Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Gutierrez.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I started my Soap/Body Care Business our of my kitchen about 30 years ago.. I had so many skin allergies and I want to explore making my own soap.. I was a military wife and we traveled the world. I also grew up in a very Slavic eastern European home and my mother and grandparents made everything from scratch. I grew up in NE Ohio. When I graduated from high school my parents moved to Arizona. This area was so new to me especially the landscape and food. I went to a natural store that had dried fruits and nuts along with many products, that was unfamiliar to me. I came across Celestial Tea. I only knew Lipton, and Black Tea. This started my journey of natural foods other than Slavic. I went to College and received my Bachelors in Social Work and Native American Studies. I met my Air Force Husband . We married and moved. We were stationed at one time in Germany and I came across a Swedish Soap made with eggs. I had always been a crafter, quilter, I made many of my own clothes. I saw something I wanted to make and I picked it apart until I knew how to assemble it. .. When we moved to Kansas with the Military I started to dive deep into soap making. I thought I better not spend too much money on supplies and equipment. I went to a thrift store and bought there. I was working as a Social Worker at a near by hospital and was raising 2 children. I was also working on my Masters Degree in Social Gerontology. I bought a few books and thought oh no!! It is too much chemistry.. But, I foraged on and soon my soap making out of shear determination started. I wanted to be true to self and make only nature soaps. I was not trying to make pretty soap, just good skin loving soap. I had many people as testers.
I started when there was minimal internet and I bought all my supplies from the store.
I used clays, flowers, spices to color my soap, and I wanted to only use essential oils. But I did not know much about essential oils. I soon became a Nationally Certified Professional Aromatherapist. I joined a few Facebook Soap Group. I also have been a speaker and educator on different soap making skills.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It has not been a real smooth road, as I had some family tragedies, and has to step away for awhile. The cost of supplies and what one can charge for the end products has been a real challenge.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I first wanted to make soap and body care products to really treat the persons skin care. I studied at a sheep dairy, where they make soaps & cheese from Sheep’s Milk. I did a comparison of cow, goat and sheep and knew that Sheep’s Milk was the far better, higher in fat, which meant more moisturizing. I also spent much time in research. I make my own essential oil blends to scent my soaps. I have also studied ancient herbalism and try to incorporate this research into modern day products. One of them is Amber Resin. I have been to Poland and have purchased the Amber, which is fossilized tree resin. I have infused this into Olive Oil and once the infusion is completed i add other ingredients along with essential oils I then make it into a facial cream. My specialty is resins and incorporating them into unique body care products. I off road with a UTV and explore areas where I can forage fallen tree resins, like Pinon Pine Resin. Pinon Pine is my favorite. I infuse the resin into oil and I can make a solid perfume or other exotic natural fragrances .
Is there any advice you’d like to share with our readers who might just be starting out?
Yes, study and research, join some face book groups and do not just rely on google to get your answers. It take time. Do not spend money on equipment. Buy from the thrift store to make sure this is what you want to do. Soap making is expensive. It is also chemistry and one must always follow safety.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bohemianprairiealchemist.com
- Instagram: bohemian prairie alchemist
- Facebook: Aromatherapy & Sheep’s Milk Soaps by Bohemian Prairie Alchemist
- Other: Rumble channel. janetbgut67 Aromatherapy & Natural Health
