Our Blog

A Fresh New Look for Urban Essence Salon & Spa

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 29 Jun 2026 19:50:00 -0500

For more than two decades, Urban Essence Salon & Spa has been dedicated to creating handcrafted luxury bath and body products that nourish the skin, encourage self-care and uplift the spirit. As our business continues to grow, we believe our brand should evolve as well.

In 2014, we introduced the logo that many of our customers have come to recognize and love. It represented who we were at that time—a small but passionate company focused on quality, craftsmanship, and creating products made with care. Over the years, that logo has traveled with us through farmers markets, craft shows, wholesale partnerships, private label projects, and countless customer relationships.

As we looked toward to the future, it was time for a refresh.

About Our Refresh

Our mission remains the same, but our brand has grown. It's time for a new logo that reflects the sophistication, elegance, and the premium quality that Urban Essence Salon & Spa has become known for. The new design offers a cleaner, more modern appearance while maintaining the warmth and luxury that are at the heart of our company.

The updated logo features:

A refined and elegant monogram design

Softer, more contemporary typography

Natural elements that symbolize wellness, growth, and self-care

A clean, upscale aesthetic that better represents our handcrafted luxury product line

Honoring Our Past While Embracing the Future

A logo is more than just a graphic—it tells a story. Our original logo served us well for over a decade and represents an important chapter in our journey.

Our new logo is about presenting who we have become.

The values that inspired Urban Essence Salon & Spa in 2003 remain unchanged:

Handcrafted quality

Affordable luxury

Exceptional customer service

A commitment to holistic self-care and wellness

What This Means for Our Customers

Over the coming months, you'll begin seeing our new logo on product labels, packaging, banners, social media, and marketing materials. While our look may be changing, the products you know and trust will continue to be handcrafted with the same dedication and attention to detail.

We are excited to enter this new chapter and grateful for every customer who has supported us throughout the years. Thank you for being part of our journey.

New Logo. Same Commitment to Quality. Same Passion for Handcrafted Luxury.

Urban Essence Salon & Spa — Handcrafted Luxury Bath & Body Products Since 2003.

Learn to Make Cosmetics Class

uess@urban-essence.com — Fri, 10 Jun 2022 09:50:00 -0500

Many of you know that we have been making handcrafted soap and other cosmetics for over 19 years now and we have leaned a thing or two about the cosmetic industry in this time. In the beginning we didn't always make our product from scratch. It was around 2005 when my husband Timothy suggested that we start formulating our own products. When you formulate your own products it gives you a since of pride and accomplishment. Formulating your own product will allow you to use or not use any ingredient you want.

For many years we have been purchasing ingredients for our products from Candles & Supplies. Candles & Supplies is Pennsylvania's area premier wholesale supply store for cosmetic ingredients. They offer and wide variety of raw materials ranging from butter, fragrance oils, clays, waxes, bottles, top, jars and carrier oils.

In collaboration with Candles & Supplies we have formulated 4 cosmetic classes. For a limited time we will be teaching:

How to make Facial Scrub
June 24, 2022
10 am - 1 pm

Facial Scrub

Whipped Body Butter Class
July 8, 2022
1 pm to 3 PM

Whipped Body Butter

Body Spray
July 15, 2022
1 pm to 3 pm

Body Spray

Facial Mask
July 29, 2022
10 pm to 1 pm

Facial Mask

Each class will include a comprehensive participant guide which will be packed with information about ingredients, equipment, recipes, and the proper steps to make the cosmetic.

To lean more about preservatives click here and to have a peek at the soap class we taught in 2011 click here.

Candles & Supplies is located at 2580 Milford Square Pike, Quakertown, PA 18950.

Classes are fulling up fast, book your class today!

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Advanced Certified Soapmakers

uess@urban-essence.com — Sat, 26 Feb 2022 16:09:00 -0600

Advanced Certified Soapmaker

While growing up people often ask, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I can almost guarantee you that becoming a soapmaker is not at the top of the professional list!

Back in 2003 when Urban Essence Salon & Spa (UESS) was born, adding soap to the product line up was never a consideration. Realizing that our customers wanted soap, it was added to expand our product offerings, however at that time it was melt and pour soap. Realizing that our customers wanted soap was the catalyst to expanding our product offerings.

