The Handmade Soap Company

What The Handmade Soap Company does

The Handmade Soap Company is an Irish manufacturer of certified natural skincare and home fragrance products, founded in 2010 by husband-and-wife team Donagh and Gemma Quigley and operated from a restored 200-year-old upcycled linen mill in Slane, County Meath. The company formulates, makes, and fills its products in-house, with a team of 21 artisans handcrafting soap bars, hand wash, hand cream, hand lotion, body lotion, shower gel, bath foam, hair & body wash, soy wax candles, reed diffusers, fragrance sachets, and curated gift sets. Its portfolio is structured around four signature fragrance collections (Lemongrass & Cedarwood, Lavender/Rosemary/Thyme/Mint, Coriander Seed/Geranium/Vetiver, and Bitter Orange/Pink Pepper/Hay) that run across multiple product categories, supported by refill SKUs for hand wash and reed diffusers.

The underlying technology stack is craft-based and naturally derived: certified natural ingredients (free from parabens, sulphates, SLS, petrochemicals, and synthetic fragrances), essential oil blends, and eco-friendly packaging using 100% recycled (PCR) plastic and FSC-certified materials. Production is manual rather than automated, with no disclosed AI or advanced automation components. The company holds three independent third-party certifications — B Corp, Leaping Bunny (cruelty-free), and Vegan Society — which together with the natural-ingredient positioning constitute its primary differentiation.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model via a Shopify-powered storefront that ships globally (including Ireland, UK, USA, Australia, and Canada), complemented by a multichannel footprint across leading Irish retailers and hotel/hospitality stockists. Pricing is transactional unit-based (pay-as-you-go), with free shipping to Ireland on orders over €60, an email/newsletter signup offering 15% off first purchase, and curated gift sets and online gift cards for the gifting segment. The company is privately held, founder-owned, and bootstrapped, with no disclosed external funding, M&A activity, or institutional investors.

Name

The Handmade Soap Company

Legal name

The Handmade Soap Company Ltd

Website

https://thehandmadesoapcompany.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Handmade Soap Company is an Irish manufacturer and DTC retailer of certified natural, handmade skincare and home fragrance products, serving individual consumers and hotels across Ireland, the UK, the US, Australia, and Canada from its Slane production site.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Natural Skincare & Home Fragrances

NAICS

Soap and Other Detergent Manufacturing (325611), Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)

SIC

Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)

akta.pro primary industry

Hand & Body Care (Lotions, Creams, Body Oils) (CRADANAC)

Keywords

• Handmade soap products
• Natural skincare
• Home fragrances
• Artisan body care
• Vegan cosmetics

Headquarters

HQ city

Omeath

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of handcrafted skincare and home fragrance products through their e-commerce platform and retail partners

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

The Handmade Soap Company manufactures and sells handmade natural skincare products including soaps, body lotions, shower gels, bath foam, hand creams, hand washes, and hand lotions, alongside home fragrance products such as soy wax candles, reed diffusers, and fragrance sachets. All products are formulated with certified natural ingredients and crafted by hand by 21 artisans at their restored 200-year-old linen mill in Slane, County Meath, Ireland. The portfolio is organized around four signature fragrance collections that run across the hand, body, and home product lines.

