In recent months I have reviewed a couple of ceramic operators, a glass blower, a candle maker and a recycled paper company, it seems obvious that our Bali artisans do live on! Now read about another popular artisan who manufactures soap, a company that started out not that many years ago and now, has grown his business with good representation in a number of popular retail haunts.
REPUBLIC OF SOAP – I do like this soap, it suds up so well and brings us 100% goodness
Some people love soap, have drawers full of it, various colors & shades, regular to different shapes and sizes oozing wonderful fragrance. Over the years I have tried many a bar of soap, however for me, there is only one kind of quality soap that I really enjoy using (and it lasts on & on) and if you haven’t tried it, I bet by the end of reading this column, you will be dashing out the door to buy a new cake of soap & other fragrant goodies too.
Some years back I wrote about the Republic of Soap company and the only way you could purchase the soap was in a secret ‘out of the way’ place found in the depths of Kerobokan, a closed shop, hidden away, behind a wall, where a small energetic group of artisans can be found making the product. Today, the company has grown quite a bit more in terms of wholesale and export and now you can find this Republic of Soap in a number of retail outlets, which goes to show that small business does grow and become larger if you stick at it!
John Marciano is the guy behind the name – the Republic of Soap. A respected individual, smart & savvy & has built his business around a simple item that we all require in our daily lives – soap, but as mentioned before there’s soap & soap! John has spent years on Research & Development of his product, so no wonder all the high-end hotels, villas, spas & boutiques of the world call on him to order, which is the best recommendation of all.
John quotes “the Republic of Soap’s mission is to maintain the highest standards while keeping the prices as low as possible to offer Bali’s best soap within the reach of us all”.
Now why is John’s soap better than others? Well, apart from the purity aspect, he uses only natural ingredients, the soap bar does lather up well & maintains its shape for ages, the scents formulated are mild & not too overpowering. The product is free from petroleum additives, fillers, animal byproducts, artificial colors & scents, which is exactly what we all want from products these days!
The soap comes in handy shapes, sizes & many are so attractive that you may just use them for a display! All products on offer make for perfect gift giving, from the simple plain bar, to the stylish 3D carved leaf motif or molded soap shape, all good. Some of the custom scents/scent combinations can be manufactured on request, of course minimum orders apply, but following are my favorites -
- Tobacco Spice with Cinnamon & Clove(great for use as a body exfoliant)
- Sweet Orange & Cinnamon (sweet & exotic)
- Island Spice Tea (green tea with sandalwood, tea tree & cold pressed mandarin)
- Ginger & Tea Tree (spicy, woody & a great antiseptic!)
- Blue Gum Eucalyptus & Amber (a good soap to use in the tropics providing therapeutic properties as an antiseptic, deodorant & insecticide)
There are loads more, but not forgetting the very popular sweet & floral scents such as Frangipani, Lavender & Rose Garden. The beauty about fragrance is that you can play with the fragrant scents (imported from the USA) & essential oils (from Australia) to customize your own blend, creating a truly unique & individual fragrance for you or your business.
Now, it’s not only hard bar soap that John manufactures, it’s an entire range of liquid products as well as incense with delicious flavors. You can buy direct, a minimum order can be a litre of shampoo (great for a family) there is a good range of SPF Sunblock, after sun, after shave & insect repellent. And the list goes on, massage oils to scrubs, facial mask, cleansing gel, to body butters & polish. As you can see, John and his band of artisans certainly keep busy.
If it’s the development of your own exclusive product, including logos, exclusive handmade packaging & more, then the best idea is to call the office for an appointment with John.
There you have it, if you are curious to see how a bar of soap is made then make an appointment at the factory number below, otherwise make a bee line to Bali Deli - Jl. Kunti, Seminyak, Dijon - Kuta Poleng Mall, Jl. Setiabudi, Kuta, Gourmet Garage - By Pass, Jimbaran & The Pantry - next to the Batujimbar Cafe in Sanur, for a selected range of soap & other fragrant goodies! And am sure there are more outlets by now.
Republic of Soap, Jl Gunung Salak No 80, Banjar Abasan, Denpasar, T: 780 3852 www.republicofsoap@yahoo.com
For comments & inquiries, email: retailtherapym@yahoo.com.au
Visit the website: www.retailtherapybali.com
