Rising Stars: Meet Kate Goodhart

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kate Goodhart.

Hi Kate, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
I had dabbled in soap making, cold process, and basic bars using melt and pour for years.

I am a landscaper at my day job. During covid lockdown, and general uncertainties of the summer of 2020, which also happened to be one of the driest and hottest on record, I was the only outside contact many of my clients had. As a result, they wouldn’t let me work. This led to me being out in the heat for hours longer than I would have been if they had, well, left me alone to do my job.

Long-term, low-grade dehydration and an acetaminophen overdose (I was popping Tylenol like candy for the heat headaches) landed me in the hospital with a failing liver. A side effect was hepatic encephalitis.

The only thing I can figure out is that the resulting brain injury flipped a switch that moved me from basic bars to being able to make, well, pretty amazing 3d soaps!

There was only one problem: The available molds that would let me create this art were far and few in between. So, I started creating my own models. My Pit Bull, Corgi, and Dachshund are just a few of the models created with the help of digital artists.

Which brought me to the second problem: These models are pretty intricate and not very easy to mold. Indeed, I have not found an American mold maker who can properly mold them in such a way that they can be used for soaps. I had to go as far as Ukraine, to the husband and wife team at Soap Fantasy Molds in order to mold my models. If not for them, I am not so sure I would be where I am today.

Using the superior molds from Soap Fantasy Molds, I am able to create custom dogs and cats, and portraits in the soap for customers. The better I got, the more mold makers I was introduced to, mold makers with incredible offerings of molds to create soaps most people would never even imagine!

I am SO prepared for Shark Week with a pretty awesome shark soap. Are you a kangaroo fan? I have a mold on its way! All told, I have more than 300 molds, most of the dogs, but also flowers, reptiles, penguins, heck, I even have an opossum! I have a saying: “if you can imagine it, there is a pretty good chance I can soap it!”

My 3D goat milk soaps aren’t my only offering. I also do cold processes using unusual and difficult ingredients. I can turn your favorite wine or spirit into a soap. Have a favorite fruit or vegetable? I can soap it! If it is liquid, jellied, or can be pureed, I can make a soap with it! Also, to my knowledge, I am the only soap maker in the State of Arizona who uses snake skins (the sheds) in soaps. [Little known fact in this country: snake skins are good for your hair and skin.] My Papaya and Cobra Skin soap is my top seller: Fresh pureed papaya is combined with the shed of the Phoenix Herpetological Society’s resident Black Necked Spitting cobra used to make a very effective facial bar.

Whether it’s from scratch (cold process) or as a 3D, unusual and custom is my specialty.

All in all, if I were to describe myself and my business in a single phrase, it would be “We do things the hard way!” and for this reason, Secret Desert Soapworks is absolutely not your typical soap maker!

Happy Pit Bull, created using my own sweet Sarah’s (currently lounging on Heaven’s couch) smile.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, soap-making is the easy part. I am absolutely clueless about social media, In today’s world, social media is the king as far as getting the word out about a business. Right now I am stuck with Etsy until I can figure out how to build a website. Oh, if only I knew a computer nerd to handle all of that so I could just concentrate on the soap-making!

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
That I don’t follow the crowd with the same saturated water-based and goat milk cold process soaps, preferring ingredients that others are too nervous to work with.

While I do make bars using melt and pour, my claim to fame is my 3D.

Can you share something surprising about yourself?
I used to drive race cars.

Sorry, not a lot of surprises in my work other than the fact most people can’t believe my (3D) soaps are actually soaps!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/secretdesertsoap/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SecretDesertSoapworks/
• Youtube: @secretdesertsoapworks4533
• Other: https://www.etsy.com/shop/SecretDesertSoap