When was the last time a bar of soap made you stop in your tracks to marvel at its beauty? Or feel like taking a bite? We usually think of soap as being a utilitarian item, something not necessarily beautiful, pleasing, or even interesting on a day-to-day basis. Certainly, few of us even consider whether the soap we use is good for the earth.
But one local enterprise that is giving careful thought to these things is Tiny Ranch Soap Co. of Carmel Valley. Its handcrafted small-batch soaps are not only lovely to look at, but also contain ingredients that help skin look and feel its best. And because these soaps are made with sustainability in mind, using locally grown botanicals whenever possible and without harsh chemicals, they are also easy on the environment.
Tiny Ranch Soap Co. and its sister label, Urban Roots Soap Co., were founded by Jamison Kaufman—who became intrigued with soap making as an art form. Kaufman explains that the ingredients that make her soaps visually pleasing also are good for the skin—the clear jewel-like tones come from glycerine, a natural humectant that helps skin retain moisture. Soaps with a creamy texture may contain goat milk or shea butter, both ingredients that are natural moisturizers.
Tiny Ranch is Kaufman’s everyday affordable line, while the Urban Roots offerings are more artistic and intriguing. Everything is made from organic ingredients and Kaufman sources everything as locally as possible, using herbs, blueberries, lavender and lemons from her own garden and other ingredients from nearby farms. Essential oils and vitamins are also incorporated into the soaps. All are made in small batches with great passion and care.
Unlike handcrafted soaps, mass-produced soaps use synthetic agents that can irritate and dry the skin. Also, the way in which they are manufactured and packaged contributes to environmental issues like pollution and waste. The natural ingredients in handmade soaps can ease conditions such as excessively dry skin and eczema.
“I always use the best ingredients available,” says Kaufman, who is now working to create a body wash to add to her line, using almond oil and honey. Her packaging is also as minimal as possible, and there is very little waste in her soap making process—if something doesn’t work out, she re-melts the batch and starts again.
Kaufman also cares for others on a global scale. She donates 10 percent of her annual earnings to Heifer International, a nonprofit that gives goats, sheep and other farm animals to families in the developing world to alleviate hunger and poverty.
Not only are Kaufman’s soaps like little works of art—with different layers of color, or herbs or flowers set into the soap—they also smell heavenly. Her best-selling soap is the Urban Roots Lemon Sea Salt Bar, which wafts citrus aromas as you wash. “It’s like aromatherapy in the shower,” says Kaufman.
New seasonal selections can be found throughout the year at the Tiny Ranch Soap Co. website, with Apple Pie, Pumpkin Souffle, and Candy Cane bar soaps being added to the lineup for fall. Kaufman can also create custom soaps for special orders; for information, email her at tinyranchsoapco@gmail.com.
Urban Roots soaps are ideal for gift giving, with unique shapes and forms that are sure to delight those who receive them. Particularly popular is the Lavender Amethyst Crystal soap, made in a crystalline shape and containing essential oils, and the Rosemary Wrap, containing organic shea butter and organic rosemary from Carmel Valley.
In Monterey County, Kaufman’s soaps can be purchased at Carmel Valley Market, Casa del Soul, and Hacienda Hay & Seed in Carmel Valley, Pioneer Pottery at the American Tin Cannery in Pacific Grove, and Local Color in Big Sur.
For best selection and greatest convenience, Kaufman’s websites are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can have soaps shipped to you, or sent to loved ones for the holidays or any occasion: www.tinyranchsoapco.com and www.urbanrootssoapco.com
About the author
Kathryn McKenzie, who grew up in Santa Cruz and now lives on a Christmas tree farm in north Monterey County, writes about the environment, sustainable living and health for numerous publications and websites. She is the co-author of “Humbled: How California’s Monterey Bay Escaped Industrial Ruin.”