Interesting enough, formulating an original soap recipe and making soap from a set recipe are two different things. To put it simply, it's the difference between making a box cake vs. making a cake from scratch. Soapmaking is an art that involves science.

HSCG

We have been members of the Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild for a few years and belonging to a professional organization in our industry provides small businesses the tools needed to increase proficiency in the trade, improve business skills, and provide general exposure.

Along with my husband Timothy, we have been making soap for close to 20 years and felt that it was important to become certified to set us apart from other soapmakers. Earning this certification demonstrates that we are competent, knowledgeable, highly qualified and have a clear understanding of the raw materials and chemicals that we work with to produce soap. It also establishes that we have a clear understanding of the science involved in soapmaking.

How this certification benefit you, our customers?

It proves that we are committed to a standard of excellence.
Sets us apart from other soapmakers.
You can feel confident knowing that we take the proper steps with regard to safety and efficacy.
Credibility in the industry.
It shows that we are dedicated to professional standards and procedures.

To learn more about making soap read our blog post The Chemistry of Soap.

Your comments are always appreciated, feel free to comment below.

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Urban Essence is Featured in the Indie Business Network Blog

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 14:37:00 -0600

It brings us great joy to be one of the 4 Black-Owned family businesses featured the latest Indie Business Network blog post.

For a number of years we have been members of the Indie Business Network. As we built our handcrafted bath & body business over the years IBN has offered us the coaching and resources we needed to learn the specific skills to be confident and operate in the bath & body industry.

IBN is a professional business organization geared to helping small businesses and entrepreneurs navigate and balance the real life of running a business. To learn more about the 4 Black-Owned business featured click here.

If you want to learn more about our products drop us a comment below!

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Nice Things Handmade Boutique and Gallery

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 21 Dec 2020 18:50:00 -0600

We are pleased to announce that you can now find your favorite gourmet luxury handcrafted soap in Nice Things Handmade! Fragrances currently available are Lavender & Herb, Oatmeal, Milk & Honey, Sunflower & Calendula, Frankincense & Myrrh and Peppermint.

Opening just over 10 years ago they have gained notoriety in the community they serve. Nice Things Handmade offers a large assortment of handmade gift items that have been sourced from talented artists within the community. You will find ceramics, knit clothing, greeting cards, and gift items that are absolutely philly-centric. And we are proud to be part of their lineup!

Nice Things Handmade is located just a few minutes from Center City Philadelphia in the heart of East Passyunk Avenue. This shopping district is home to more than 150 independently owned businesses. Nice Things Handmade is very well known in the area and is one of the most lively boutiques. With lines stretching down the street with shoppers waiting patiently to get indoors to shop!

You can follow Nice Things Handmade on Facebook and Instagram.

They are located at:
1731 E Passyunk Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19148

Store Hours:
Monday - Closed
Tuesday - Closed
Wednesday - 11AM–7PM
Thursday - 11AM–7PM
Friday - 11AM–7PM
Saturday - 12–7PM
Sunday - 12–5PM

You can also find Urban Essence Salon & Spa handcrafted luxury bath & body products at these other fine retail locations.

If you want to learn more about our products drop us a comment below!

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POP UP Market this Sunday!

uess@urban-essence.com — Wed, 23 Sep 2020 15:07:00 -0500

GreenHorn Gardens POP UP Market

Hi family, you can find your favorite bath & body products at a Pop Up Market this Sunday, September 27, 2020 from 12 pm until 4 pm!

For the past month we have been showcasing our handcrafted bath & body products at the GreenHorn Gardens farmers Market and this week they are hosting a Pop Up market!

The Green House at Arlington Cemetary

GreenHorn Gardens is an urban agriculture company that specializes in growing high quality plants, flowers and produce, building gardens and hosting educational workshops.

They are located inside the Arlington Cemetery, 2401 School Ln, Drexel Hill, PA 19026.

Produce and Flowers grown by GreenHorn Gardens

Click here to learn more about the pop up market.
For more information you can find them on their website.

Follow them on:
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Check back soon for an in depth interview about GreenHorn Gardens

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Bunny Hare's Gift Shop our newest retail location!

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 01:23:00 -0500

Bunny Hare's Gift Shop

We are pleased to announce that you can now find our bath & body products at our newest retail location Bunny Hare's! Bunny Hare's is a unique gift shop located in the laid-back suburban community of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. For over 16 years Anne Marie Hare and her friendly staff have helped shoppers choose that perfect gift!

