Carol McMillan Soap Manufacturer

I take pride in personally hand-making all of the soaps, creams, balm etc. myself, here in my workshop and smallholding in the Scottish hills. After sixteen years, I am still totally committed to genuinely hand-making products in small quantities, using only top quality ingredients.

• Traditionally hand-made soap
• The goodness of goats' milk
• Natural ingredients
• Balms and creams -kind to skin and many uses

Traditionally hand-made soap
The term 'hand-made' is confusing. It can be used for ready-made soap that is bought in, melted, bits added and poured into moulds. I like to invent my own recipes and choose ingredients for specific skin types. Like my customers, I like to know what is in my soap! I also have Department of Trade and Industry Safety Assessment Certificates for my products.

The goodness of goats' milk
Moisturizing milk from my own small herd of dairy goats enhances many of my soaps.

I tend the goats daily and continue to hand milk. My herd's high-quality yield is ensured through grazing organic pasture, supplemented by local meadow hay and home-mixed cereals. During the winter when the weather is harsh, comfort is found in a spacious straw-bedded wooden barn. On the rare occasion when nature needs a helping hand, I always prefer to use homeopathic remedies.

Natural ingredients
Only natural spring water is used in my recipes.

My organic garden provides me with most of the ingredients used for the scented soaps - herbal infusions and pure flower petals and herbs, which I hand pick. These include calendula, chamomile, comfrey, lavender, rose, rosemary and many others as I introduce new recipes.

Much of the fun of soapmaking for me comes from selecting tempting natural ingredients from my workshop shelves.

Balms and creams - kind to skin and many uses
I often receive letters from people with sensitive skin. They are delighted to find that my range allows them to enjoy using soaps again.

I am glad that customers are also enjoying the Balmpots I started to make last year. They are kind to the skin and have many different uses. Weary Foot Balm is welcome after shopping, as is Muscle Masseur to ease aches after all that heavy shopping. Calm Balm may make it all possible! Winter Balm can soothe a cold. And of course Land of Nod can help you get a good night's sleep. Don't forget Lip and Hooter Balm!

Pure Peace of Mind cream now has honey added. The number of customers who write to tell me of the comfort that this cream brings always encourages me. I get news of it being used as a rich night cream for more mature complexions and I am among those who feel the benefits! I was thrilled with the results that came from following a customer's suggestion - she applies the cream on hands and feet followed by little cotton gloves and socks, which are left on overnight. The results were wonderful (however the gloves made turning book pages a bit tricky!) Babies' bottoms, hand cream, flaky skin, nourishment to strengthen nails, sunburn - the list goes on. Please keep sending suggestions.

And I have just introduced the new Organic Scottish Hand Made Cashmere range to my growing collection. Soap, shower wash, and body milk.All made with the milk from my cashmere goats. Total luxury.

Carol McMillan Soap Manufacturer