When I met award-winning entrepreneur Julie Waddell at a small business mentoring event last year, we inevitably discussed our successful little companies; which both share the aim of producing artisan luxury, British products using natural, traditional methods and ingredients… our business paths have been so similar we have chuckled at our parallel lives many a time….
So, we also both enjoy a glass of wine, which led to a discussion about how the long hours of running a start up can take a toll on one’s skin and how great it would be to put our talents together… And the lightbulb moment! Why not combine the natural richness of Moorish Smoked Humous ingredients; with rapeseed oil, rich tahini and hormone-boosting chickpeas with our luxury green beauty expertise?!
We spent the next day playing in the workshop here in Broadway and barely needed to change our combined recipes, replacing our usual oatmeal with crushed chickpeas to create a wonderful facemask and matching chick pea crammed cleansing soap bar which we were determined to bring to market before Easter – and voila!
After leaving on for 5 minutes then washing off gently with tepid water; the sweet scent of garlic with musty smoked undertones smelt temptingly delicious and only a little lingering….!
In testing, 2 out of 2 partners agreed their loved ones had never looked more fresh and beautiful.
On sale through www.lovemoorish.co.uk/humousonmyface from today; costing £6.50 for 150ml Face Mask and £3.99 for the bar soap.
About the manufacturing partnership:
At the Little Soap Company, Emma develops her artisan soap products, sought after by all the leading supermarkets, including Waitrose customers and surprisingly, dogs (there’s a special “Little Beast” pet shampoo bar) all in her idyllic Cotswold-based workshop in the village of Broadway; where she even teachers others how to create their very own soaps, lotions and potions in group or individual courses at their Little Soap School in Broadway. www.littlesoapcompany.co.uk
Moorish Smoked Dips produces a range of 8 naturally-smoked dips and snackpots, with mini breadsticks or gluten-free crackers, perfect for lunchboxes or nibbling on the move. Available in Waitrose, Ocado and Holland and Barrett. Founder Julie (recently appointed one of Defra’s 50 Food Stars) also runs courses to pass on her knowledge and experience to other aspiring small food business entrepreneurs www.lovemoorish.co.uk
