A new start-up soap company based in Exmouth is now open for business.

'East Devon Soapery' produces handmade soaps, made in the town by a local mother of three.

Hayley, owner of the business, used to make handmade gifts for family and friends, and last Christmas (December 2020) decided that she wanted to learn how to make soap.

After some experimentation, she found that she preferred to make soap from scratch.

She said: "There are a few different types: firstly, there are melt-and-pour bases, which are already soaps and can be melted and you add colours or fragrances to them. This is what I decided to try first.

"Secondly, you have 'cold process' soap, which is what I make now. Cold process soap is made from scratch, using oils and sodium hydroxide.

"Don't worry, there is no sodium hydroxide present once a soap is made!

"I instantly fell in love with cold process soap.

"I must have made a good 100 bars before I decided that I wanted to make this a business.

"Being self-employed for me has so many benefits; as a mum of three, to be able to work my own hours and be there for my children is perfect.

"While the new business is just starting out, I have a small range of salt bars that come either unscented or scented with four different essential oils scents.

"For each of the scents there are two types - one with activated charcoal, and one without.

"These bars provide gentle exfoliation due to the salt content, and give an amazing lather which is perfect for shaving with.

"They are also natural and contain no nasty chemicals. Other ingredients include coconut oil, which provides cleansing, olive oil for conditioning, and a little castor oil to help the stability of the lather.

"And as previously mentioned, there is no sodium hydroxide present in the end product.

"I have a formulation of other soaps in the pipeline which I hope to be releasing in the near future along with bath bombs.

"On Friday 4 June I will also launch my Facebook page and soon after my website. I also aim to be attending craft shows, car boot sales and even school fetes in time too.

"I will be able take orders through my Facebook business page messenger and payments through Paypal or bank transfer or cash, and locally can offer collection, delivery, or postage.

"The website will have the option to pay through Paypal or card payment."

If you like what you see and are keen to support a new local business, you can find East Devon Soapery on Facebook here or you can click here to go to the website: eastdevonsoapery.co.uk.

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