The Art of Making Artisan Soaps

To Michelle Burns making soap is an art. By changing the colors in the bar, the scents and the design, Burns has been making soap for the past 20 years and her business has expanded over the years to include face masques, shea butter, essential oils, hair care and soap nuts – which can be used as detergent.

"You can layer, swirl and marble it," Burns said.

Her Riverdale Park- based business, Mystic Water Soaps, can often be found at the weekly farmers market. With over 400 ingredients and 160 essential oils, Burns makes her products for those that want a natural product to use on their skin and hair.

She started making soap while she was in Italy, Burns said, because she was always interested in old-fashioned crafts.

"Making soap takes a unique patience," she said. "You don't see immediately what the result is going to be."

She said it takes about 24 hours to set and then she must wait six weeks to try the bar. Although it took her three years to perfect her base formula, she loves being able to experiment with various combinations to create a new soap.

"When people ask me for things, or I'm curious about a new product, I'll try to make it," Burns said. " A customer in Greenbelt asked me to make a shampoo bar – so I tried to make one."

Customers have told her it's the best shampoo, even for African hair.

The shampoo bar contains coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter, castor oil, marshmallow root, dissolved silk, honey and essential oils. Once the ingredients are cooked on a stovetop, Burns adds Moroccan oil to the liquid.

Although the shampoo bar is popular, she said her biggest accomplishment is the salt soap, which is a natural line of soaps with plant essential oils.

The perfect soap, she said, lathers nicely, lasts for a long time and doesn't dry the skin.

Burns is still developing new products – including a shaving soap for men.

"This gives me a lot of satisfaction," she said, " and a lot of gratification."

She names her soaps after places she's travelled to and people in her life.

"Lapis Lazuli" is named after a stone Burns found when visit Agra, the home of the Taj Mahal in India. The blue stone has white and gold like the swirls in the soap and "Lilac Wood" is named after a place in the book, The Last Unicorn, and was created specifically for the Maryland Fairy Festival.

Burns said although she sells her products at various markets, fairs and festivals throughout the year, she also has partnered with corporations to provide birthday gifts to their employees and create gifts for the holidays. She'll also make items by special request.

Contact Burns on her website.