A company that is dedicated to creating handcrafted soap that would make Nana proud!

I descended from several generations who lived in Appalachia. Fortunately for me, life is much easier than when my Grandmother “Nana” was raising her family. Through her efforts, my mother had the luxury of a more refined life. This in turn led to a better life for me. However, in time I found that an “easier” life is not necessarily a better life. While I have had many more opportunities than Nana, to pursue education and a career, I also am challenged with more problems and stress associa...

I descended from several generations who lived in Appalachia. Fortunately for me, life is much easier than when my Grandmother “Nana” was raising her family. Through her efforts, my mother had the luxury of a more refined life. This in turn led to a better life for me. However, in time I found that an “easier” life is not necessarily a better life. While I have had many more opportunities than Nana, to pursue education and a career, I also am challenged with more problems and stress associated with city living. This led me to think about all the stories Nana told while we sat on the porch on warm summer evenings. She described life in a very simple era when most of her needs were met by homemade items. She sewed, she gardened, she raised livestock, and she grew fruit trees and gathered nuts in the fall. She also made homemade soap. The process of making soap was passed to her by her mother and before that by her grandmother and as she told the story, the art of soap making was passed down from generation to generation. Finally, that tradition was passed to me. As a child, I listened to those stories and doubted I would ever need to “make soap.” But, as I grew older, those memories of the stories on that porch became more powerful and compelling. As a grown woman, I can relate to the challenges Nana faced. Surely the problems are different in nature, but the struggle to overcome is much the same. I recently realized that there was a way to return to a more simple life. That path was described to me in much detail by Nana many years ago. I can’t relive her life. What I can do is continue a small part of the tradition passed down by my family. This part is to carefully craft a homemade soap that revives the very essence of the Cumberland area of Appalachia. My family helped settle this area and the things they made at home were created with pride and passion. I bring this tradition to my business. Our soaps hold true to traditional methods. Just as Nana did, I select only the finest ingredients and ensure there are no impurities in the finished product. Hand crafted soap should be more than something you use at bath time. It should recharge you after a hard day’s work or energize you to face another day. I long for a more simple time where there aren’t so many distractions. My company is dedicated to bringing that reality to life. We are Cumberland Soap Co., and making a product that would make Nana proud is our passion.