For Jennifer with Big Sky Soap Arizona, inspiration is everywhere - all she has to do is step outside. Her home state is reflected in all her products. She uses native juniper berries, fresh plants from her reservation, and even roses from her neighbor's garden. The result is beautiful soap and skincare that changes with the seasons. Get to know Jennifer below!
How long have you been making soap, and how did you get started? How long have you been selling your products?
I started making soap in 2018, first as a hobby then later to help with extra income during the summer when my teaching job was on break. My first sale was at the Hopi Farmers Market with a small table of 3 different soaps and 1 brown sugar scrub. I still make and sell that same scrub today! I continued to do it as a small side business until the pandemic, when the need for soap rose. I was able to leave my full-time job and pursue Big Sky Soap Arizona full time. It has been a fruitful journey of grace, hard work, and patience.
What do you love most about making bath and body products?
I like that it allows me to customize what goes onto my body and that of my customers. We all use bath and body products every day and probably not a lot of time is spent on thinking about what is in all of these items. There is a certain satisfaction that comes from knowing where and what this bar of soap is made of.
What inspires you to create?
I draw inspiration from the culture and landscape of Arizona. I was born and raised here from Phoenix to Flagstaff to Hopi, there is endless inspiration. The flowers, the sunsets, and even the animals like hummingbirds make great inspiration for soap. I also listen to my son on what's trendy with the younger kids these days. I like to help other moms get their children in the bath with soap that's fun and safe.
What elements of your culture do you like to include in your products? Why is it important to you?
I use juniper berries in a sugar scrub and cold process soap. They're native to this region and have been used by my tribe for over a millennium. The smell is unique, very fragrant. To me, it doesn't matter if the products are popular, I make them because it's important to my people that they are represented as the first and original beauty and skincare products of Hopi. I am very careful with how I use plants and do my best to remain respectful, asking my mother, uncles, and elders if I have any questions and if I feel on the fence, I simply won't. I also like to add popular things from my reservation that many wouldn't associate with Hopi or Arizona. A lot of people don't realize that here in the desert we grow melons, peaches, apricots, cherries, and even grapes, in addition to corn, beans, and squash. Even if I'm using a fragrance oil, adding these smells adds a more cohesive theme to what I feel Arizona really is, a beautiful place!
Orange and peppermit wax brittle
Who’s another maker you admire? What do you love about their work?
I admire Ms. Ashley Marie Soap of Utah. You can see her personality shine through her work and adds a little personal flair to each post about what she was thinking or her thoughts on the finished products. I love her soaps with botanicals sprinkling all over the tops!
What advice would you give to someone who wanted to get started?
Don't worry too much about trying to make products that everyone will like. When you continue to make things that you enjoy, you become good at those things and the people who are the right customers will come along. Also, wear your safety gear!
Have you experienced a fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Oh yes, good soap making has many fails behind it. I once made 100 ounces of soap that seized up so fast after adding the fragrance oil I couldn't even get it out of the pot. It was just these big gobs of soap sticking to the spoon and sides of the pot. They couldn't even be smashed into the mold! That's when I learned about rebatching soap and lo and behold, it worked! There are so many ways to make and repurpose soap, even fails can be salvaged for household soap. I also learned to not trust a fragrance oil with a large batch right away. Always do a small test first.
What plans do you have for your business moving forward?
My online business has expanded quite a lot this past year, and I am happy to see that continue to grow as I've become more comfortable with streamlining it. Now, I'm looking to become more involved in the local markets and craft fairs as things are opening up. My goal for 2021-2022 is to get Big Sky Soap Arizona products into local businesses.
Jennifer's top Bramble Berry picks
- 4 Cavity Citrus Silicone Mold - There is no sturdier and perfectly-shaped citrus silicone mold than Bramble Berry's! I like the way they pop out so easily. Of course, it goes without saying, but all of Bramble Berry's silicone molds are of great quality.
- 10" Silicone Loaf Mold - I have a number of the 10-inch molds and they make perfect sliced bars for cold process and melt and pour. I love that they don't need wooden frames.
- Sandalwood Vanilla Fragrance Oil - There are so many top-quality fragrance oils offered, but my favorite would be Sandalwood Vanilla. It smells lovely on its own and can also be added to other oils to add a little classy sweetness.
- Color Blocks - I make melt and pour soaps also, and Bramble Berry's Color Blocks save a lot of time and utensils. They're little but they pack a punch of color!
What’s your favorite Bramble Berry project?
Currently, my favorite would have to be the Rose Clay and Charcoal Soap project. Rose clay has such a soft and pretty pink color. I even use rose petals grown from my neighbor's garden for this one! My very first project was the Beginner's Cold Process Soap Kit. I am so glad I started with that. I remember being a little nervous, so having the instructions and perfect ingredients was a big help and allowed me to have fun that I wouldn't have had if I had tried to buy all the ingredients outright.
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