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Home-Based Business Cleans Up

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By SUZANNE M. SCHMIDT

IN THE LOOP

Published: March 18, 2009

If it's not all-natural, it doesn't interest Cheryl Russell of Lutz and Terri Christopher of Tarpon Springs.

Russell and Christopher, owners of Naturally Perfect, started making soaps about two years ago, just to have something to do together. Since then they have created about 20 different types of soap, including bar soap, body wash and a pet shampoo, and have started selling them at craft shows and on their Web site naturallyperfect.net.

"I have known Terri since before we had children," Russell said. "She said she wanted to go into the soap business with me. We went from knowing nothing about making soap to developing a brand."

The creative team started with simply learning how to make a bar of natural soap using oils and lye. From there, they have grown to having a line of soaps with a variety of oils and scents.

"I wanted to just do something creative," Christopher said. "I thought 'Why not make soap like grandma used to make with lye and oils?' I looked up recipes and learned about it from the Internet, books and magazines. It proved to be a challenge and a lot of fun."

Naturally Perfect's collection of soaps has grown to meet the needs of its expanding customer base, they said.

"We had a lot of product requests from people," Russell said. "We ended up making a hypoallergenic pet shampoo that is great for dogs. It works because it has eucalyptus and tea tree oil to help prevent fleas and it also has oatmeal to moisturize. I used it on my dog and it makes her coat silky and there are no tangles."

Oils are the key to making different types of soap, they said. Different oils have their own unique properties that can change how a soap performs.

"For example, we used a little bit of castor oil because it adds a nice foaminess," Christopher said. "When we use olive oil, it creates a harder bar of soap that also lasts a little longer. We add cocoa butter if we want to make it a little extra creamy. Oats help to make it more moisturizing. It makes my head spin when I think of all the possibilities."

Using handmade natural soap instead of store-bought soap has its advantages, Russell said.

"It is healthier for your skin," she said. "Many store-bought soaps add artificial chemicals. That is where you get all these things listed in the ingredients that you can't pronounce. Your skin is absorbing those chemicals. With our soaps, you can read all the ingredients and see they are all natural products."

Cathy Castellano of Lutz agrees with Russell, which is why she said she hasn't bought soap from a store since Naturally Perfect was created.

"I am one of their first customers," Castellano said. "I have really dry skin and am also allergic to many name brand soaps, so I use their oatmeal soaps on my skin, their glycerin soaps on my face and I use their dog shampoo on my dog. Since I started using their soap, my skin doesn't itch as much and I don't have to use as much lotion."

The soap business is just a side job at present. Christopher is a teacher at Cannella Elementary School and Russell is the office manager for Four Season Drywall. Someday, Christopher said, they would like to own a small soap shop.

For information, visit naturallyperfect.net or call (813) 892-6504 or (727) 422-0691.

Reporter Suzanne M. Schmidt can be reached at (813) 948-4288 or sschmidt@mediageneral.com.

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