Today we’d like to introduce you to Danyah Arafat.
Hi Danyah, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got my start in October 2019 when I went with a friend to a local Grapevine brewery where they were hosting a visiting soap-making class. We learned how to make a small batch of goat milk soap and I found the whole process quite intriguing.
When the pandemic hit in March 2020 I was furloughed from my job as a senior educational travel consultant. Needing to fill my time I chose to take up soap making. I ordered a soap-making kit and made all sorts of bars – lavender, apple, sandalwood, cashmere. I gifted these first few bars, and then both family and friends began encouraging me to sell my soap. Blue Sky Soaps opened for business in September 2020.
Two years later Blue Sky Soaps is sold in several local shops and boutiques in the Dallas/Fort Worth metroplex, at artisan markets, and has a dedicated online presence. We’re also found at stores in both west and south Texas, in Colorado, and most recently landed shelf space with a national outdoor retailer. I create custom soap orders for special events and have started teaching soap-making classes.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I have many ideas about what I’d like to create but have learned to be selective with my choices so that I can count on consistent sales rather than what I want to make on a whim and doesn’t sell. On the flip side another challenge is not making enough of a certain soap, thinking it will not be popular, and then selling out quickly. This is where I tend to underestimate myself.
It has been a huge learning curve. Soap making is a blend of art and science. Many customers appreciate the “art” side of handmade soap – scents, colors, creative names – however, it is mostly about the science. This requires precise calculations of ingredients and precision in the process. All soap batches are tested and reviewed every few months for pH levels, durability, fragrance, hardness, lather, color, cleansing ability, etc. This is to ensure the product is safe for consumer use.
When I first began, I was given great advice from another soap maker who told me to get my recipes down pat to ensure that my product would be sound. She was right. There is much reading and research involved. My office shelves are full of soap-making resources. Mostly it is about having patience and a checklist each and every time that I follow when making soap. Because if the soap-making science is correct, then the art is more enjoyable to create and the soap is safe and pleasant to use.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I am the owner and soap maker of Blue Sky Soaps, a handmade artisan soap company. I specialize in creating handmade artisan soap with natural ingredients because they are better for both skin and body. I use earthy clays for color, essential oils for fragrance, rich butters and oils for moisture, and botanicals for their healing properties. Everything is packaged in recyclables, which is best for the environment. This is a Texas-born company, and many of my products are designed and named for familiar places and hallmarks of the Lone Star State. I’m a seventh-generation Texan whose maternal side comes from the Hill Country.
I am most proud of my paternal roots in soap making, as my father’s family owned and operated one of the largest olive oil soap factories in the Middle East, dating back to the 1850s. I believe that blending these two unique cultures together sets me apart from other soap creators.
My simple soaps are the most preferred: Texas Sunset with Citrus, Summer Garden with Lavender, Peppermint, and Rosemary. Spindletop with Tea Tree and Charcoal is my best-selling deep cleansing soap. I can’t keep up with the demand.
A fan favorite has been Texas Bluebonnet with Wildflower Oil. It has blue and white swirls and I top it with dried wildflowers. It’s very popular, especially during the spring wildflower season.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Hard work is most important to me. In order to make this business grow it takes a lot of time, effort, long hours, many smiles and tears, and lots of labor. I am proud of how I have built this business from the ground up and I want to continue to expand. There are moments of self-doubt to be sure, wondering if I have what it takes to keep going. But I’m so proud of what I have done thus far and everything I have learned and continue to learn – just that alone outweighs any negative chatter that I might have in my head. It’s all about the hard work, knowing what I’ve put into this labor of love and how much more I’m willing to give
Pricing:
- Handmade Artisan Soap $8/bar
- Goat Milk Lotion $10/jar
- Cotton & Linen Facecloths $15
- Ceramic Soap Dishes $25
- Lip Balms $4
Contact Info:
- Website: www.blueskysoapsllc.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blueskysoaps/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blueskysoapsllc
Image Credits
Sahar Ray
Danyah Arafat