Bunny Hare's beach theme display

They offer fine gifts, jewelry, candles, cards, clothing, gifts, and more! Their gift items are carefully curated from local area artisans and abroad.

They offer personalized help while you shop & free gift wrapping. So if you need a gift for a friend, family, or yourself stop in and an associated will assist you in making that special purchase!

Bunny Hare's Orange Blossom Display

You can currently find our Smelly Jellies here! Smelly Jellies are a great alternative to burning candles. They last for 4 to 6 months, are non-toxic, and can be used in any location in your home or office!

Bunny Hare's Lavender Display

You can follow Bunny Hare's on Facebook and Instagram.

They are located in St. Albans Circle
15 St. Albans Circle
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(610) 325-3205

Store Hours:
Friday 10AM–5PM
Saturday 10AM–5PM
Sunday Closed
Monday Closed
Tuesday 10AM–2PM
Wednesday 10AM–2PM
Thursday 10AM–5PM

You can also find Urban Essence Salon & Spa handcrafted luxury bath & body products at these other fine retail locations.

If you want to learn more about our products drop us a comment below!

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Hand & Body Lotion

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 08 Jun 2020 01:25:00 -0500

Last week we talked about What Preservatives Are & Why We Use Them. This week we're talking about lotion, more specifically our Hand & Body Lotion.

What are Preservatives & Why We Use Them

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 01 Jun 2020 01:25:00 -0500

In this blog post we are discussing preservatives and why we use them.

Connecting with Small Business - Part 2

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 25 May 2020 01:25:00 -0500

Connecting with small businesses

Welcome to our second installment of Connecting with Small Businesses. In this post we are shinning the light on 5 small businesses. Since our last post it has become clear that supporting small business is imperative. And it's equally important that we support our independent performing artists. Supporting small business does not always mean you have to spend dollars.

Here's a few ways you can support small businesses:

Leave a positive comment on their website or blog post
Write a product review on their website
Recommend your favorite small business to your friends
Recommend a small business's Facebook page
Re-post their social media post
Send a message to your favorite small business and thank them for the service they provide
Buy a gift card now that you can redeem later
Start a Facebook post that shares all of your favorite brands
Make a purchase

You can support all of these business by joining their mailing list following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.

CAP Cunningham Administrative Professionals, LLC

Cunningham Administrative Professionals, LLC

Cunningham Administrative Professionals is the personal Admin you desperately need but haven't been in a position to obtain. It could be that you are a small business owner and you are spending all of your time running the operation and administrative functions of your business. Possibly you are wonderful at setting goals but have difficulty holding them all together. Also, you may have an extremely hectic personal life that you have difficulty keeping up with. You know you need help but you don't know where to turn. They will help you achieve your professional growth and offer superior leadership in virtual administrative support, developing genuine relationships, and going the extra mile to ensure success.

For more information visit Cunningham Administrative Professions, LLC:
Website
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Micah's Scents

Micah's Scents powered by UESS

Learn more about the personally curated, Shea Butter based bath and body line brought to you by 8-year old kidpreneur Micah Ruffin. Look for Summer updates and special promotions coming soon.

For more information visit Micah's Scents:
Website
Facebook

Michelle Vanessa Williams owner of Embellish Beauty Concepts, LLC.

Embellish Beauty Concepts, LLC

Marcia V. Williams, Founder and CEO of Embellish Beauty Concepts LLC., she is a Beauty Expert and has a passion for makeup and all things beauty. She launched a cosmetic line in 2010 where she formulated and crafted her own line of cosmetics for local women. She began her wholesale journey and transcended her career as a Beauty expert for brides and local women reinventing their brands. Marcia became an accomplished makeup artist in the Philadelphia and the tri-state area. Marcia spent many years as a QVC hair and makeup artist providing beauty to Celebrities and TV personalities. The Embellish Beauty Lipstick line was launched in July 2019. Embellish Beauty signature lipsticks represent empowerment, creativity , and boldness. Lipstick has such a personal statement. Women all around the globe made their mark being able to unify and make a statement during the time when voting wasn't respected by us. Their statement and power was magnified showing up and being a voice with their empowered staple red lips.

