How it started

My name is Mina! I began creating handcrafted soaps in 2023. I make each batch myself using the cold process technique. Soap making isn’t just a hobby, it’s an extension of my career! I am also a chemist, I graduated from the University of California: Santa Barbara. I was drawn to soap making because it combined science and art.

Santa Barbara has been my home since my college days. It’s charm captivated me so much that I’ve decided to stay after graduating from school. Over the last few years, I’ve spent hours on the sands and bluffs of Ellwood- one of my favorite beach spots. Theses activities included: playing frisbeach (frisbee on the beach), watching the tangerine sunsets, hiking on the bluffs, and somehow getting lost. In an attempt to pay homage to this personal connection, I named my brand 'Rosewood', a combination of my middle name and the beach spot, Ellwood.

I am still very early in my soap making journey. Although it’s my hobby, I can’t help but apply the scientific method. Every batch, I learn something new, whether than includes using more (or less…) of an ingredient, or incorporating a different technique.

On my soap making journey, I want to share how fulfilling it can be to create handcrafted soap. I believe in maintaining transparency in my process, so that you know exactly what goes into the soap that you use. I typically use coconut oil, olive oil, and grape seed oil. My soaps are made in small batches. Due to the nature of the formulations, they are simple and do not contain preservatives or harsh detergents.