Mood: Sparkly silver, Kate Sylvester.
A few weeks ago, a delightful little package arrived in the mail from Saponify, an artisanal soap and body care company based in Sydney.
Saponify is the creation of Sarah McManus who makes all of her products by hand in her kitchen (her ‘soap studio’). Sarah’s background as a chef and her passion for flavours and scents influences her Saponify recipes. She strives to make her products as nourishing as possible, using the finest natural ingredients she can source – olive oil, cocoa butter, shea butter, pure essential oils and French clays to name a few.
The first product I tried was the rosemary and mandarin hand and body butter. While luxuriously rich and creamy I found it absorbed quickly into my skin, leaving behind none of the greasiness characteristic of heavy moisturising butters and creams. The woody rosemary scent was heady and rejuvenating, lingering long after application.
Saponify’s sugar scrub is bliss in a pot. The sweet floral scent of geranium combined with mandarin and lavender was heavenly and the shea butter left my skin feeling soft and smooth. Best of all, the natural sugar granules simply dissolved away after a good scuff – best to stay away from exfoliants containing non-biodegradable plastic beads that are washed down the drain and into the sea.
The handmade soaps with their marbled colours and gentle dusting of flowers were just so pretty I couldn’t bring myself to use them straight away. Once I did though, I was surprised by how nourishing they were. They didn’t leave my skin parched like other soaps, and they smelt delicious too. The warm, spicy scent of cinnamon, oatmeal and honey was my favourite of the three I tried, but mention must also be made of the fresh, vibrant pink grapefruit, lemon verbena and calendula soap – a brand new addition to the Saponify range.
The final verdict? Saponify ticks all the boxes for me – beautifully scented products that are gentle on the skin and handmade locally with love using high quality ingredients and no chemical nasties. Get your fix via the Saponify website (they don’t stock in stores yet) – saponify.com.au.
xx PP
Photos: saponify.com.au
