I first started soap making during the pandemic, at first I was just trying to fill up the time in the evenings by learning a new skill. I thought it would be a short-lived phase and that I would soon lose interest. In fact the opposite happened, I found the process of mixing the ingredients and enjoying the different smells of the essential oils really therapeutic and a welcome distraction from the news and all the stress of the pandemic. It also made me reflect on the ritual of handwashing and how it had become such a focus during this time. For many people cleaning became associated with COVID 19 and could be quite anxiety inducing. I wanted to reclaim handwashing as a mindful activity and something that can bring joy by making soaps that smell good and are colourful and interesting to look at.

So why 'The Soap Psychologist' you ask? As well as a soap maker, I am also entering my final year of training as a Clinical Psychologist in the NHS. My aim is to bring my two passions together by promoting wellbeing and mental health in addition to delivering beautiful handcrafted soap. When you order my soap, I plan to share with you mindfulness exercises that promote wellbeing, I will debunk common myths about mental health and offer reflections and perspectives on emotional wellbeing to offer some food for thought. I hope that my gift of soap can become a self-care activity and that you can tap into your senses while you use it.