Superior soap maker sticks to tried and true methods
Angie Mellen’s “Mellen Patch Soaps” are quickly becoming a hit with those who have used them and word is spreading fast of their quality. (Photo courtesy Angie Mellen)
By MONTE TURNER
Mineral Independent
The Phoenicians used goat tallow and wood ashes to create soap in 600 B.C. Early Romans made soaps in the first century A.D. from urine. The Celts made their soap from animal fat and plant ashes and they named the product ‘saipo’ from which the word ‘soap’ is derived.
Aside from the Roman recipe, hand-made soap still has its roots in animal fat.
Angie Mellen, founder of Mellen Patch Soaps, is new to the industry but sticks to the proven method.
“I like to use venison tallow. We are a family of hunters and we do not like to waste so I use the fat off the venison and make tallow," Mellen said. However, one or two deer do not give you a lot of tallow, so I have been purchasing suet from Darlow’s. I make my own tallow, which is a pretty big process in its own, but it is part of doing things the old way.”
Privately handmade soaps are not new, and Mellon has been doing this a few years for holiday gift giving. But just like her artisan cakes and
cupcakes she’s been doing for over 35 years, pictures and word of exceptionalism have gotten out creating supply and demand.
“Currently I have 20 different soaps. I will be adding bath bombs, candles and wax melts, body butters, sugar scrubs in the next few weeks. I also like to make soaps with infused oils and vegan soaps that use no tallow.”
While commercial soaps are what many grab at the store because of convenience and, let’s face it, advertising, they do have deficiencies.
“Commercial soaps, though called soap, are detergents that include chemical hardeners and foaming agents. In my opinion these are hard on your skin and drying. When I use store soap my skin feels coated or dry. I do not get that with handmade soaps,” Mellen said. “They are
more moisturizing and because they are made with oils this creates glycerin which is also moisturizing on the skin. Because handmade soap is made with no chemicals often people who have sensitive skin find that they love these soaps.“
Does a person wake up one morning and say to themselves, ‘I’m going to start making soap?’ Maybe, but not in Mellen’s case.
“I love learning new things, challenging myself, making things by hand and being creative. Soap making fits them all. I love the old ways, simpler times, natural things. I and my husband have tried to
stay close to nature in the way we live and eat by growing and raising our own food.”
Mellen works full time at Mineral Community Hospital and has another job besides making soap so Facebook and Etsy are her retail outlets: www.facebook.com/mellenpatchsoaps and www.mellenpatchsoaps.etsy.com.
“Hopefully COVID will eventually go away and I will be comfortable doing some craft fairs and such."
Soaps usually range from $4-$7, however, her designer type artisan soaps require more time. But then they become like the towels/washcloths in many bathrooms, much too beautiful to use as they have become decorations.
“I love making soap, there is a joy in making it. It is the creating. I have so many ideas and I want to see what else I can do.”
Specialty orders and Christmas Gift Baskets will be taking place soon as Mellen is about to experience her first Christmas rush taking a fun hobby to a level of production that will be new for her.