The Story Behind Simpli Artisan

Everyone has a unique journey, with a meandering path that takes them through life in many unexpected ways. My path has led me in so many directions, but I’ve been committed to this journey for many years.

My soaping story began more than 11 years ago, after I spent a weekend at an historic B&B in Orange, Virginia, and the innkeeper provided artisan soaps and lotions. I fell in love with these items, and became obsessed with researching what is used in mass-produced body products and how I could learn to create my own items.

I researched, experimented, took a class, researched some more and made soaps that my family and friends raved about. Thus Simplí Artisan was born. I am a woman of Irish descent who at times can be pretty forthright, so I felt the Gaelic word simplí (pronounced shem-play) aligned with my ideal in making good-for-you items without a lot of unnecessary fluff.

The word simplí literally means ‘simple and straightforward,’ and that is the approach I take with most of the items I create.

You know how personal trainers and dietitians always mention “clean eating” as being beneficial for us (and our waistlines)? I think the same can be said for soap and many skin & grooming items. Early in this journey I looked at mass-produced soaps, lotions, lip balms and shaving gels. While I admit I never took Latin in high school, I was a bit overwhelmed by the long list of chemicals and artificially rendered ingredients (and harsh detergents) in products made to cleanse the skin—among other products I used on my skin.

It might be worth adding that I am not totally granola crunchy, either. I have full respect for scientific advances in anti-aging creams, cavity-inhibiting toothpastes and medicines. But isn’t it ironic that marketing efforts and cosmetic companies are spending billions of dollars to promote “natural” ingredients in products? [Read more about that in “What’s in Your Soap?” as well as a description of some ingredients I use in my products on the About page.]

I follow best practices in manufacturing in a dedicated soaping studio and strive to make high-quality artisan soaps and body products from scratch with my own tested formulations.

Since the beginning, Simpli Artisan has been guided by a simple idea: make quality soaps and body products with thoughtfully chosen ingredients—and skip the unnecessary extras. We believe you don’t need a long list of complicated or superfluous ingredients to create something that feels luxurious and works beautifully.

That philosophy is at the heart of everything we make. Because simple isn’t basic. It’s intentional.

Go raibh maith agat

(Gaelic for “may good be at you,” or thank you!)

I WILL GET OFF MY SOAP BOX NOW. Thanks for reading. ~Julie