Today we’d like to introduce you to Holly Arjoonsingh.
Hi Holly, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started making soap in 2013 after a friend gave me soapmaking supplies for my birthday. She thought that with my science background and love of crafting, I’d take to it naturally and she was right. What began as a hobby quickly became a passion. I tapped into my science degree to guide me as I spent the next five years experimenting with different combinations of oils and butters, perfecting my formulas and sharing my creations with friends and family. Their encouragement and their constant question, “Why aren’t you selling this?”planted the seed for what would eventually become Dirty B.
In late 2017, my husband looked at me one evening and said, “Why don’t we?” Over the holidays, we brainstormed names with our kids and kept coming back to Dirty B, a playful nod to how messy I got making soap and to the honey I include in every batch. The “B” also happens to be the first letter of my husband’s pet name for me, making it a personal and meaningful choice.
I attended my first market in Garland in the spring of 2018, selling only soaps, and the response was incredible. That experience made me realize I might be onto something special. As I continued doing more events across the DFW area, I also began partnering with local breweries and a winery to create exclusive, custom co-branded beer and wine soaps for them. Meanwhile, I kept researching, testing, and refining new products until they met my standards for quality and performance.
Over the years, our lineup has grown to include lip balms, shampoo and conditioner bars, body butters, lotions, shaving soaps, sugar scrubs, and more. Each product is made with high-quality plant-based ingredients and only natural colorants, as well as a commitment to labeling and ingredient transparency. What started as a simple hobby has evolved into a small business built on creativity, science, and a love for products that make people feel good in their own skin. We are now at a point where we are looking to expand our reach by trying to get into a few boutiques through wholesale relationships, either directly or through our Faire site.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It definitely hasn’t been a completely smooth road for Dirty B. Like most small businesses, we’ve had our fair share of challenges along the way. In the beginning, we had to figure out which products and scents our customers really loved. We enjoy coming up with unique scent combinations. Sometimes an idea we were excited about didn’t quite hit the mark, or we needed to adjust a formula to get it just right.
When I decided not to use artificial colorants and dyes in my soaps, it meant doing a lot of research to find natural alternatives. It also meant accepting that I might not always achieve the exact shades I could get with synthetic colors. Every time something didn’t go as planned, we treated it as a chance to learn, adapt, and improve.
Another challenge has been educating people that not all soap is created equal and helping them understand the benefits of switching from traditional store-bought soaps to artisan-made ones. Even among handmade soaps, each formula is unique. The oils and butters used bring different qualities to the bar, such as how cleansing it is, the size of the bubbles, and how moisturizing it feels on the skin. So even if you have tried handmade soap, the experience might be different than what you get with Dirty B Soap.
When COVID hit, things got even tougher. Events were canceled, and a few of our wholesale partners had to close or shift their focus to other parts of their business. It was a hard time for everyone, but we stayed focused on what mattered most: our customers and our mission. Their support and encouragement reminded us why we started Dirty B in the first place.
Through it all, our love for what we do and the amazing community around us have kept us going. We’ve learned to roll with the ups and downs, keep creating products we’re proud of, and stay grateful for every person who chooses Dirty B.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Dirty B is an artisan bath and body essentials company that focuses on using natural colorants, natural and non-toxic fragrances, and high-quality, plant-based ingredients. Every product we make is designed to be effective, gentle, and enjoyable to use while keeping things as close to nature as possible.
Our soaps are at the heart of what we do and remain our most popular products. Some of our customer favorites include our Facial Soap with Charcoal, Turmeric, and Tea Tree; the fan-favorite Blueberry Orange; and our specialty beer, wine, and cocktail-inspired soaps like Island IPA and Old Fashioned. We’ve also developed something of a cult following for our shampoo bars, which have become one of our top-selling products over the past year.
What really sets Dirty B apart is our commitment to quality, transparency, and sustainability. We use 100% plant-based ingredients and sustainable packaging, and we take pride in creating unique scent profiles that you won’t find anywhere else. Our products are made to perform exceptionally well, and our customers can feel good about what they’re putting on their skin.
We’re also proud of the community that has grown around Dirty B. Many of our customers have been with us since the beginning, and even after trying other brands, they continue to come back because they can feel the difference. That kind of loyalty means everything to us. It tells us that the care, attention, and passion we put into every product truly makes a difference.
What’s next?
Our plans for the future are to maintain our close local ties with farmers markets and community events. continue the development of our online presence, and to expand our physical reach as a Texas brand into local boutiques and retail establishments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dirtybsoap.etsy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirtybsoap/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DirtyBSoap
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@dirtybsoap?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc
Image Credits
Keldon Arjoonsingh (my husband) took the pictures of me
