But for many who don’t have the time for a luxurious soak, why not turn showers into a pampering experience with handcrafted soaps from Artisan Suds.
The business offers a range of calming scents from lavender to rose, turmeric ginger spice, calendula lime and lemongrass pine.
“I make my soaps from scratch using a blend of plant-based oils and butters such as shea butter, olive, coconut, palm, castor and neem oils,” said Mandy Tan, founder and owner of Artisan Suds.
Tan handcrafts these soaps in small batches using the cold process method, an age-old technique which uses sodium hydroxide, or lye, to turn oils and butters into soaps.
“It’s like baking a cake. I choose ingredients that are nourishing for the skin and for scents, I mostly use essential oil blends and skin-safe fragrance oils. The possibilities and combinations are endless, and I love that it’s an ongoing learning experience for me,” the 54-year-old enthused.
Her soaps, she added, do not contain paraben, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) and silicon fillers. Instead, they are full of natural glycerin that keeps one’s skin soft and hydrated.
Despite an obvious love for the craft, Tan revealed her foray into soap-making only started in 2021. She was formerly a banker, and for 25 years at that!
Still, she always enjoyed artistic endeavours like painting and cross-stitch. “Making beautiful things is therapeutic to me,” she said.
The onset of the pandemic in 2020, she added, gave her the opportunity to re-evaluate her life. “It made me think if this was what I wanted to do until I retired,” she recalled.
She eventually quit her job, and while she initially enjoyed the slower pace of life, she soon found herself restless. Then, she came across a book she had bought over two decades ago about the cold process method.
“I was so fascinated when I bought the book, but I was busy with family and work that I didn’t have the time or energy to do it.”
She decided to give soap-making a go and found herself hooked after completing her first batch. “When a friend asked me to make soaps for her Christmas gifts, I started considering the possibility of turning my hobby into a business,” she said. That eventually led to the birth of Artisan Suds in late 2022.
Today, she has expanded her range of soaps, and introduced solid shampoo and conditioner bars. She even accepts custom orders.
While she is enjoying her newfound career, she admitted that it has been far from easy, especially since she is running the entire operation – from marketing to production – on her own.
“After being an employee for so long, entrepreneurship is a different ball game. But I’m always keen to learn,” she said.
She also appreciates the support of Persatuan Pembangunan Artisans (PPA), an NGO that helps local artisans widen their reach via its online channel, physical stores and pop-up events.
“I am grateful for PPA’s assistance to increase my distribution channels by marketing my products at their outlets at Berjaya Times Square and Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. As a small business, this creates more brand awareness and sales opportunities,” she said.
Looking to the future, Tan plans to expand her product range and grow her business at a steady and sustainable pace.
“What keeps me going is when customers share that they enjoy my handmade products. I particularly love to introduce my soaps to new users and encourage them on their self-care journey.
“To me, it’s like spreading joy and positivity into the world, one soap at a time,” she concluded.
To purchase, head over to Artisan Suds’ website or visit:
Room 309 Retail Spaces
Lot 100-G.041 (C)
Block J, The School
Jaya One
72A, Jalan Profesor Diraja Ungku Aziz
Sekysen 13
46200 Petaling Jaya
Business hours: 10am–9.30pm daily
Follow Artisan Suds on Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. For enquiries, contact 011-5417 7255 or send a message via Facebook and Instagram.
Read more PPA stories and get to know its artisans here.