For more information visit Embellish Beauty Concepts, LLC:
Website
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Ramon Jackson

Looking for fresh R&B with old school flavor? Get into the latest project from singer/songwriter Ramon Jackson. His sophomore album "Silver Tongue" has already passed 250k streams on Spotify and has radio play in several countries. His social media can be found below as well as his website featuring his press releases, music videos and critic reviews.

For more information and to support and listen to Ramon Jackson's music visit:
Website
Facebook
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Daddy University

Daddy University, Inc.

Daddy University, Inc. is a Male Parenting Education Company. Their focus is to use education and information to assist all men who are raising children. Their mission is to educate, advocate and support all fathers and father figures. They are here to decrease the barriers to positive parenting.
For over a decade they have been answering the question, Who We Are? They are fathers, men, husbands, big kids, spouses, significant others, partners, dads, and grands who believe that the most important gift they could give all children was the most educated fathers in the world.
Daddy University currently operates four Fatherhood classes; Father's Club in the city of Philadelphia, along with the Annual National Fatherhood Conference, the Annual Daddy-Daughter Dance, Social services training and the non-profit, School of Parent Education.

For more information and to support Daddy University visit:
Website
Facebook
Instagram
Twitter

Want to see more owner operated business featured here?

Drop us a comment below and let us know.

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Meet Our Customer: Sena O. of Sen7 Consulting

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 18 May 2020 01:00:00 -0500

Meet Sena O. accomplished scholar.

Whipped Body Butter : Video

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 11 May 2020 01:25:00 -0500

Whipped body butter is one of the most decadent creams that you will ever apply to your body.

Soap Vs. Hand Sanitizer

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 04 May 2020 01:25:00 -0500

Do you remember playing in the park for hours, riding your bike all over the city, and jumping rope between two parked cars? And remember running in the house afterward because you were starving and dying of thirst? You probably also remember your mother yelling at you to not touch anything until you wash your hands. As it turns out she was right! She didn’t want those germs from outside in her house. That was then and here you are now. You still don’t want those germs in your house.

Handwashing has always been a regular routine that you performed before you eat food, after using the restroom or during a time when you are not feeling so well. And handwashing will always be the most effective tool against dirt, germs and bacteria. Handwashing is your best defense against spreading germs and illnesses.

Handwashing

Let talk about how soap works. When you wash your hands with soap and water you are creating friction by rubbing your hand together. This friction creates lather. And that lather helps lift, remove and break down dirt, grease, germs, microbes and bacteria off your hands. These components are then suspended in water and washed away when you rinse your hands.

Hand Sanitizer

Now let’s look at hand sanitizers. As you may know, hand sanitizers are quick and convenient especially in a situation where soap and water are not available. They were initially introduced in 1966 in the medical field and was made popular in the early 1990s. To be effective, hand sanitizer must contain at least 60% alcohol to kill germs. Just like when using soap, after you apply hand sanitizer you rub your hands together to create friction. This action will help kill any germs on your hands but it will not completely clean your hands.

Just Oatmeal Soap

In conclusion, using soap and water regularly to wash your hand is more effective than using hand sanitizers. While hand sanitizers can reduce the number of germs in certain situations it will not completely clean your hands. It is important to know when each method should be used.

For more information about handcrafted soap check out our blog post on The Chemistry of Soap.

For more information and recommendations about handwashing check out these links.

Hand Washing and Hand Sanitizer Use Fact Sheet

Hand Sanitizer Uses Out and About

When and how to wash your hands

Show me the Science

What are your thoughts on hand washing and hand sanitizer? Leave a comment below.

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Connecting with Small Businesses - Part 1

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 27 Apr 2020 01:25:00 -0500

Welcome to our new blog post series Connecting With Small Businesses!

Meet Our Customer: Nicole Fuscia of Glenna Stone Interior Design

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 20 Apr 2020 01:25:00 -0500

We've decided to start a blog series entitled "Meet our customer". Our customers are why we do what we do and we want their voice to be heard!

Making Bath BonBons : A Video

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 13 Apr 2020 00:15:00 -0500

In this industry you lean that some products will resonate with your customers and others just won't!

