Soap makers still clean up in business even though COVID forces them to scrub public sales

A local business with quite an aroma blossoms thanks to a collection of mini-hotel soaps given to Rachel Chieppa as a child by her grandmother.

Photos of beautifully decorated cake kept taunting me on my Facebook and Instagram feeds. Imagine my surprise when I figured out the decadent looking slices were not edible.

My curiosity got the better of me, so I reached out to the owners of The Daily Scrub, LLC to learn more about their product which is clearly not an average beauty bar.

Owners Rachel and Jeff Chieppa produce their handcrafted vegan artisan soap in their Disputanta home. I was blessed with meeting the married business partners in person as well as their eight-and-a-half-year-old Boston Terrier Charlie who is aka the River Street Market mascot.

What inspired Rachel to begin making handcrafted soap?

“I always wanted to learn how to make soap and always buy handmade soaps when we visit markets and shops,” said Rachel. “It amazes me how...like all art...no two soapmakers' creations are alike.”

Rachel read an article in a magazine many years ago about two ladies that were using the flowers they grew in their soaps.

“I guess I thought that I could do that too,” said Rachel.

Rachel could not remember when she first tried to make cold process soap which is made by combining oils and Sodium hydroxide [lye] that causes a chemical reaction called saponification, but she clearly recalls that it was not successful.

“I got discouraged and didn’t pick it back up again until a few years later,” admitted Rachel.

Who taught Rachel the craft of making soap from scratch?

“My mom [Brenda Morris], Jeff, and I started growing and selling cut flowers at the River Street Market in Old Towne Petersburg 12 years ago,” said Rachel. “I would buy soaps from this sweet lady Emily who often was set up next to us. She and I were chatting one day and Emily offered to teach me to make soap since her husband in the military was being transferred."

The sweet vendor wanted to pay it forward since someone taught her the skill.

“One evening, I went over to her home in Colonial Heights, and she gave me a quick lesson,” said Rachel. “I came home with her recipe and a shoebox lined with a garbage bag full of wet soap.

“From that point, I got started researching and learning all I could. I tried many recipes and perfected my oil combinations to the one I use today,” said Rachel. “My bars look nothing like what they did when I started.”

Rachel wanted to make them functional yet beautiful and to combine her artistic gifts with a little chemistry. 

“I wanted to create a unique product, so each batch is a blank canvas,” said Rachel. “I bet Emily never thought that her act of kindness would lead to all of this!”

According to Jeff, The Daily Scrub is a small batch soapery. Each batch is about 50 bars, and no two batches ever look the same.

More:Video: Social Butterfly makes Lavender Chamomile vegan artisan soap from scratch

Besides using fresh cut flowers, what other ingredients does Rachel use?

“Soap can be made with three simple ingredients: Sodium hydroxide, water, and olive oil,” shared Rachel. “My advice to beginners is to start simple with items often found locally, and then, as you grow, experiment with more recipes and different oils to find those with the properties that you like.”

How does the Chieppas shape their aromatic art?

“Most of our molds are built from scrap wood that we have laying around from other projects,” said Jeff. “They’re essentially like a miter box used to cut molding but with ends on them. When the bars are done curing, that’s what we use to cut the bars.”

According to Rachel, Jeff also designs and builds their displays and sells their product at every market and show.

“This is a family business,” said Rachel. “And, we all work together.”

Both Jeff and Rachel also work outside of their home. Rachel works for the local government, and Jeff works for the state government.

How long does it take to make a new creation?

“It takes about 90 minutes to make a batch. This includes the mixing of the oils with the Sodium hydroxide and water and adding the clays, exfoliants, and scent,” said Rachel. “Within 24 hours after the soap is poured, the loaves are unmolded, the bars are cut, and then cured for three to four weeks before they are sold.”

What makes The Daily Scrub soap special? 

“Compared to store-bought soap, handcrafted soap is very mild. Handmade soaps are often made from vegetable-based oils, such as olive, coconut, and palm, and do not contain the potentially harmful chemicals found in conventional bar soaps,” said Rachel. “Often, it has been my experience that those who suffer from skin conditions or have sensitive skin often find immediate benefits by switching to handmade soap.”

“Customers know that our soaps are unique and filled with super, good-for-you, high-quality ingredients,” said Jeff. “Our soaps are very moisturizing because they are filled with oils and butters including olive, coconut, sunflower, shea, and mango.”

“Our soaps are also vegan,” chimed in Rachel. “Besides being eye-catching, mini-works of art, our product is good for your skin.”

Which loaf sells the most? 

“Lemongrass Lavender is the best ever. It’s just the right combination,” said Rachel. “If you like to be outdoors, it keeps the bugs away. And, we use it to bathe Charlie.

“Tropical Breeze is also a popular scent,” added Rachel. “Customers love the look because it’s very beachy in color and light in fragrance.”

Any new loaf scents being blended in the kitchen? 

“It’s getting to be the fall season,” said Rachel. “So, we are preparing for the warmer spicy fragrances.”

Where can you find Rachel’s fake cake? Ha!

“Sweet Dixie in Old Towne approached us when they opened,” said Rachel. “They were our first retail partner, and we are so grateful to still be with them today.”

