It Just Makes Scents

When customers enter this tiny, fragrant shop, they aren't surprised to see Kate Bethel hard at work on her handmade soaps and bath products. Behind the old-fashioned pedestal sinks and clawfoot tub filled with bar soaps is Kate's workspace. Measuring cups, a microwave and a tall refrigerator fill the space, but this is no ordinary kitchen. Here, Kate mixes up her handmade, uniquely scented bath products.

"It's a little like cooking," says Kate. "Most of what we use to make our products are utensils you can find in your own kitchen."

A self-taught soapmaker, Kate first dipped into the soapmaking business by following how-to articles she found online. Convinced that bath products would be difficult to sell, she limited the amount she sold in store and instead focused on home accessories and gifts - until the soaps began to fly off the shelves.

"It really started as a hobby," says Kate. "When I got married, I wanted to make favors for my wedding reception, so I looked up how to make soaps online. Then people started coming to me who wanted soaps for baby showers and other events, and it just took off from there."

And with unique scents like "Don Draper," "Mojito" and "Little Black Dress," it's easy to see why customers keep coming back for these one-of-a-kind, pampering products. Kate and her assistant, Melissa Campbell, come up with most of the fragrances themselves but also draw ideas from polls with friends and family, as well as suggestions from customers. "My Boyfriend's T-shirt," a clean linen and cologne scent, leads the way as the store's most popular fragrance.

"It's kind of a trial-and-error process," says Kate. "Sometimes we have more than 50 fragrances in the store, and sometimes it's a lot more or a lot less. If something sounds cool, we give it a try. We're more like a restaurant or a bakery in that way - we offer today's special."

RESOURCES:
Maven Boutique in Maplewood, 7290 Manchester Rd., 314-645-1155, www.mavenstl.com