When recipe calls f

SOAP HAS BECOME MORE THAN JUST A CLEANING PRODUCT AS FOUND WHEN VISITING A SMALL, BUSY KITCHEN IN THE MIDLANDS

OTRISH BEAVER

DETTE Handley slid into the soap business by accident: a back injury led to a need for her to undergo an operation and the six months it took her to recover meant she had to give up her job at a Durban travel agency.

But being a busy sort, she could not sit around and do nothing.

Handley volunteered to pack up their home in anticipation of a move to the Kwazulu-natal Midlands. While packing, she discovered a book on soap-making that her sister had given her and she “got distracted”.

That was the end of her rest and the beginning of her new passion.

The first batch of soaps she made with instructions from the book was well received by friends and family as she gave them out as gifts. Then it occurred to her this could be a business opportunity in disguise.

Handley’s product, Riverlea Soaps, named after the farm where they live near Tweedie, Howick, are made the traditional way with natural ingredients. She creates them to appeal to the eye and nose, and along the way she has added her creative touches.

The glycerine soap is made with glycerine and a chemical (sodium hydroxide) that causes the oil particles to stick together.

“All traditional soaps are made this way. The chemical is quite harsh but the secret to making a good soap is to let it cure, like biltong. The longer the soap cures, the milder it will be on the skin.”

Today, many of her products are made from vegetable oils and the cold-pressed soaps are preservative free.

In the old days, people would make soap using the fat of animals, called talo, but Handley’s products are free of any animal products, except for one – she has one product made with goats’ milk which is an oldfashioned recipe – renowned for its creamy lather.

Handley’s inspiration and her most popular soaps are in the shape of beautiful cupcakes, which look so good one is tempted to have a bite.

She said: “I realised that cupcakes were a huge trend and I thought:

Why not make soaps that look like cupcakes? I made a few and they were a big hit, so I continued with the food theme.”

Some of her soap slabs look like exquisite slices of cake with marble swirls and gorgeous textures. These have lovely smells, too.

Handley says she found the creation process fulfilling and the success of the products has led to her expanding the business over the past few years.

She says that traditional soaps appeal to people for many reasons.

“Some like the feel of the lather and others love their look which are made to be visually appealing.

While ordinary soap is functional, Handley says she hopes people buy her soap for their appeal to the senses.

“I trained as a fashion designer and although I was a buyer and not a designer, I have used the fashion instinct when creating my soaps.

“I look for seasonal colours, smells that are popular and when creating a new soap I include a lot of the elements that inspire fashion.”

Handley says she remembered that her gran used to make soap when they were children.

When they visited her in Greytown, she recalls the soap drying on top of the cupboard.

Many of her soaps have a lovely smell which comes from essential oils.

The ones that are the most popular are those with a citrus, lavender or lemony smell.

Women tend to prefer the sweet floral notes, while men prefer the manly scents such as pine, lemon verbena and aloe.

Handley says she was never bored and she often tried new soap recipes and varieties, inspired by books and magazines and trends.

One of her latest ranges is based on the French vintage era and the soap has a soluble paper transfer with old-fashioned writing on it.

Handley says that soaps should be hard as they will last longer.

She says after the curing process, which should be at least six weeks, the soaps will be skin-friendly and have a neutral ph balance.

While liquid soap is a growing trend, Handley says her traditional soaps are more popular than the liquid soaps she has made.

A request for soap-making kits has also developed as many of the ingredients are imported.

Her range has evolved and she is always looking to mimic trends. She is also able to custom-make soaps according to a client’s brief.

“We were asked to make soaps that looked like salami. It was very interesting. We chose to accent the herbal smells like basil and olive, but we made it look like the real thing. It was great fun.

One of her new products is a

“baby reveal” fizz ball. The outside is white and when placed in water the fizz begins and in the centre is the colour associated with the sex of the baby – pink for girls and blue for boys.

Her “lab” where the soaps are created is a kitchen with many shelves stacked with soaps in various stages of curing.

Handley sells at markets and also supplies a few outlets, but a new development has been her online shop where people can order.

“The internet has been great for me as I can reach clients beyond my traditional area and people find me and order online.

“I find it important to keep my social media accounts updated.”

Selling her products at markets also allows her to interact with people and find out what they are looking for.

“Recently, we have incorporated bran and orange peel into some of our soaps to add a more rustic and earthy feel.

“But always when creating a soap I bear three things in mind – smell, appearance and texture.

“Soap is not a new product but having a bath is one of those occasions when you get to relax and indulge in some ‘me’ time.

“Having a luxury soap product just adds to the experience.”

Visit her website: www. riverleasoap.com

Or e-mail her on Odette@ riverleasoap.com