4 Things to Do While Staying at Home

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 06 Apr 2020 01:31:00 -0500

4 Things to Do While Staying at Home!

Staying Positive during these uncertain times!

uess@urban-essence.com — Mon, 30 Mar 2020 04:20:00 -0500

8 things you can do to alleviate stress and stay positive.

Our Signature Hand Treatment

uess@urban-essence.com — Wed, 29 Jan 2020 10:55:00 -0600

When was the last time you had a spa treatment?

Spa treatments are amazingly beneficial and relaxing and being able to pamper yourself at home is the best way to relive that spa treatment at home!

Product Display

We really enjoy attending shows, craft fairs and farmers markets it’s the perfect opportunity for us meet you all and showcase the many products we offer. My husband Timothy Minor came up with the brilliant idea to bring warm water with us to events so that we could offer you our Signature Spa Hand Treatment using our Sugar Scrub and Whipped Body Butter. This Signature Spa Hand Treatment is formulated to make your hands blissfully soft & silky and will also help improve blood flow & circulation. And the best part is, you can do it yourself at home.

The Sugar Scrub is a blend of pure unrefined raw Demerara, Turbinado & Brown sugars. Our Signature Spa Hand Treatment should be incorporated into your dally self-care routine. It will help relive dry skin, calluses and aging hands and you will experience the indulgent pleasure of revitalized, exfoliated & smooth hands with our Signature Spa Hand Treatment!

In this video we are at the LadiDeclare Teen Summit which took place on Saturday August 17, 2019 at the Philadelphia Ethical Society. Here you will see a firsthand look at our Signature Spa Hand Treatment.

Please check out our calendar of events and come visit us to get your Signature Spa Hand Treatment!

Hope to see you soon!

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Our Three Main Soap Making Oils

uess@urban-essence.com — Thu, 17 Oct 2019 12:26:00 -0500

In our previous blog post The Chemistry of Soap we discussed how soap is made as it relates to its chemical make up. In this blog post we will be discussing the three main ingredients we use in our Gourmet Luxury Soap.

Our goal is to educate our customers and we want you to have real and correct information. In this blog post I will be reviewing the main oils/butters that are used in our Gourmet Luxury Soap, Shea Butter, Olive Oil and Coconut Oil. I will describe the benefits of these fatty acids as it relates to soap making.

Image courtesy of africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Shea Butter is extracted from fruit of the Karite tree which is native to the savannahs of western and central Africa. Shea Butter is rich in vitamins A and E, and it has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Shea Butter is a triglyceride (fat) derived mainly from stearic acid and oleic acid. Shea Butter is used many of our handcrafted products because of the multiple benefits that it provides for skincare. The benefits of using Shea butter include, but are not limited to, nourishing dry skin, minimizing blemishes, combating wrinkles, and stretch mark prevention during pregnancy. It is also widely used by people suffering from Eczema, Dermatitis and Psoriasis.

Image courtesy of bartosch / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Olive Oil, like many other oils, is an oil that is highly favorable. Olive oil is mainly used for cooking, however, it has many other uses as well.

Today you can find Olive oil in cosmetics and hair care products! There are also a few different grades of olive oils as well. The two grades of Olive oil that we used in our product formulations are Pure and Pomace Olive Oils. Olive Oil has a high level of unsaponifiables, meaning it contains components that will not turn into soap when combined with lye solution. This is extremely important because the unsaponifiables help to achieve high levels of moisture. The benefits of Olive oil include, but are not limited to, moisture for extremely dry skin, helps to maintain soft and smooth skin, and contains antioxidants and Vitamin E which helps the skin to regenerate and increases the elasticity of the skin.

Image courtesy of foto76 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Coconut Oil is obtained from Copra, which is dried coconut meat. Coconut Oil provides wonderful lathering and moisturizing properties to soap. In soapmaking Coconut oil is an anomaly and it helps achieve huge bubbles. The benefits of Coconut oil include but are not limited to its ability to penetrate deep into the skin and it also helps to condition, moisturize, and softens the skin. In addition, it can also help shrink wrinkles, sooth bug bites,and protect your skin against sun damage. It has also been used to help keep tans longer.

We understand that there is a growing number of people who are looking for products that are sustainable and free from animal fats and oils. We are committed to using vegetable-based oils and butters. And it is important to us that you are well informed so that you can make conscience decisions when purchasing your skin care products.

