Established in 2018
Hello friends & strangers! I’m Roberta, owner and operator of Lund Soap Company!
I began my soap crafting journey on a whim in early 2018 and have been hooked ever since. I’ve always enjoyed baking, and would partake in seasonal old-timey crafts like preserving, canning and pickling - so soap was a likely continuation for me. I set out to make unique bars that were easy on the eyes, like a little bit of art to bring in the shower, or have beside the sink, and replace every month or so.
Each batch is handmade, using original recipes, and no two bars are identical.
The entire process is very therapeutic and enjoyable, from measuring, mixing, to cutting the individual bars. I’m always concocting new recipes and scent combinations in the back of my head. My recipes showcase some of the local bounty that ranges from blackberries, salmonberries, goat milk and seaweed.
My great granny was a soaper, so you could say it’s in my blood. I've been told stories of her boiling cauldron of toxic smelling soap, and how the lye had spilled onto the old Turkish rug and burned a hole through to the floorboards. I've strayed from her ways by switching to the cold process method instead of hot process. Producing a mild and gentle bar with superfatting skin loving properties that will leave your skin healthy and moisturized. I use an array of plant based oils and butters, quality essential oils and all natural colourants - clays, botanicals and such to create a natural yet effective soap. The tradition may have skipped a couple generations but I’d like to think she would approve.
When I’m not making soap - or busy with the behind the scenes aspect of running a business, I’m working at my day job, at VCH Home Support, as a care aid. I assist the elderly in the community to continue to thrive in their homes while staying safe, happy and healthy. It’s an incredibly rewarding line of work and I’ve learned so much, and made friendships that I will cherish forever.
In my downtime I’m out hiking with my pup Sunny in the trails and old roads around Lund, which I’ve called home since 2007. I’ve been visiting Lund, and nearby Savary Island since the early 90’s. Enjoying the pristine white sand beaches and friendly laid back lifestyle. I spent my summers on Savary while growing up, at my grandmother’s small rustic cabin in the woods, and can only now look back at just how lucky I was. After graduating high school in the Comox Valley I moved to Lund and truly fell in love with the quirky little town at the end of the road, full of characters and kind souls.
Everyone can have a bit of Lund in their lives, whether you’ve had the chance to visit, would like to one day, or have spent years of your life here.
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From the Earth,
for the body
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Our Process
Our soaps are made by hand in small 20 bar batches using the cold process soap making method.
Cold process soap is made when lye, water and oil is combined, blended, poured into molds and left to cure before cutting - to put it simply. We prefer to create the soap batter close to 100 degrees, after the lye water has had ample time to cool. While the lye is cooling, we carefully measure, warm and blend an array of oils and butters, the oils are brought up to the same temperature as the lye before being carefully combined.
The saponification process yields a smooth pudding like consistency and a favourable base for adding colourants, suspending botanicals and holding designs. The following day the soap is un-molded and cut by hand into bars. Each bar will then cure for 4-6 weeks in a climate controlled room to ensure a stable and a long lasting bar of soap.
Pure Essential Oils
Natural is best. Essential oils are concentrated extractions directly distilled from plant material. The distillation process turns the “essence” of a plant into a liquefied form for many medicinal and recreational uses. From the beginning our priority has been to use high quality ingredients to produce a high quality product, choosing essential oils to scent our products was the right choice for us.
Oils & Buters
We use an array of nourishing oils to sooth and aid in replenishing the skins natural moisture barrier. Our recipes are designed with this in mind by super-fatting, which is when a certain amount of oil remains after the saponification process takes place.
Infusions
Oil infusions are a labour of love, and not to be rushed. For example, we harness the healing power of our homegrown calendula for use in numerous products by first infusing sweet almond oil. In order to use calendula to its full potential the flower head is dried before allowing an entire gallon jar to be filled with oil and steeped for 8 weeks. We use a similar process for infusing other medicinal herbs such as lavender and St. John’s wort for use in salves and solid body butter bars.
Natural Colorants
From annatto to white willow, the world of natural colourants offers every colour under the sun if you have the patience to unlock them. Some colourants can be tricky to master - I'm looking at you indigo - and others, such as clays are dependable and straightforward. In the world of soaping, trial an error reign supreme when learning how to achieve the look you’re going for, and sometimes, happy little mistakes happen, and it’s best to just accept them.
Botanicals
Over the course of the summer, and into fall, I am somewhat frantically harvesting, drying and processing the bounty that is bestowed on the land where I reside. The gardens aren’t lavish by any means, but I am kept busy harvesting the constantly reseeding calendula, lavender bushes, Nootka rose and a sprawling ancient rose that almost entirely encircles the fenced garden near the driveway. I also collect and freeze berries for use after the season has passed.
Beeswax
We proudly source our beeswax from BC’s lower mainland via a small company that has partnered with experienced local beekeepers. These folks are dedicated to their craft by solely earning a living by selling their beehives to customers needing help with crop pollination. The beeswax is of utmost quality, sustainable and ethically sourced by ensuring the beekeepers have the bee's health as their first priority.
Our Commitment
At Lund Soap Company we strive to produce high quality small batch soaps that leave your skin nourished, refreshed and moisturized. We also offer solid hair care products that are great while traveling, reduce your overall plastic consumption, and leave your hair feeling clean and refreshed.
Our paper products used in packaging are either a recycled product, recyclable and/or compostable.
The seed paper packaging we use for our haircare products is proudly made within Canada from recycled materials with both pollinators and local economies in mind.
We reduce our carbon footprint by using regional suppliers, all within Canada, the majority being within B.C & Alberta.
We do not, and will never, test our products on animals.