Behind the Scents: June Edition

WELL, THAT ESCALATED QUICKLY

I'm sure that, as much as we're all trying to not get bogged down by the news, that we all know what's been going on and what just happened. Truth be told, it's event season so it's been easy to bury my head in work because when I do come up for air, I'm mortified, and downright PISSED to see what's going on in my country. So while I've been fighting in my own ways, I've also been trying my hardest to stay focused while simultaneously peeling time off for my own mental health. I can't create well when I'm mentally stuffed which is why our seasonal releases look a bit different this year. Sure, Soap Distillery is a brand, but that brand is run by a human being who is very worried about what the future holds for all of us.

Sometimes it feels like nothing is thriving, not even myself, but then the other day, one of my plants that started it's bloom cycle last year bloomed again! I honestly thought after the first bloom that it was just going to die, but then BOOM: Yet another flower. And this little plant...wow, it's really been through it. Weird watering cycles, being jostled around while I reorganized, being far too dry for too long, losing limbs every time it's moved and most likely a ton more that I can't remember didn't seem to hold this guy down because look at this flower! The first photo is right before it opened and the second is well...open. :) That day was a hopeless feeling day, until I saw that flower. Hot damn. Keep fighting. 

RAINBOW IS ALMOST GONE!

Thank you all SO much for showing up and purchasing this bar this year! I've only got maybe 80 of these bars left, and once they are gone, they are truly gone for the season. This soap, made with my two hands, takes six times longer to make than every other soap we sell because each layer has to be treated like it's its own soap. All this labor to show my allyship because damn do we need each other more than ever right now. 

I'll be donating 10% of profits to Brave Space Alliance (https://www.bravespacealliance.org/) this year which is a great organization located on the south side of Chicago. Brave Space Alliance (BSA) is a Black trans-led LGBTQ+ center on the South Side of Chicago that creates and provides affirming and culturally competent services for the entire LGBTQ+ community of Chicago. Rooted in their Four Pillars of Dignity of Health, Housing, Food, and Identity, BSA provides dignified essential services, develops programs and initiatives for individuals and families, co-creates community spaces of care and connection, and conducts advocacy on issues that directly impact Trans, LGBQ+, and Black communities.

Just about every community currently needs some kind of support, and there is no better time to love thy neighbor unselectively. We are all stronger together. Please snag a bar so we can make a great donation.

SUMMER VIBES COMIN' IN HOTT 🥵

While I work on some late summer releases (check out the gardening hand kit below...it's coming soon along with a NEW DISTILLER'S SERIES SCENT!), I've been absolutely LOVING my summer curation collection to bring me some bright and summery fragrance every morning. I've been switching my soaps up and rotating between the Long Island Iced Tea on a typical day, Desert Lavender on more stressful days, and Mint Mojito for those days where I've been draggin' a**. We allllll seem to be having days like that recently. Then, I've been scrubbing with the Agave + Salted Peel Solid Scrub Bar when I need a little extra skin smoothing (especially today where the legs are out because it's been HOTTTTTT), and then soothing my skin with the En Provence Body Oil which now has a pump top and it's easier to dispense the product. 🩷The Pink Grapefruit Lavender candle is now exclusively burning in the kitchen, so it always smells like a Parisian market while she's burning :)

COMING SOON!

I've got TWO new products coming soon! First up: remember that Distiller's Series Bar Soap that's been kicking my a**? Well, I finally bested the soap and it'll be on the site very soon! We've got a little Fourth of July sale coming and they will be up on the site then. 

Secondly, my Gardener's Hand Care Kit is almost ready! I've got an amazing hand scrub that I developed specifically for these needs, as well as a super creamy hand cream jam packed with shea butter, sunflower oil, and aloe juice. 

This set is going to be dynamite, not just for gardener's, but also for folks who do a lot of stuff with their hands! Bike mechanics, car mechanics, plumbers, and more will find this set to be wonderful for their skin :) This set launches mid July AND will be available wholesale.

Stay strong, and keep fighting the good fight.