Essential Soaps at one of the ARTE events. Supplied photos.

Here is an ARTE vendor who has built a great client base by attending ARTE fairs, and she has been attending ARTE only since the beginning of this year. Her name is Stevi Lowmass, Owner of Essential Soaps.  What’s special about these soaps is that the chief ingredient is made of camel milk.

Stevi explains, “I wanted to make something that was uniquely from the UAE. I figured that camel milk would be pretty unique for the region. All soap makers start with non-milk based soaps which are somewhat simpler to make but once you get hooked on milk based soaps it is hard to go back!”

Neatly packaged soaps waiting to be purchased! Supplied photos.

Apart from working up a great lather, the camel milk contains the well known alpha-hydroxy acids (used usually in peels in cosmetic salons) that promote lovely looking and firm skin. “Camel milk has three times more Vitamin C than cow’s milk.” Makes sense, then to switch to such a potent handmade soap.

Stevi shared some photos of her at her ‘cauldron’ as she wittingly puts it. “All my soaps are made using a method cold cold-process soap making. Contrary to the words, however, the oils for the soap are heated before being mixed with the camel milk mixture.  The large pot is for heating my oils and waxes.”

‘Brewing’ away. Supplied photos.

Stevi and her ‘labour of love.’ Supplied photos.

Camel milk based soaps don’t have to be boring from the fragrance point of view.  Stevi can spruce the soaps up with a variety of spices or flowers. Lavender, rose geranium, rosemary, orange, cinnamon. It’s your choice.

Visit Essential Soaps online. Essential soaps also have a facebook page.