It all started...
...with an Etsy search for candles. More specifically, LOTR candles. My sisters and I have a tradition of getting each other LOTR gifts for birthdays and Christmas and it was one of those gift searches that awakened my curiosity. “Hey,” I thought. “I could just make my own fantasy candles!” Of course, several searches later I came across all the pretty soaps. Swirly soaps, frosted soaps, flowery soaps, artistic soaps – I had no idea this was a thing. A couple days later, I checked out my Etsy cart – with two candles for sis #2 and two soap-making kits for me. After seeing how easy and satisfying it was to make soap, a business idea started to form. Of course, at that time, there wasn’t a fantasy element to my soaps. That came later.
I have a deep, very intense love for all things fantasy. Like most fantasy writers, the desire to write stemmed from being an avid reader and reaching the end of the fantasy section at my local Barnes & Noble. An adventurer at heart, when I can’t roam, I want to escape. Fantasy fills that for me. So I began to write my own stories, create my own worlds with characters I love. I’m somewhere around 25+ story starts but I’m a perfectionist and have yet to send anything in for publication.
You’re probably wondering how this relates to Swords & Soapery. Well, one day I was sitting at my desk trying to think of how to name my products when some ridiculous fantasy tropes started to pop in my head. The first soap I named was a pink and white swirly rose-scented soap that had a rose petal and rose-gold mica top. Unfortunately, this particular recipe was not a beginner recipe but I didn't realize that at the time. In my frustration, I told my husband "she" was like a Defiant Damsel. Next came the Royal Farm Boy followed by Reluctant King. Of course, every good fantasy story has a Bumbling Wizard and a Cheeky Bard (look for these products in the future). After a few days of playing with the names, it occurred to me this would be a good way to marry my writing to my soap business.
So today I make all sorts of aromatherapy products that have a tie-in to the characters and worlds I’ve created in my stories. It brings an almost tangible realism to something that’s existed solely in my own head for the past decade. This marriage also provides a segway for me to put my writing out there in small snippets and build my confidence so that someday I’ll start down the path to publication.
In addition to the product stories, I also have a full website with a blog where you can find out more about my products and even some stories not yet associated with products. I have a ton of ideas beyond simply selling soap and candles and I'm excited to share them with you. In the future, I'll be offering interactive ways you can help me along my journey - like voting on new product offerings, story suggestions, a many other ways for us to become fellow adventurers.
So for now, thanks for joining me on this journey, friend. Happy adventuring!
Stephanie
Owner & Founder
Swords & Soapery Soap Co. LLC
I have a deep, very intense love for all things fantasy. Like most fantasy writers, the desire to write stemmed from being an avid reader and reaching the end of the fantasy section at my local Barnes & Noble. An adventurer at heart, when I can’t roam, I want to escape. Fantasy fills that for me. So I began to write my own stories, create my own worlds with characters I love. I’m somewhere around 25+ story starts but I’m a perfectionist and have yet to send anything in for publication.
You’re probably wondering how this relates to Swords & Soapery. Well, one day I was sitting at my desk trying to think of how to name my products when some ridiculous fantasy tropes started to pop in my head. The first soap I named was a pink and white swirly rose-scented soap that had a rose petal and rose-gold mica top. Unfortunately, this particular recipe was not a beginner recipe but I didn't realize that at the time. In my frustration, I told my husband "she" was like a Defiant Damsel. Next came the Royal Farm Boy followed by Reluctant King. Of course, every good fantasy story has a Bumbling Wizard and a Cheeky Bard (look for these products in the future). After a few days of playing with the names, it occurred to me this would be a good way to marry my writing to my soap business.
So today I make all sorts of aromatherapy products that have a tie-in to the characters and worlds I’ve created in my stories. It brings an almost tangible realism to something that’s existed solely in my own head for the past decade. This marriage also provides a segway for me to put my writing out there in small snippets and build my confidence so that someday I’ll start down the path to publication.
In addition to the product stories, I also have a full website with a blog where you can find out more about my products and even some stories not yet associated with products. I have a ton of ideas beyond simply selling soap and candles and I'm excited to share them with you. In the future, I'll be offering interactive ways you can help me along my journey - like voting on new product offerings, story suggestions, a many other ways for us to become fellow adventurers.
So for now, thanks for joining me on this journey, friend. Happy adventuring!
Stephanie
Owner & Founder
Swords & Soapery Soap Co. LLC