Featured seller: The Cottage Soap Co.

Travel, wine and a love for natural products has led Otago-based Amy Burke down the path to The Cottage Soap Co., her handmade soaps and skincare business. Her passion for good food and wine has translated to a skincare range characterised by rich essential oils, so delicious they’re almost edible!

What do you make?
I make luxuriously natural skincare and soaps. Currently I have released my hand cream and face cream with rosehip oil, but I have so much more in the pipeline.

How did you get into your craft?
After working in the wine and restaurant industry for a long time I knew it was time to discover my other passions. I have always had a love for all things natural. I’m grateful to still be part of the wine industry because of the amazing people that we work with and have got to know, and everyone can appreciate a good glass of vino at the end of the day.

Your favourite materials, tools and processes?

Essential oils, dried rose buds, rosehip oil and coconut oil. Yum! Almost better than making cupcakes!
 

galleryWhat inspires you?
Travel – we love to travel. Especially Europe, for the wine, the scenery, the produce.

Is there a philosophy behind your work?
My philosophy is to be natural as well as practical. To create something that will benefit you and your life everyday.



Five words that describe your mind:
Dreamy and full of creative clutter… My heart has more control unfortunately.

Your favourite feedback from a customer:
I recently had a customer that suffered from sensitive skin and couldn’t use any of the products from the supermarkets or pharmacies. I told her to give my goats’ milk soap a try, which she did. Now she claims it’s the only thing she can use and she loves it. Fantastic!

Describe your workspace:
My kitchen used to be for creating edible masterpieces, however now it seems to be over-run with my skincare products and soap making utensils. I ‘should’ be getting slimmer due to the lack of baking I do now! Unfortunately that’s not the case…

What are you currently listening to?
Red Hot Chilli PeppersOne Hot Minute. Fun and cheesey at the same time. Dave Navaro adds an unusal dimension to this album.



Recommend an album:
Jake Bugg – Self Titled Album – (He wrote the Lightning Bolt song from the Gatorade ad).

Your favourite childhood book?
The B.F.G. by Roald Dahl. Loved it and when I had finished that book I read every other book he wrote.

What are you reading now?
Every Bastard Says No – The 42 Below Story. Very inspiring.

A favourite quote: You only get one chance to make a first impression…!

Do you have any pets?
Yes, I have two dogs (Chopper, a six year old old border collie and Belle, a two year old huntaway/collie cross) and Tiggy and Alley, two black cats. It’s like a zoo at our place!



What was the last handmade item you bought?
I bought a homemade candle from the Kandle Co. It’s delightful and I have recommended her products to many of my wholesalers.

Visit Amy’s Felt shop to see her full range of luxurious skin products. Amy has kindly offered one lucky Felt blog reader a prize of a set of her lovely hand and face creams, worth $36.50. To be in to win, leave a comment below, telling us what inspires you about Amy’s story and her products. The draw will be made on Friday 30 August and is open to New Zealand residents only.

18 thoughts on “Featured seller: The Cottage Soap Co.

  1. I love the way you are making something that is affordable and natural for us to use. Awesome displays and I love goats milk products. I wish you every success going forward and look forward to your pipeline dreams coming true.

  2. It is inspiring to me to see natural skin care products that are not only good for you but look gorgeous. Often when buying natural products there is no aesthetic beauty in them so it doesn’t feel like such a treat or luxury. I can see you put alot of love into your work and I’m sure you will do really well.Good luck 🙂
    Maggie

  3. Lovely to see beautiful natural products. A real credit to you Amy.You say you are not baking because you are busy making your lovely range, but the soaps look good enough to eat.

  4. Amy i purchased your hand cream at the elements market,you
    May remember i hesitated on the citrus essential oils..my son was hit by a truck in kailoura (march this year) and as a result was in icu for several days.its every mothers worst nightmare.the stress came out through my fingers of all places – they split & wouldnt heal.it was terribly painful.i have tried every product i can,but its not until i have started using your cream that i am finaly getting some relief!!!! I swear by your hand cream,it really softens my skin,easing the pain.i cant wait to try more of your goodies,i am converted
    Thank you so so much amy 🙂

  5. I hope boutique soaps and creams. There is something really special in them. Natural as well as practical I love it. I haven’t tried goats milk soap before but I should it sounds divine.

  6. I love Amy’s philosophy – be natural as well as practical. Day to day everyone is so busy with so many different things and taking a little time out for yourself to relax and indulge in something natural and made with love always makes you feel refreshed! and adds that special pick me up that we all need after a hectic day. Amy’s story is inspiring and I look forward to following her progress with her products.

  7. I also have sensitive skin and cannot use products from the supermarket and love anything natural and practical. Congrats they look truly beautiful. I have send your information to my friends and family in the hope they will also try some of your lovely things. Best of luck to you Amy, I wish you all the best with you ventures.

  8. Oooh they do look edible! I love the way you’ve stamped the goats milk soap, a lovely simple way to add something extra to the product. Good on you for following your heart and heading down this path. All the best.

  9. Your products look superb, so delicious that they do look almost edible… I love that your passion for ‘natural’ is infused in your products and boy what a gorgeous array of products you have. I’m also very keen to read the 42 below story too… way to go Amy!

  10. A true home grown cottage industry. I would love to see everyone in New Zealnd use/ buy products like this, it would make a huge different to our economy . You can’t beat natural . I’m coming down to otago later in the year will defiantly look out for your products. Good luck with your ventures.

  11. What a great feature Amy! It is always interesting to learn a little more about the maker behind the label. The product shots are beautiful and the packaging is so lovely – I feel like I can almost smell the floral scents.

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