Garden Path Homemade Soap
Garden Path Homemade Soap is a local Ontario shop based in Vankleek Hill. They create a variety of Canadian made bath and body products like soap, body butter, lip balm, and skin care.
What inspired you to start your business?
I started making soap for fun and when I realized that there was a demand in the area for natural skin care products, I began looking into what it would take to turn my hobby into a business. Our 5 acre property provided a lot of the plants & flowers that could be used as ingredients and I dreamed of tapping into the agritourism industry to draw visitors to my little shop & gardens.
How do you describe your business?
Garden Path Homemade Soap is an experience, not just a soap shop. We source sustainable and local ingredients when possible. In fact, we use our own honey, roses, lavender, mint & many other herbs & flowers from our gardens. I am directly involved with the business every day and work closely with my staff who are trained to not only create the products, but also to educate customers on the benefits of living a more natural lifestyle. A porch is attached to the production room and a large window allows customers to peek into our work space! Visitors have access to a self-guided map where they also learn about what grows on the 5 acre property and about the life cycle of the monarch butterfly – the logo of the business! Monarchs are raised seasonally in a “Monarch Motel” on the property & visitors have the opportunity to see them up close. I was a teacher, so bringing the joy of learning comes naturally 😉
What’s your bestselling product?
Our bar soaps are our bestselling products. They come in a variety of scents, last a long time and are reasonably priced compared to many other natural companies.
Why do you think your bar soaps are so popular?
Our bar soaps are handmade from scratch in small batches using the cold-process method. They contain high quality ingredients and are given plenty of time to cure (a minimum of 4 weeks) which creates a longer lasting bar. We offer a large variety – some with essential oils, some with phthalate-free fragrances and others with natural exfoliants such as oatmeal. They are wrapped in recyclable paper and the bars are 100% biodegradable. They also travel well, so they make great gifts! We collaborate with a local brewery using beer to create a unique “Beer Suds” bar and with a local coffee roaster to produce “Working Hands” a bar that contains both brewed coffee & the grinds which helps remove dirt & oil! Sustainability is a key focus and we not only offer non-plastic alternatives such as a dish soap bar & shampoo bar, but we also re-use returned glass jars & bottles from our customers!
What’s your personal favourite product?
I love the facial scrub since it not only leaves my skin silky soft, but it contains roses, lavender & chamomile from our gardens!
What’s your favourite local Ontario business?
The Vankleek Hill Vineyard is located about 3km from our place & not only do they produce great wine, but its become a community hub!