Please feel free to comment or post any questions you may have.

This article was originally posted on 3-15-14.

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So what exactly is Activated Charcoal?

uess@urban-essence.com — Thu, 03 Oct 2019 13:33:00 -0500

In our previous blog post we introduced you to our Activated Charcoal Soap and by now many of you have been enjoying the soap and have requested more!

So what exactly is activated charcoal?

Well, According to Medical News Today "Activated charcoal is not the same substance as that found in charcoal bricks or burnt pieces of food. The manufacture of activated charcoal makes it extremely absorbent, allowing it to bind to molecules, ions, or atoms. In this way, it removes these from dissolved substances. Making activated charcoal involves heating carbon-rich materials, such as wood, peat, coconut shells, or sawdust, to very high temperatures. Activated charcoal is a fine black powder made from bone char, coconut shells, peat, petroleum coke, coal, olive pits or sawdust." Huizen, Jennifer. Reviewed by Alan Carter, PharmD "What are the benefits of activated charcoal. Medical News Today, July 27, 2018

There are so many old and new additives flooding around the skin care industry everyday and we are often times asked to incorporate these ingredients into our products. Your requests are always taken into consideration when we are looking for new products to develop. And we make sure to spend a great amount of time in the research stage of investigating new ingredients. There is an equal amount of time spent in developing the actual product with this new ingredient. With that being said, we have discovered that activated charcoal is being used in many different ways and has had a major impact in the skin care industry for many years now!

Here is a list of some of the many benefits of activated charcoal:

Great for every skin type
Charcoal soap works magic on acne prone skin
Helps tame oily skin
Makes Skin Tighter And Firmer
Aids in reducing pore size
Assists in clearing skin blemishes

Developing products that will benefit you is what we strive for!

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Soap Making Class 2011

uess@urban-essence.com — Thu, 12 Sep 2019 12:05:00 -0500

While going through some old photos on our Facebook page I came across some photos of a soap class that I taught 8 years ago (that's right 8 years ago!). I just can't get over that it's been that long ago! When I was going through these photos it reminded me of how much I enjoyed teaching the class and how I thought it was so cool to be teaching the class in a science lab! To be able to look back on our business and see how far we have come is truly amazing! I am grateful for our challenges and achievements that we have witnessed over the years!

I recall being extremely nervous on the car ride to the venue. This was maybe the 1st or 2nd time that I came out of my shell to do a public speaking event. My husband, Timothy Minor coached me during the entire car ride. I recall him saying "just look at me and talk about what you know, then your words and conversation will just flow". He made it sound so easy! What made me even more nervous during the class was that everyone was so quite. It seemed like I was just talking into the air! Then I asked if I was boring anyone and to my surprise the students were quite because they were listening intently.

I prepared for this class for several weeks, making booklets and going over my talking points. I even made soap to give to the participants at the end of the class. Looking back and reliving this experience I have to say that this was one of the best experiences that I've had! It taught me to speak up and talk about what I do every day! According to the Merrian-Webster dictionary the definition of an expert is having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience. I guess this means I'm qualified to teach!

I hope to teach another soap making class some time soon!

Please feel free to comment or post any questions you may have.

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The Chemistry of Soap

uess@urban-essence.com — Wed, 28 Aug 2019 08:21:00 -0500

This is my wonderful husband Timothy Minor

The process of making soap is called saponification. I'll be the first one to admit that I was very bored in my high school chemistry class. At that time over, 30 years ago, I didn't see how it apply to everyday life. Of course there were experiments and projects that we conducted, but quite frankly, I was just not interested! Fast forward to today; and now I can't get enough of the chemistry as it relates to making soap. Now, I long for my old high school chemistry class! The process of making soap is in fact a chemistry project that we perform over and over again.

Soap making gear

Why we make soap? There are so many reason why we make soap or any of the products we produce. For me making soap is very relaxing. In the beginning we made soap because it was much better than the glycerin soap base that we used in the past. Today, we make soap for a number of reasons. Here are just a few reasons; 1. We are in control of the ingredients that we use. 2. It is so much better for you skin. Our Gourmet Luxury Soap is very moisturizing and does not leave you with that dry feeling that you get when you use a commercial produced bar of soap. And 3. we were very disappointed with commercial detergent bars/beauty bars that are watered down and lack quality ingredients! Like most people my husband and I bought commercial produced soap with animal fats and the glycerin taken out. It is essentially a detergent bar and not soap!

