  
Welcome to my garden, where in the midst of my herbs, a small cottage
industry grows. Since 1994, near the hustle and bustle of Washington,
DC, Leslie's Garden Handcrafted Soaps has quietly flourished, a reminder
of a simpler time, when local crafts people provided for a community's
needs.
At Leslie's Garden, handcrafted is synonymous with quality. Inspired by
the gifts of the garden, small batches of premium handmade soap are
carefully made from scratch, and kettle-stirred in the cold process
tradition. Using 100% vegetable oils, olive, coconut and palm I create
soap that feels soft and silky on the skin and rinses clean.
Each 4 oz bar has extra oils and butters added to further enhance its
skin care qualities. I typically use castor oil, shea butter and cocoa
butter to create bars that are emollient and have a luxurious lather.
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My
soaps are full of glycerin. Glycerin, a natural by-product of the
soapmaking process, is a humectant, a substance that draws moisture to
the skin.
In an attempt to capture the sweet fragrances of my herb garden, I
create original scent blends formulated from pure essential oils --
natural scents that are created by steam distillation of aromatic herbs,
flowers and trees.
The elusive fragrance that lingers in my garden is the spirit of my
herbs and flowers -- it is mysterious and leaves you sniffing for more.
I try to capture that quality by creating essential oil blends that are
pleasing and long-lasting but in no way overpowering. This is part of
the magic found in Leslie's Garden Handmade Soaps.
A wide range of lovely soft tints -- golds, pinks, tans, blues and
greens -- are achieved through the addition of cosmetic clays, oxides or
traditionally healing herbs or grains.
My soaps are cut by hand, set aside for a curing period and then
carefully wrapped in a simple paper sleeve. I only test on eager,
willing human friends and family members. |