Product overview

The Handmade Soap Company is an Irish lifestyle brand offering certified natural skincare and home fragrance products. The product portfolio spans two main categories: Hand & Body Care (including hand wash, hand cream, hand lotion, soap bars, body lotion, shower gel, bath foam, and hair & body wash) and Home Fragrances (including soy wax candles, reed diffusers, fragrance sachets, and related refill products). All products are organized around four signature fragrance collections—Lemongrass & Cedarwood, Lavender Rosemary Thyme & Mint, Coriander Seed Geranium & Vetiver, and Bitter Orange Pink Pepper & Hay—which run across multiple product categories. The company also offers curated gift sets and bundles, hand care sets, body care sets, and home harmony bundles that combine complementary products. Products are sold individually and as gift sets, with refill options available for hand wash and reed diffusers to support sustainability.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Hand Wash Liquid hand wash made with natural ingredients and botanical essential oils, designed to cleanse hands while leaving them nourished and softly fragrant. Available in multiple signature fragrances.
• Hand Cream Deeply nourishing hand cream with aloe vera, shea, sweet almond and sunflower oils. Available in 30g and 50g sizes, vegan and cruelty-free formulations suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin.
• Hand Lotion Lightweight, fast-absorbing hand lotion with shea butter, coconut oil and apricot extracts designed for daily use and quick hydration without greasy residue.
• Hand Sanitiser Hand sanitiser product for on-the-go cleansing and protection, available in signature fragrances.
• Soap Bars Traditional handmade soap bars made with natural blend of essential oils, olive oil, coconut oil, and shea butter, gentle on sensitive skin. Available across multiple signature fragrances.
• Body Lotion Body moisturiser designed to cleanse, hydrate and nourish skin using gentle, effective ingredients that support healthy, balanced skin.
• Shower Gel / Body Wash Liquid body cleanser with gentle, effective ingredients for full-body cleansing, available in signature fragrances.
• Bath Foam Luxurious bath foam product for a relaxing bathing experience, available in 500ml size.
• Hair & Body Wash Dual-purpose wash for both hair and body, suitable for daily use.
• Soy Wax Candles Hand-poured soy wax candles (210g) made with 100% natural, GMO-free soy wax and cotton wicks, fragrances inspired by nature, travel and memories.
• Reed Diffusers Natural reed diffusers (200ml) using 100% natural essential oils to fill homes with long-lasting, clean fragrances.
• Fragrance Sachets Home fragrance sachets providing long-lasting scents for drawers, wardrobes and rooms.
• Hand Wash Refill Eco-friendly refill pouches (500ml) for hand wash products, designed to reduce single-use plastic waste.
• Reed Diffuser Refill Oils Refill oils (150ml) for reed diffusers, allowing users to replenish their fragrances sustainably.
• Home Harmony Bundles Bundles combining soy candles with reed diffusers in matching fragrances for complete home ambiance.
• Body Care Sets Duo sets combining body lotion and shower gel for coordinated body care routines.
• Hand Care Sets Bundles pairing hand wash with hand lotion in matching fragrances for complete hand care.
• Gifts & Sets Curated gift sets including body care gift sets, hand cream gift sets, soap gift sets, and beard & body bundles for gifting occasions.
• Online Gift Cards Digital gift cards available for purchase, allowing recipients to choose their preferred products.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4.8/5 customer rating based on 5,920 reviews

Named customers1 record

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Dr. Squatch: US-based DTC brand selling natural and handmade-style men's soap bars and personal care products online. Directly comparable as a digitally-native, handmade-positioned soap and body care brand targeting consumers seeking natural ingredients.
• The Body Shop: Global ethical beauty retailer selling natural-ingredient soaps, body care, and home fragrances with vegan and cruelty-free positioning. Highly comparable on values-based brand positioning, product mix, and multi-channel retail model.
• Gilchrist & Soames: Specialist supplier of premium bath and body amenities to luxury hotels and hospitality globally. Directly comparable as a hospitality-channel peer whose toiletries, soaps, and lotions appear in upscale hotel guest rooms.
• Dr. Bronner's: Family-owned US natural soap brand best known for castile bar and liquid soaps with certified organic and fair-trade ingredients. Comparable on certified-natural positioning, ethical sourcing, and a wide SKU range of natural soaps and body care.
• Yardley London: Heritage British soap brand with a long-standing range of bath bars and body care. Comparable as a long-established (centuries-old) soap and body care brand with mass-premium pricing and broad retail distribution.
• Nesti Dante: Italian handmade soap maker producing premium artisan bars wrapped and packaged in Italy. Closely comparable as a heritage European handmade soap brand selling natural-ingredient bar soaps through specialty retail and DTC.
• Molton Brown: British premium bath, body, and home fragrance brand with a strong hotel amenity and travel retail presence. Comparable on premium positioning, signature fragrance collections, and the hotel/hospitality channel that drives a meaningful share of revenue.

Broad incumbents

• L'Occitane en Provence: Global premium natural personal care brand with hand wash, body lotion, and soap ranges. Comparable as a natural-ingredient, premium-priced bath and body care brand sold through DTC, retail, and hotels — but at vastly larger scale.
• Bath & Body Works: Large US specialty retailer of body care, hand soaps, and home fragrances including candles. Comparable on the body care plus home fragrance portfolio, gift set category, and signature scent merchandising approach.

Regional players

• Kneipp: German natural bath and body care brand with a strong heritage in botanical and essential-oil-based products. Comparable on natural-ingredient positioning, bath/body care focus, and European market presence, though Kneipp's footprint is more continental-European than Irish/UK-centric.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/TheHandmadeSoapCompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/thehandmadesoapcompany
• Xx.com/thandmadesoapco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-handmade-soap-company

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about The Handmade Soap Company