Products to Soothe the Senses

The Lotion and Soap Picture at Boutiques

The Soap Kitchen, an artisanal toiletries boutique in Pasadena, Calif., had already been in business for 17 years when the pandemic upended retail. Nearly two years later, Owner Dali Yu still doesn’t feel comfortable offering in-person shopping at the 600-square-foot store, where “it’s impossible to do any type of social distancing,” she laughed.

Instead, Yu has relied on loyal customers and her own ingenuity to keep the business thriving — with online shopping, contactless pickup, and even a YouTube channel. All of The Soap Kitchen’s products are made from scratch on-site in a dedicated kitchen, using all natural ingredients and scented with essential oils instead of perfumes. ”People love to see how we make our soaps; it’s a really hands-on, old-fashioned process,” Yu explained.

Soaps and lotions have emerged as retail winners during the pandemic, as Americans wash hands more than ever to avoid contamination — and then rely on lotions to combat the resulting dryness. “People like our soaps because they don’t dry out your hands the way others do if you’re washing constantly,” Yu explained.

Mask wearing has led to an epidemic of acne, driving sales of specialty soaps that combat skin issues. “Our charcoal soap is one of our best sellers; people love it for healing breakouts,” said Yu. The Soap Kitchen’s charcoal soap is a blend of activated charcoal, which has medicinal properties, with essential oils of verbena, patchouli and sage for a pleasant fragrance. Also popular for sensitive skin is the tea tree face bar; coconut oil bath bombs and lip balms round out the top sellers. “People love giving our soaps as gifts,” Yu noted.

In Washington, D.C., Hunnybunny Boutique has also been sustained through the pandemic by what Managing Partner Andre Byers called “our hardcore customers.” “They already have favorites, so they’re not sampling,” explained Byers, whose daughters, Nya and Zuri, own the 6-year-old, 500-square-foot store.

Online and delivery still account for a greater share of sales than inperson shopping, but more patrons are visiting now than six months ago. Many are loyal clients with skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis and other