“Rachel has such a loyal following for her beautiful soaps. We have carried them since we opened in 2013, and have sold over 1,600 bars,” said Sweet Dixie owner Beegee Brinkley. “We had some tourists from California and Hawaii last year that purchased several bars to take back as Virginia made gifts to their families. We love Rachel.” 

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, The Daily Scrub owners have opted not to be present at the River Street Market.

“Cheryl has helped us as well as a lot of other small businesses. Her dedication to getting the market restarted was huge for us,” shared Rachel. “When the previous Petersburg market dissolved, we took a year off to see what would happen." 

The Chieppas expressed their gratitude to the group for putting the River Street Market together and for finding market manager Cheryl Bursch. 

“She is totally committed to helping vendors succeed,” said Jeff. “She promotes all of the vendors extensively, and she is full of passion for what she does.”

“We haven't had Daily Scrub at the market this season at all. I'm assuming they are not ready to be out in the public because they haven't booked any dates,” said Bursch. “However, they are usually full-time at least during the summer.

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"They have been part of River Street Market since we opened in 2017 and have such a following,” said Bursch. “Honestly, it's not necessarily because of their colorful soaps, their beautiful flowers, or their inviting booth presentation. It's a combination of their warm, caring demeanor, their bright happy smiles, positivity, and Charlie.”

Based on a suggestion by a famous local shopper, business owner, and resident Ignatius Creegan of Ignatius Hats, name tags were made for all the vendors including Charlie.

More:Popping up in Old Towne

“Ignatius said it would be nice to get to know the vendors and who the people are behind the products,” said Bursch. “In 2018, we began making name tags. I made one for Charlie because he is definitely part of the family."

Bursch told me she misses the doggie kisses she received first thing in the morning when the Chieppas pulled in the lot to find out their placement. 

Charlie steals the show.

“The most viewed Facebook post I've had to date was a picture of Charlie,” added Bursch.

“Charlie knows the days of the week and loves Saturdays. We say the word 'market' and his ears go up and he heads to the door,” said Rachel. “Shoppers come to see him and bring him treats and give him love. Cheryl at the market says he is the mascot. Most of the time, people know Charlie before they know us. He’s the star!”

Besides purchasing soap directly from the Chieppas, where else can the usable art be purchased locally?

“The first time I saw Rachel's soaps I knew I loved them,” said The Southern She Shed owner Erin Moore. “My customers are always coming back for their favorite scents and looking for her new creations. These beautiful locally made soaps are definitely a top seller.”

“Recently, Erin mentioned that her soap sales for the month of May were equal to her soap sales from December of 2019,” shared Rachel. “This confirms that people are supporting local small businesses, and we thank everyone.”

More:With a name inspired by a TV commercial, Erin Moore opens Disputanta boutique

According to Rachel, their sales plummeted in March due to the pandemic.

“Sales pretty much came to a halt back in March at the beginning of the pandemic. I think people were worried about losing their jobs and didn’t want to spend extra money,” said Rachel. “Our subscriptions dropped in half as well. Once we got to the May time frame, things started picking up more with our retail partners."

Rachel believes that customers are wanting to buy local and support small businesses. Their sales are still down significantly for the same time period as compared to 2019, but they are hopeful that with the holidays coming that their fourth quarter will be more on par with previous years. 

Rachel and Jeff are grateful to a local business owner for sharing his subscription box idea.

“This is our second year offering a soap subscription,” said Rachel. “I have to thank Larry Hancock of Legacy Coffee Roasting Company for the help and idea! We were chatting one day at the River Street Market and he talked about how successful his subscription program was! 

“Customers sign up in January and commit to a year’s worth of soap. They receive a box of six soaps delivered to their door every quarter: February, May, August, and November,” explained Rachel. “They can pay all upfront or four times per year.”

“We are very blessed to have had so many wonderful years. This is just a small bump in the road,” said Rachel. “I think I’m what you might call a serial craft-a-holic! I just love art in any form. This pandemic has given us time to focus on other crafts including making masks and house projects. And...we’ve had time to go camping, which is the ultimate form of social distancing!”

The Social Butterfly whips up a batch of Lavender Chamomile.

I had the pleasure of making soap recently. It was like being in a combined class of home economics and biology. I had to don safety goggles which - of course - fogged up due to my face mask. Ugh! 

My cousin Shane Simonsen of Fort Dodge, Iowa was here on vacation, so I put him to work videotaping Rachel and I make three loaves of handcrafted vegan artisan soap. Visit progress-index.com to view segments of Shane’s footage and also the photo gallery.

Rachel recommends visiting the Soap Queen’s website at Brambleberry Handcraft Provisions.

“I am so grateful that God has blessed my husband and me with gifts and talents,” said Rachel. “So, I want to be sure to use what He has given me.”

For more information, call (804) 519-3696, send an email to rachel@dailyscrubsoap.com, or visit Facebook @TheDailyScrub.

Kristi K. Higgins, aka The Social Butterfly, can be reached at khiggins@progress-index.com. On Twitter: @KristiHigginsPI

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