Peppermint Swirl Soap

What is Soap? "In chemistry, soap is a salt of a fatty acid.^[1] Soaps are mainly used for washing, bathing, and cleaning. Soaps for cleansing are obtained by treating vegetable or animal oils and fats with a strongly alkaline solution. Fats and oils are composed of triglycerides; three molecules of fatty acids are attached to a single molecule of glycerol.^[2] The alkaline solution, which is often called lye (although the term "lye soap" refers almost exclusively to soaps made with sodium hydroxide), brings about a chemical reaction known as saponification. In this reaction, the triglyceride fats are first hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, and then these combine with the alkali to form crude soap, an amalgam of various soap salts, excess fat or alkali, water, and liberated glycerol (glycerin). The glycerin is a useful by-product, which can be left in the soap product as a softening agent, or isolated for other uses. Soap. (n.d.) . In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 1, 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S....

This is me pouring soap into the mold

Is your soap made with lye? Often times we get asked the question "is your soap made with LYE?" Most people have memories of their grandmothers making soap and the result would be a very harsh bar of soap that more often than not, irritated the skin. The difference between handmade soap made today verses the soap that was made many years ago is the saponification chart that we use today. The Saponification chart is a table with Sap Values for oils and butters (fatty acids) that are used in soapmaking. When you multiply the sap value of each fatty acid being used by the weight of that fatty acid the result is the amount of lye that should be used to turn the fatty acids into soap. When we make soap we discount our water and lye which leaves left over unsaponified oils and fats. Its these left over oils and fats that contribute our Gourmet Luxury Soap being so very moisturizing! The word lye is the common name of sodium hydroxide (Na OH) which is used for bar soap and potassium hydroxide (K OH) is used for liquid soap. There is no other way to make REAL soap without the use of fatty acids and lye. Our soap is made with 100% natural Shea Butter, Olive Oil and Coconut Oil. We also use other skin loving ingredients such as oatmeal, milk, honey, plantains, calendula, peppermint, etc. to make up the various varieties that we produce. So the answer to the question is YES, our soap is made with lye!

Please feel free to comment or post any questions you may have.

This article was originally written on 3-15-14. And at that time I thought it was not the right time to publish it. However, over the years people have become more and more informed about the ingredients that are in the products they use.

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Activated Charcoal Soap

uess@urban-essence.com — Wed, 21 Aug 2019 19:19:00 -0500

Activated Charcoal Soap

You've asked for it and now its here!

Here's a sneak peek of our new Activated Charcoal Soap!

So far we have gotten really good reviews and people are enjoying the soap.

Activated Charcoal has an all-natural black color that is made from coconut shells, washed for purity, and pH neutral. Activated Charcoal Soap will produce a rich grey lather and will work hard to gently deep clean your skin.

Activated Charcoal Soap is known to reduce the size of your pores and help manage oily skin.

While gently exfoliating your skin, Activated Charcoal soap is also helpful in treating acne.

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VIX Emporium is our newest wholesale stockist

uess@urban-essence.com — Wed, 18 Apr 2018 18:45:00 -0500

Have you heard the great news? Urban Essence Salon & Spa luxury bath and body products can now be found at VIX Emporium!

VIX Emporium has a very well curated selection of gifts, cards jewelry, candles and apothecary items that are made in the USA by independent businesses, artists and makers, mostly in the Philadelphia region.

Their unique collection of merchandise is housed in the original mirrored cabinetry that has stood in the shop for decades, since its time as a 1940s millinery. "VIX" (with a bar over the V) is the Roman numeral for 5009, their Baltimore Avenue address in historic West Philadelphia.Philadelphia region.

If you haven't seen it on social media yet, here's a peek inside VIX Emporium.

The Emporium is owned and operated by Sean and Emily Dorn. Emily works in the shop and also makes hand-crocheted wire jewelry. You can find VIX Emporium on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

They are location in the West Philadelphia area of the city, 5009 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.

SPRING HOURS
Tue-Wed 12-7 Thu-Fri 11-7
Saturday 10-7
Sunday 11-4
Closed Mondays

You can also find Urban Essence Salon & Spa products at these other fine retail locations.