by Jackie Nunnery –
Mathews-based crafter Tamara Rollins says she has been “crafting things from natural resources since I was a child, from homemade paper to rose-petal beads and pine cone roses.” Rollins is using that love of nature to create a line of care products with natural ingredients, the cornerstone being soap.
“I was concerned about the amount of artificial or chemical ingredients in bath and body care products, sometimes leading to illness, allergies and skin disorders. I decided to begin creating a line of products made from natural ingredients sourced all over the world. I’m fascinated by the healing and beneficial properties of butters, waxes, oils and aromas that come directly from Mother Earth, which were often used in ancient and traditional medicine for centuries.”
The result is Moonstruck Soap, featuring Pearl of the Chesapeake, a line of soaps and lotions made with water from the Chesapeake Bay.
A nine-year resident of Mathews County, Rollins has “come to realize I never want to live anywhere else, it suits me and luckily my husband feels the same way. I am constantly inspired by my surroundings and nd the pace of life conducive to creativity. Our community is filled with artists and crafters, whether drawn here already talented or inspired like myself, we know we reside in a unique place.”
What inspired you to make soap and how did you get started?
soaps, but also has a coordinating line of
candles. Photo by Tamara Rollins
The Moonstruck Soap product line started out 23 years ago as a curiosity. I had just moved to Virginia and was looking for something new to do while raising three teenage daughters. I was in Barnes and Noble in front of the craft section and pulled out a book on making soap. I was completely fascinated by the simple, natural ingredients, the process, the result, the benefits and the gift ideas. I quickly read every book I could get my hands on and slowly honed in on a recipe.
Can you describe the process and how long it takes?
To this day it feels like magic—turning oils and fats into luxurious soap that nourishes the skin and senses? Amazing! But while a magical process, it does takes time.
While each of my batches makes 48 bars, every ingredient is weighed in grams. As ingredients are weighed, they go in a big steel pot where they melt together to a temperature of 125 degrees. Meanwhile, even more care goes into combining sodium hydroxide (lye) and water which immediately heats to over 200 degrees. The lye acts as a catalyst to turn fats and oils into soap, but once the soap has cured, there is none left in the finished product. This is the part of the soap-making process that requires the most caution as any exposure on the skin or breathing in this liquid can have serious consequences. I must wear protective gear and always mix these ingredients outside where I then wait for the temperature to fall to 125 degrees.
At this point the fats, oils and lye solution are combined and the stirring begins. What I’m looking for is a condition called “trace”, which is when the ingredients look slightly thickened, like cake batter. It can take up to 45 minutes for this reaction to occur and at this point I add botanicals, aroma, and super-fatted oil which is selected specifically for the variety of soap and its skin nurturing properties. Next, I pour into long loaf molds and cover with several wool blankets where the soap will continue to develop over the next 24 hours. The next day I have the thrill of opening and un-molding the soap that then gets cut to size, trimmed to look perfect and stored for a minimum of two weeks where the soap hardens and develops richness.
Labeling gives me another opportunity to express some creativity as each label reflects the specific properties and personality of the soap. The “ta-dah” moment that happens when a customer explores, and hopefully purchases, my soap is truly rewarding and humbling.
Is this a process you do from your home? Is this a full-time career for you?
line features soaps and lotions made with
Chesapeake Bay water. Photo by Tamara Rollins
Since those early days I am grateful to call soap-making my career. In fact, I have the pleasure of creating 12 different self-care products, many having multiple varieties and every bit of it is done in our home. My goal is to make superior quality products that are pleasing to the eye, delightful to smell, and a good value.
Do you have favorite scents or formulations?
I get asked frequently which one of my products is my favorite. My response is I don’t sell anything I don’t love.
Why did you choose the name Moonstruck?
From the time I was young, I’ve been fascinated with the moon, its cycles and its affect on our planet and on us. Every month I track these cycles and never miss an opportunity to look up in the night sky and feel awe. When I first started my soap-making adventure, my workspace had a big window that allowed me to see the moon rise…and my company name was born!
Where can people find your products?
My products can be found at the Mathews County Visitors Center, Gloucester County Visitors Center, Nuttall’s Store in Ware Neck, The Gallery at York Hall in Yorktown, Dug In Farms in White Stone, The Peanut Patch in Courtland, Virginia Gourmet in Williamsburg and The Inn at Tabbs Creek in Mathews.
Every Saturday I’m at the Yorktown Farmers Market from 8 a.m.-noon. Also, come see me in person at this year’s Made in Mathews Studio Tour the last weekend in November and first weekend in December.
