People crave that certain authentic creation, be it craft beer, a local store with flair or handmade soap. Kathy Goldman is the magic maker behind Ol’ Darlin’ artisanal soaps, salves and lip balms, all colorfully packaged by hand.
As Goldman said, Ol’ Darlin’ products are “like in the old days, where people are making things at home, making their own soaps and clothing.” The products are not only homemade with natural ingredients such as organic oils and butters, but made with love and care and retain the essential humectants that moisturize the skin.
Taking inspiration from other soap makers and the local landscape itself, Goldman’s craft is truly homemade, right out of a big stainless steel pot in her own Sloatsburg kitchen and sold only at the Suffern and Tuxedo Farmers’ Markets, with a few other places on the side. At least for now.
The kitchen sink business can attract a crowd, with soaps cooking and family members bumping into each other, amid the stove pots and bustle and comings and goings. Then there’s the packaging and labeling of each product, all hand done, from the design to the printing of labels. But the end result is a beautiful product that glows with the essence of health itself.
“The labeling was kind of tough,” said Goldman about her colorful packaging designs. “I got it figured out after many frustrating hours. It’s hard for me to keep the inventory up,” Goldman said. The soaps must cure for at least four weeks, so Goldman can only bring so much product to market at a time.
Ol’ Darlin’ soaps cost $7 and the salves and balms range from $3 to $10. Next up for the holiday season will be small gift packs.
Goldman will set up her Ol’ Darlin’ booth at Saturday’s Tuxedo Farmers’ Market where she’ll be selling her distinctively packaged soaps many made with local products, such as Mountain Mint and Blue Balsam mint found on the grounds of Harmony Hall, as well as a juniper berry-scented Ramapo Highlands Soap. Goldman is planning a new Octoberfest beer-scented soap and wine-scented soap that she’ll soon sell in celebration of Torne Valley Vineyard’s upcoming first annual Grape Crush on October 13.
The idea for Ol’ Darlin’ took root when Goldman saw what other vendors at Farmers’ Markets offered. She took inspiration and started her own soap business that itself is now part of the local market circuit. Goldman likes the idea of belonging to the proud cottage industry of home crafts and products. And with an increasing product line, many people appear to approve of her fanciful creations.
