It all started with my hair. After working so hard to get the dreadlocks of my dreams, I couldn’t bring myself to pay the ridiculous prices dread shampoo bars were selling for. “Come on,” I thought, “how hard can this be?”

One day after finding an intriguing book in the library, I decided to experiment making my own soap and shampoo bars at home. After a few attempts and a couple of sudsy bath time tests, I felt confident that I had developed a high quality, all natural hand-crafted product. I gave a few bars away to my friends. They loved it and I took great pride in the fruit of my labour.

I discovered that the same essential oils and ingredients I had put into my dread shampoo bar (peppermint, tea tree oil, rosemary) also were used when looking for natural ways to control fleas in pets. I gave a few bars away to the ‘dog people’ in my life and they loved it too! (My wife has since discovered it is also amazing bar laundry soap and a darn good stain remover - we currently sell this soap as the Undercover Grubber Scrubber as a part of our baby line.)

It wasn’t until my daughter Sophia was born that I considered making soap as a source of extra income to provide for my growing family. I then decided the way to go was to make a soap especially for my baby girl. I did my research and developed the Sophie’s Sensitive Soother Soap, with Chamomile, Calendula and Chickweed. My dear wife at first only used it to be polite, but she soon discovered that if Sophia ever had any rash or redness, a quick bath with my soap took it right away. It’s now not only my mother-in-law’s favourite soap, but a hit with any of our friends with various skin sensitivities.

It was at this point we began selling soap to family and friends and at local craft fairs too. We received tremendous intellectual, financial and emotional help in developing our business through the fine people at EMBERS. We were proud to be chosen as a business that was supported and coached by our pals at SIFE at BCIT.

The overwhelming response we have received from anyone who has used the soap has encouraged us to sell to local retailers, so ask your favourite local retailer to stock our goods! (see “contact”page for details)

Slowly, one step at a time, Jah Jireh Family Soapworks continues to grow by making small batch boutique soap, using ingredients that you can pronounce, that I personally test and am honoured to present to you.

I made this soap for my family, but I am honoured to share it with yours. I hope that you enjoy it as much as we do.

Sincerely,

P. Wade Pallister

Soapmaster

Photo courtesy of Sandra Vander Schaaf Photography