Meet the Makers: Lather Me Soap Company
Some businesses are born from a great idea. Others are born from a snowy day, a slippery ramp, and a whole lot of time to scroll.
Lather Me Soap Company officially launched on a sizzling hot day in July 2024 — but the real beginning came that February, when owner Dawn fractured her ankle and tore a ligament after slipping on a snow-covered ramp. Stuck at home and recovering, she did what most of us do when boredom sets in: she started scrolling. That's when she stumbled onto soap-making videos, and she was immediately hooked.
What followed was two months of research and watching before she made her very first loaf of soap — lemon. From there, things moved quickly. By June, nearly every flat surface in the house was covered with curing bars in various ingredient combinations. (Fun fact: soap needs to cure for at least four weeks before it's ready to use.) Something had to give, and so, Lather Me Soap Company was born.
Built for Sensitive Skin, Designed for Everyone
Dawn didn't just want to make soap. She wanted to make soap that worked, specifically for her own highly sensitive skin. That meant high moisture, gentle ingredients, and no compromises. It took her about a year of dedicated experimentation to land on her Signature Blend: a formulation with 30% butters for deep moisture, but with just the right consistency to support the stunning designs and incredible fragrances she envisioned.
As Dawn herself puts it: "All made with the same drive, tenacity and craftsmanship she had for her first bar of soap."
More Than Just Soap
What started as a one-woman operation to clear the countertops has grown into a full line of handcrafted body care products. In addition to over 70 different soap bars — ranging from natural to whimsical to what they lovingly call "soaphisticated" — Lather Me Soap Company also offers body wash, sugar scrubs, lotion bars, shampoo bars, shower steamers, bath bombs, laundry soap, bath soaks, and shaving cream. Everything is palm-free, never animal tested, and handcrafted right here in Pennsylvania.
The soaps themselves are made with a variety of bases including aloe vera, goat milk, cow milk, sheep milk, honey, coffee, beer, and reverse osmosis deionized water — simple, thoughtful ingredients that reflect the same care Dawn put into that very first lemon loaf.
Find Her at Fresh Market
You can visit Lather Me Soap Company on the lower level of Fresh Market at Hershey Towne Square, open Thursday through Saturday. Whether you're shopping for yourself or looking for a gift that feels genuinely special, Dawn's passion for the craft comes through in every bar.
Stop by and say hello — she can't wait to meet you.
