Soap Box

Posted by Canadian Gift Guide on June 6, 2012 · 75 Comments

Let’s have a heart-to-heart people. When you squeeze out some blue goo from your shower gel bottle, or use that generic brand of soap, do you ever stop and think this is going on my skin – my personal barrier to the outside world, the most visible part of my body, the part that will most often be touched? Because at the end of the day, that’s what soap is. And chemical-laden drugstore brands aren’t exactly my cup of tea. The next time you reach for a bar in the shower, instead of thinking about the factory process behind the product, wouldn’t you rather picture it being made by two hands, just like yours, in a mountainside home surrounded by fragrant pine trees, lush gardens, and ripe blueberries?

Well then, look no further my friends. Introducing Rocky Top Soap Shop, an Etsy boutique brimming with handmade, all-natural, unscented soaps perfect for those with sensitive skin, or those just looking for a more down-to-earth sudsy experience. The man behind the lather is Tony, a self-made soap guru that is constantly innovating new combinations of simple ingredients to suit your skin’s needs.

I think one of my favourite things about the shop is the fact it’s not just body soap (despite the name). You can also scoop up shampoo, facial cleansers, shavin’ soap, and salves to keep you looking, feeling, and smelling clean and polished.

The lush combinations range from homey Chamomile Oat Straw or Oats & Honey to energetic Coffee or Totally Pumpkin. No matter which bar you choose, expect to see no more than 10-15 ingredients on pretty much every product, and a story that puts the supply chain in sharp focus: the Cucumber Yogurt soap pictured above, for example, has cucumbers grown from Tony’s own organic and sustainable garden.

Now for the best news of all – better soap and skin care is not going to cost you an arm and a leg…despite all the greatness I talked about that goes into every bar, the prices are super reasonable. The bars retail around $6.80 CDN a piece (as of writing this), while the various gift sets are in the $20-$40 range, depending on what you choose. Shipping starts at $4, but if you combine items it can be quite affordable. The packaging is minimal (and recyclable!) but serves as a nice way to quickly identify which soap is which upon opening. Consider tucking a few into a reusable gift bag to maximize your green giving. Who’s it for? Well I love soap as a hostess gift, but you can also pamper mom with one of the gift sets for her birthday, or pick up a package to gift to a friend that’s hosting you for the weekend at their cabin.

Of course, you could also hook up dad. Most people don’t associate soap buying with Father’s Day (unless you’re buying for my suds-loving dad), but this four-pack of guy-oriented goodies – aka the Manly Man Set – definitely does the trick. Want to give your guy a test drive? Me & Tony have teamed up to give one lucky reader a Manly Man Set of their own! To enter:

1) Leave a comment on this post by June 17th at midnight, with a link to your favourite product from Rocky Top Soap Shop.

2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around June 18th to select the winner, who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.

3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible to participate in this promotion.

4) Bonus Entry: Become a subscriber to the Canadian Gift Guide by clicking on the ‘Gift Me Please’ button. Let me know you’ve done so in the comments below and you’ll earn a bonus entry. If you’re already a subscriber, well kudos, you’ve just earned yourself a bonus entry as well. Just remind me in the comments so I can verify your entry!

Love prizes? Check out what else you can win through the Canadian Gift Guide by visiting the Winner’s Circle.