About Us
Crafted in the woods of New Hampshire. Inspired by curiosity, fueled by herbs, and made with heart.
Hi, I’m Karen — owner, soapmaker, and the hands (and heart) behind Hemlock Springs Soaps.
My first foray into soapmaking was back in my Girl Scout days — a lumpy bar of tallow soap that smelled… ambitious. My parents kept it hidden in the bathroom cabinet for years (true love, right?). But that little bar lit the spark.
Fast forward a few decades: no Pinterest, no YouTube, just a stack of library books and a bottle of courage. One eight-hour session with lye later, I was hooked. Soapmaking became my creative obsession — part chemistry, part alchemy, all heart.
What started as weekend experiments turned into a lifelong craft. By 2013, I’d traded the corporate grind for a soap pot, and Hemlock Springs Soaps was officially born.
Every bar we make celebrates simple ingredients, small batches, and a little sass.
We believe skincare should feel good, smell amazing, and make you smile every time you step into the shower.
What We Believe In
✦ Ingredients you can pronounce (and that your skin will actually like)
✦ Craftsmanship that honors both tradition and creativity
✦ Cruelty-free living — our rescue cats and spoiled chickens would insist on it
✦ Small-batch, slow-made skincare that feels good and does good
We’re tucked deep in the woods of New Hampshire, where winters are long, the stars are bright, and the soap pot is always bubbling. It’s just me, my husband, and our slightly unhinged farm crew — a mix of handicats, chatty hens, and a few unexpected invertebrates who keep life weird.
And yes… I still have a tiny sliver of that first bar I ever made. It’s my daily reminder that curiosity and courage can take you anywhere — even to the best soap in New Hampshire.
Thanks for being here. Your skin (and your shower) are officially in good hands.
—Karen
Soapmaker | Owner | Reluctant Winter Shoveler
Hemlock Springs Soaps, LLC