There are few things more elementary than love and soap, and the two united to form Simple Alchemy, a new brand from engaged couple Nicol Smith and Bee Joy España that’s grounded in basic products made with care from quality ingredients.
The origins of Simple Alchemy are personal and professional. From 2011 to 2015, Smith ran River City Soap, a low-impact company born of her frustration with the lack of soaps for her highly sensitive skin that didn’t have palm oil or fragrance. Shortly after the soap enterprise ceased, Smith and España realized they were meant for each other.
“We have been friends for a decade, and we went on a spontaneous trip just as friends to an Airbnb in the middle of nowhere in Oregon. We had so much fun and connected on every topic imaginable, but we were both thinking, ‘Oh no,’ because we weren’t single at the time. We were complete gentlewomen,” recounts España. “That started a year-long process of talking openly with each other and our partners at the time. My partner at the time came out at the same time, so it was a very unusual process.”
The process ended with Smith and España setting up a life together. Meanwhile, they explored opportunities to employ their skills jointly in a business. They decided to overhaul River City Soap in a manner suiting their strengths. Smith, who’s fascinated by the science of soap, oversees product development, and España, an illustrator and photographer by trade, focuses on design.
“I’ve never worked as easily with anybody as I have with Col,” says España. Smith elaborates, “We share a lot of the same aesthetic and work ethic. We are ridiculously hardworking people. We will work until it’s done and perfect.”
“Simple Alchemy speaks to my philosophy for anything you put on your skin. I want the least amount of unnecessary ingredients possible. The soaps are pure and exactly what your skin needs.”
What’s done and perfect for the launch of Simple Alchemy on Wednesday is five soaps – Body Bar, Detox Bar, Scrub Bar, Facial Bar and Shave Bar – and soy candles with wood wicks in five varieties: unscented, spiced orange, lavender, citrus and cedar lemongrass. The 7-oz. candles are priced at $27 and formulated to burn for at least 30 hours. The 3.5-oz. soaps are $9.
“Simple Alchemy speaks to my philosophy for anything you put on your skin. I want the least amount of unnecessary ingredients possible,” explains Smith. “The soaps are pure and exactly what your skin needs.”
The Shave Bar is so simple that it’s solely olive oil. Olive, coconut, sunflower and castor oils are found in the rest of the soaps, but the Detox Bar also has activated charcoal, the Facial Bar shea butter and kaolin clay, and the Scrub Bar fine sand from the coast of Oregon that Smith discovered as the best ingredient for scrubbing following extensive testing of many types of sand. There are no essential oils or fragrances in the soaps.
The soaps have the minutest quantities of water conceivable. Simple Alchemy achieves the tiny quantities by not cutting its soaps from large slabs and curing them for 30 days. The result is the soap doesn’t become as mushy as most soaps from use.
“I wanted to conquer the world with soap. So, I had 11 different bars that were all scented differently and had completely different formulations, and it was too much. It was confusing for the consumer, and it was actually kind of confusing for me when it came to keeping track of the soap and knowing numbers.”
España and Smith take minimizing their environmental footprints seriously. Their home is about 400 square feet, and they’re converting a shuttle bus to a smaller, 100-square-foot home on wheels. They insist Simple Alchemy not leave behind waste. The brand’s products are biodegradable, and it procures biodegradable labels constructed from sustainable sugarcane with compostable adhesive from the firm Pure Labels. Candles are enclosed in reusable amber glass jars with recyclable metal lids.
From her days at River City Soap, Smith has learned a pared-down selection has benefits along with pared-down packaging. “I wanted to conquer the world with soap. So, I had 11 different bars that were all scented differently and had completely different formulations, and it was too much,” she says. “It was confusing for the consumer, and it was actually kind of confusing for me when it came to keeping track of the soap and knowing numbers.”
On the subject of numbers, España and Smith expect Simple Alchemy to break into the black in its second year on the market. They’re intent on putting the brand in retailers appropriate for its positioning, starting principally with stores in the Pacific Northwest, where it’s headquartered. Simple Alchemy is already available at the apothecary Herbs in Jars in Newberg, Ore.
“The idea is to move forward with coops and independently-owned and -operated local businesses that have a very similar philosophy to us when it comes to the environment,” says Smith. “We are trying to gear our products toward like-minded individuals.”
“Before, I was very narrow-minded and thought I was only going to sell soap. After a while, I was like, ‘Why am I doing this?’ It was really nice that Bee was so excited about the idea of rebranding and getting the soap back out there, and expanding what we are going to be making for our customer base.”
Simple Alchemy isn’t stopping with soaps and candles. Serums, deodorant, toothpaste, stationery and jewelry are on España’s and Smith’s product wish list. España has opened Smith’s eyes to Simple Alchemy’s potential as a well-rounded lifestyle brand.
“Before, I was very narrow-minded and thought I was only going to sell soap. After a while, I was like, ‘Why am I doing this?’ It was really nice that Bee was so excited about the idea of rebranding and getting the soap back out there, and expanding what we are going to be making for our customer base,” says Smith. “There are so many things we want to do that fit within the Simple Alchemy brand.” Consistent with the relationship between Smith and España, Smith concludes, “It’s very intuitive, which is lovely.”
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