June 20, 2009 - I love soap. I always have. I love everything about it- the chemistry, what it does, all the various types and scents. I’ve even made my own soap on occasion. I purchased several books, got all the ingredients and chemicals together, got the equipment I’d need, and whipped up a batch of my very own lavender-scented soap.

Lots of folks don’t give much thought to what-all goes into the making of a bar of soap, and I’m not going to go into detail here, but let me tell you this; buying soap, especially good, hand-made soap, is far easier and less expensive than making it yourself. And when you have Jay Design, a place to find great, hand-crafted soap right in your own town, it’s pretty darn hard to resist.

Almond Oatmeal Friendship Soap. Photo by Shari Geldrich

Jay Design is my new favorite place, fyi. I’ve purchased their soaps before, and have driven past the store dozens of times. It’s hard to miss the distinctive window display- it’s the one with the lady in the bathtub. I’ve been meaning to stop, literally for years, and, well, I just haven’t gotten there, until recently. I was heading off to visit my husband’s family in Florida, and wanted to find different and unusual, Pittsburgh-oriented gifts for my mother-and-sisters-in-law. I just happened to drive up Butler St. the other day and thought that a gift of Jay Design handmade soaps would be perfect!

Jay Design makes exquisite, hand-made soaps. The scent when you first walk in is heavenly. You breathe in and your first thought is "Oh, yum!" The company was started in 1989 by Jay Bernard. The company moved into Lawrenceville about 11 years ago, and Jay was very active in the early revitalization projects in Lawrenceville that still exist today. Sadly, Jay passed away in 2007, but the business is now operated by Bill Stanhope and Jim Savarino. Bill’s mom, Margaret Stanhope, is the soap wrapper. And tour guide. And pet wrangler. (till Bill shows up.) After talking with Margaret and Bill for an hour or so and learning more about the company and its history, I wish I had made time to get there long before now!

Each bar of soap takes about a month to create, and is hand crafted using the highest quality all-natural ingredients and processes available. The production is eco-conscious and virtually waste-free. They use no filler additives or preservatives, and each bar is rich with skin-loving glycerin. Jay Design Soaps are made using a cold-process method, and hand-poured into the hallmark, oval-shaped molds. When Jay first started making soap he used sardine tins for molds, and as the production increased, they had custom molds designed with the same distinctive oval shape. Each soap has the Jay Design bird logo lovingly imprinted in the center.

Inside Jay Design's wonderful store. Photo by Shari Geldrich

So what’s the big deal about handmade soap? Well, for one thing, it’s better for your skin. Commercially produced soaps go through several processes which remove most of the naturally-occurring glycerin from the soap, which is then sold to other companies as an additive. This produces a soap depleted of most of its moisturizing properties, which can be harsh to skin. All of the glycerin is left in Jay Design soaps, which means your skin is cleansed gently with a rich lather, without drying.

There are scents and formulas at Jay Design for virtually everyone; everything from lush florals to woodsy spices. The wrappers are works of art themselves, and all (except the newer ones) were designed by Jay. There is even a special soap for dogs called the Libby Shampoo Bar. Libby was a rescue dog, and her framed picture is part of the display on the shelf with the pet products. In fact, several other rescued dogs and cats are part of the friendly atmosphere at the store, though Libby lives on in memory. (she died at the ripe old age of 15.)

They also have a Soap Club- every $10 in soap purchases earns you a punch on a card- 10 punches gets you a free wrapped bar of soap. They make special holiday soaps, and gift baskets. You’ll also find gifts and bath and body products, and jewelry by local artists. It’s such a great place to visit and their soap is wonderful. Next time you’re in Lawrenceville, stop in, or if you’re not in Pittsburgh, check them out on their website. They will ship anywhere!

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/x-8552-Pittsburgh-Beauty-Examiner~y2009m6d20-Jay-Designs-makes-great-soap

Publication: The Examiner

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