Sugar Shack Soap: Lisa gets her hands clean in the Mid North region of South Australia
The Clare Valley is best known for its rolling vineyards and fine wines. But tucked away in the back streets of town is a tiny operation doing its bit to put the region on the map. Welcome to Sugar Shack Soaps - a backyard business which is 'on the nose' - for all the right reasons.
The first thing you notice when you come in here is the aroma. It's an attack of the senses of lots of magnificent, exotic fragrances. That's because the shelves are laden with hand made soaps of all varieties, shapes and sizes. How about Rose Geranium, Lime and Orange, Patchouli, Milk and Honey, Shea Butter - to name just a few…
They are all lovingly hand-made and hand-wrapped by Lyn and Norm Draper - former farmers from Kangaroo Island who came to Clare - not for a sea change but a soap change and their secret weapon? - South Australian olive oil.
The beneficial properties of olive oil have been known for centuries and Norm reckons it's the high level of glycerides which makes their soap smoother and softer than commercially, mass produced soap.
Norm Draper, 'Sugar Shack Soaps': "We make our soaps in a cold process. If you heat olive oil above a certain temperature you start to knock all the good ingredients out of it for soap making. So we used what's called cold process soap making to get as much of the goodness in the olive oil in the end product. And it works."
After mixing, the liquid is carefully poured into the molds in a small, low-tech, and very hands-on process. Then it's into the humidity and temperature controlled drying room.
Lyn Draper, 'Sugar Shack Soaps': "It stays in the maturation room for about a month before being cut and wrapped."
The business was born out of necessity when a family member was having problems with sensitive skin and it hasn't change a lot since the first batch was mixed up and cured on the kitchen table almost 20 years ago.
With the Sugar Shack location in the Clare Valley they make something quite appropriate - Wine Time - red wine and chocolate soap for those who just can't get enough. In this case a careful blend of fine Clare Valley Shiraz.
Norm Draper, 'Sugar Shack Soaps': "It gives you a good feeling to be able to make a product as good as this and that reflects the ingredients. In the end, if you are careful with what you do you end up with a beautiful product and we believe that's what we've got."
Lyn Draper, 'Sugar Shack Soaps': "You can come in here quite depressed and after five minutes you're quite happy."
It must be the aromas and the laidback friendly atmosphere of a local industry doing its bit to put Clare on the international map - having recently filled an export order by sending 60,000 bars of soap to China. You can visit for yourself at 7 Archer Street, Clare. Open hours vary so if you're making a special trip it pays to ring ahead on 8842 1109. If you have any further questions please email info@postcards-sa.com.au
Sugar Shack Soap
7 Archer St
Clare
Ph 8842 1109Published 1st August 2010
