Have you ever had a moment where you knew your life was about to change?

Over a decade ago, I was working as a thatcher. I thought I’d be doing it forever (I found working with my hands, in a traditional craft, to be joyful).

Then the big bad recession hit. Construction work dried up, leaving me to realise I’d have to do something else.

It turned out to be the best thing that could have happened. You see, a friend of mine had long had an ambition to sail to America in his steel boat (that he built!). I had time on my hands, so I decided to join him. It was 2009.

Sailing from Ireland to Boston, Massachusetts turned out to be life-changing.

We wanted a bit of adventure so took the Northern route across the Atlantic, above the Gulf Stream (if you go the Southern route, you have the trade winds behind you and it's safe sailing the whole way).

Well, we hit our first storm 1,000 miles from Cork - which damaged the steering hydraulics so badly that we had to rig up ropes to steer the boat. For two-thirds of the Atlantic, we sailed with just ropes for steering.

Lesson #1: Make do with the resources you have in life.

All told, we hit four storms on the way to America, and let me tell you, it’s no small matter when those waves come crashing down in a tempest.

That journey transformed me. I thought, "I’m going to squeeze every last drop out of this precious life."

Lesson #2: Seize the day.

It was when we finally reached the USA that I discovered soap making - learning from a local tradeswoman North of Boston.

That’s when the seed of what would become The Handmade Soap Company was planted (see lessons #1 and #2!).

Fast forward to today, and we’re Ireland’s #1 natural body care and home fragrance brand.

Every product passes through 13 pairs of hands, ensuring it’s as pure and perfect as we envisioned.

But it wasn’t always easy. In tomorrow’s email, you’ll learn about the “aha” moment that inspired us to turn this passion into a sustainable, purposeful brand.

Until then, take a moment for yourself today. Breathe deep and imagine the fresh scents of Ireland’s idyllic valleys.

Warmly,
Donagh, Founder.