With that in mind, we were obviously thrilled to come across a small, organic soap company called Bodhi Basics. This luxurious soap is hand crafted and comes in unique varieties like Florida Honey and Sugar Grapefruit that reflect the company's Sunshine State roots. And it’s not just for people -- they have a line exclusively for dogs, too. I was able to sit down with the owner and soap crafter of Bodhi Basics, Kim Vorperian, for a two part interview to ask about her journey, her soap, what makes the ultimate bath experience, and her rescue dog named Bodhi.
Kim is an accomplished artist, musician, baker, and puppy-rescuer. So what made her get into soap making? Well, it was a culmination of several life-changing factors. “I have extremely sensitive skin so I was never able to use regular soaps as a kid,” Kim confided. Her rescue dog, Bodhi, has trouble with dry skin, as well. “I also wanted to be a baker and was trying to pursue that in Chicago but developed a wheat gluten allergy. My dreams of owning my own cafe/bakery were shot down.” Kim still wanted to find a way to have her own business and be self-sufficient. She tried to figure out all the ways she could accomplish that and she came upon soap.
Soap making is “very similar to the baking process in a lot of ways,” Kim insists. “It’s a chemical process so basically -- I mean bare bones -- you take your ingredients, you mix them up, and you let them ‘bake’ through a saponification process.” She uses similar ingredients to cooking in her soaps, as well, including butters, oils, and herbs. “It’s surprisingly very culinary,” Kim said.
Bodhi Basics soap is all handcrafted, cold processed soap. “I use organic ingredients like olive, coconut, and other super nourishing oils,” said Kim. “All of my scents come from essential oils directly derived from plants, flowers, and fruit, and all the colors are made with just fruit and spices so there’s no artificial anything at all.” Kim handpicks every ingredient to ensure only the best goes into every bar so her customers have the best shower experience possible. “I make them all myself. It lets me know what’s going on my body and my dog’s body.” Some of her most popular soaps include the Blood Orange & Poppy, Lavender Mint, and of course, the One Dirty Pup bar.
Currently, you can find Kim’s soap online on her website, BodhiBasics.com, as well as at her Etsy shop under the same name. “Our soaps have also graced the tubs of England, Italy, Spain, Canada, and Hong Kong,” Kim said. They can also be found in boutique stores throughout the U.S., including Florida, Texas, Maryland, and California.
Stay tuned for the second part of our interview with Kimberly Vorperian from Bodhi Basics later this week.