Our Story
Growing up in a rural village in southern China, "handmade" wasn't a trend—it was our way of life. Living without running water or consistent electricity taught me the beauty of minimalism and the deep value of things created by hand. When I moved to the city with my family, I saw how modern ease often compromises our well-being and the environment. This inspired my mission to harmonize contemporary life with traditional wisdom and simplicity.
My journey eventually led me to Vancouver, Canada, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in Food Science. My years in the food industry provided a vital foundation in product formulation, rigorous quality control, and the functional use of food-grade ingredients. Even then, my heart remained in the craft; I spent my free time formulating soaps and skincare for those closest to me.
After years of living in Melbourne, Australia, my husband and I settled in the Pacific Northwest to raise our two children. As a mother, I became hyper-aware of the synthetic chemicals in everyday products. Now that my children are older, I am rolling up my sleeves to return to my passion. I’m grateful to my niece for suggesting our name, my children for their technical support and patience, and my husband for his unwavering support, despite his sensitivity to scents -- though he's happy to stay on the "scent-free" side of the house!
Thank you for choosing our soaps and being part of our story.
Lots of love from Kenmore, WA,
Daphne, Founder
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Why Choose Dear Daphne's Soaps?
The Beauty of True Soap: Many people have a misconception that soap bars are drying after using mass produced bars because the natural glycerin—a powerful humectant (a moisturizer)—is often removed to make lotions. In my traditional cold-process method, all that skin-loving glycerin stays right in the bar. By keeping the glycerin intact and carefully "superfatting" my recipes with extra nourishing oils and butters, I create a bar that cleanses effectively without that tight, dry feeling often associated with mass-market alternatives.
A Science-Minded Approach: As a former Food Scientist, I don't just make soap—I formulate it. My background in the food industry taught me the importance of precision, from balancing fatty acid profiles to sourcing antioxidant-rich functional ingredients. I’ve carried that professional commitment to food safety and quality control into my soap studio, ensuring that every product meets a high standard of excellence and consistency.
Premium Ingredients: The heart of my work is built on quality ingredients. I select oils and butters not only based on their skin loving factors but their oxidative stability. This creates a longer-lasting, conditioned feel that keeps the bar fresh for a longer time. While most of my collection is plant-based, I intentionally offer specialty bars that utilize nutrient-dense ingredients like local honey, kefir, and upcycled, pasture-raised tallow. By transforming these ethically sourced, food-grade byproducts into skin-loving resources, we are able to honor traditional wisdom while actively reducing waste in our local ecosystem.
Botanical Colors: While synthetic colorants are cheaper and produce eye-catching "vibrant" colors, they are often not biodegradable. I choose to challenge myself by creating unique colorways using botanicals and clays that are biodegradable and gentle on our ecosystem.
100% Natural Scents: I forgo synthetic fragrances in favor of pure essential oils and natural fragrances even though at a much higher price. They offer a simple, nature-derived scent that breaks down easily in our ecosystem.
Eco-Conscious Packaging: True quality includes environmental responsibility. From our labels to our shipping boxes, we exclusively use plastic-free, biodegradable, and recyclable packaging. We’ve thoughtfully designed our process to ensure that while our soaps nourish your skin, they leave no trace on the earth.