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A love story about soap

Rooted Laurel Soap was created out of a need for better personal care products used in our daily rituals.  I had long dreamt of creating something that truly benefits a person’s skin as well as their emotional health. I also wanted the products to smell and feel amazing– all without being relying on lots of packaging or wasteful containers.  I wanted to create products that demonstrate a deep commitment to the required global sustainability movement; products that demonstrate a commitment to social responsibility, human health, and environmentally friendly solutions for long term. I want to cultivate a brand that is devoted to developing the trust of the customers through education and transparency in the creation process.

This deep curiosity stirred when I first started looking for soap to use on my own kids. I wanted something better for them to use. I had tolerated chemically harmful over- packaged cosmetic products my whole life, but when it came down to using them on my kids, well, they were just not good enough for their precious skin. It was time to break the cycle of tolerating harmful self-care products that are loaded with dyes, surfactants and synthetic fragrances that come in non-reusable containers. It was time to show them how to take care of themselves and the planet in a better way. 

Truth be told, I had a long and tumultuous love affair with the Beauty industry long before I ever had children. I grew up shamelessly experimenting with any and all cosmetics and obsessing over my appearance. I was so in love with the idea of cosmetics that I completed a year long program at Blanche MacDonald in Cosmetic Artistry, one of the premier make-up schools in Canada.  As soon as I graduated from the program and started working, I began to see the darker underbelly of this giant industry. The grimmer side to cosmetics is the messaging around western beauty standards and all the toxic ingredients they load inside their products. These products are sold under a falsehood that an unattainable standard of beauty can be achieved through the use of cosmetics. I began feeling like I was doing women a disservice by selling them products they did not need, products that I believed were harmful for their health, and were a bad financial investment. I had to break up with the cosmetic industry after nearly a decade of being under its alluring influence.  It was a rough break up and left me wondering if there was something more fulfilling out there. 

When I started cruising the aisles as a new Mom and checking out the baby soap section, it all came full circle for me. The same unnecessary, misleading and nasty ingredients lurked inside the baby products too. I could not find something appropriate for them to use. Nearly all the products came in plastic tubes and contained sodium laurel sulfate (or related chemical), fragrances, dyes, surfactants and or/ detergents. Often the labels claimed some natural components, but those ingredients were also listed dead last on a very long ingredients list, which meant there was very little of that ingredient actually present in the products.

Feeling dissatisfied with the options available, I began researching the benefits of natural ingredients like cocoa butter, olive oil and essential oils, and then started formulating my own recipes for my family.  Soon after, I started making soap and giving it to my friends, extended family and yoga community. Everyone loved it and asked for more. 

I love making all my products. I love creating new ones. I love dreaming of creating a conscious brand and growing a sustainable business. I love it all. 

I have been listening to my heart, my family and my friends to get to where I am today. It is just a humble little soap business that is rooted in family, friends, community and my love for this beautiful earth. I make everything myself with love and good intentions, and find the strength through these roots.  

Selling my products online has been a dream that I am realizing through this website. I want people to know more about the benefits of natural ingredients, become more discerning, and able to make sustainable and affordable choices when it comes to buying personal care products. Knowledge is power and power brings the changes required personally, locally and globally.

About Stephanie

I grew up in Vancouver and went to the University of British Columbia and most recently graduated with a Masters of Arts. I have been happily married to Luke, my supportive and loving husband for over 16 years. We have two very adorable children together who are equal parts smart and cute with a big side of silly. Bonnie is our fur child and she is a Golden Retriever who brings both laughter and life lessons. She demonstrates her unconditional love through relentless tail wagging. 

My family is my life’s reward. I am most at home when I am with my family. They provide me with the love and roots that I need to be who I am meant to become. 

Aside from dreaming and creating products, I enjoy attending yoga at the studio. I love the sense of community I feel from this space. I take pride in the hard work I do on my mat to strengthen my body, spirit and mind. It helps me deal with the tough stuff and get rid of what is no longer serving me. I love the way my practice helps me ground within myself. 

I also love to roam around on long walks with Bonnie down by the river and along the forest trails.  Nature is the best medicine for me and the more time I can spend amongst the trees and by the water the better. My heart can rest in this space.  My spirit feels alive. 

These parts of my life give me my life energy to grow, change and adapt to the different seasons of my life.