with peppermint. Apply to temples, back of neck, jaw (clenching) or anywhere that hurts, and wrists. Close eyes and inhale aroma for 10 minutes.”
When asked what memorable responses she has had her work, Amanda said, “I have had memories of the 1960's recounted to me after one whiff of my Patchouli Solid Perfume by more than a few people. I sold a lady four bars of soap one weekend at the farmers market. She came back and bought out all of the stock I had with me to give to all of her family at a reunion. I have had more than one person come back and tell me that at first they were dubious about the animal fats in the soaps and were almost determined not to like it, but after giving it a try and liking it so much they had to get some more. I am often met with enthusiastic responses from repeat customers about how long my soap lasts, and how much they enjoy it.”
Amanda sells my products at the Campbellford Farmers Market at my farm stall, Rainbow Terrace Greenhouse and Garden. She is happy to talk about special orders for weddings, party favors or other requests.
“I like that I make something that I use every day. I also like that I provide a more natural option for people trying to avoid petroleum products, artificial colourants and fragrances or harsh chemicals. Living as locally as possible is the best way for each of us to make a real difference in the world.”
Meet her at 30 Craft Market on November 28 and 29 (10:30 – 4) at the Peterborough Public Library!
Amanda’s headache erasers are amongst her best selling products. “I make Lavender with peppermint and frankincense with peppermint. Apply to temples, back of neck, jaw (clenching) or anywhere that hurts, and wrists. Close eyes and inhale aroma for 10 minutes.”
When asked what memorable responses she has had her work, Amanda said, “I have had memories of the 1960's recounted to me after one whiff of my Patchouli Solid Perfume by more than a few people. I sold a lady four bars of soap one weekend at the farmers market. She came back and bought out all of the stock I had with me to give to all of her family at a reunion. I have had more than one person come back and tell me that at first they were dubious about the animal fats in the soaps and were almost determined not to like it, but after giving it a try and liking it so much they had to get some more. I am often met with enthusiastic responses from repeat customers about how long my soap lasts, and how much they enjoy it.”
Amanda sells my products at the Campbellford Farmers Market at my farm stall, Rainbow Terrace Greenhouse and Garden. She is happy to talk about special orders for weddings, party favors or other requests.
“I like that I make something that I use every day. I also like that I provide a more natural option for people trying to avoid petroleum products, artificial colourants and fragrances or harsh chemicals. Living as locally as possible is the best way for each of us to make a real difference in the world.”
Meet her at 30 Craft Market on November 28 and 29 (10:30 – 4) at the Peterborough Public Library!