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Did you know there are more than 15 women-owned businesses in Winchester? Offerings range from books, hair salons, gifts, classes in art and pottery, fashion, flowers, a restaurant, old-fashioned candy and novelties, and a bakery-café.
While these businesses are in store fronts, there is one homebased and unique operation. Dear Botanicals handmade artisan soap!
Owner Emily Chou hails from Canada, where she worked as a TV producer. Her husband, a scientist, had a job opportunity in Boston and they moved to Winchester in 2010.
After their two daughters were born, Emily said she was “looking for something new and different in the creative field.” Out of curiosity, she explored soap making. Why not? That certainly fit within the different and creative categories! And she knew it would be fun!
Emily manufactures 100% natural cold-process handmade artisan soap bars. It requires few ingredients: a combination of olive or coconut oil, lye, fragrance, and colorants.
The “recipe” sounds simple, yes? No! Each oil has unique properties, must be carefully measured, and the exact amount is necessary to result in the chemical reaction of oil and lye that is needed to create soap.
When the mixture is ready, it is poured into molds to solidify and cure for four to six weeks before it is cut into bars.
“Being born and raised by my Taiwanese immigrant parents, and inspired by Taiwanese culture, I created Dear Botanicals to celebrate my heritage,” Emily says.
After launching Dear Botanicals, her products were sold online to Etsy. As her business grew, she expanded her client base to boutique shops in Lexington, Dorchester, Boston, Cambridge, Marblehead, and several others.
Product offerings were expanded as well and now include face and lip care as well as accessories. Products are beautifully packaged and are a unique and special gift.
At the end of my conversation with Emily, I had a question for her daughters: “What is it like to have a mother who is a successful businesswoman?”
Seven-year-old Emilia did a little swirl and said, “Good.” Julia, 10, thoughtfully said, “It’s different from most jobs.”
