Sonia and Jessie: The Two Soap Girls

-By T. Bennison

Long ago, bearded alchemists toiled over cauldrons and intricate alembics in hopes of transmuting
common metals into gold. They theorized that the valuable substance could be created by mimicking the earth’s magic with man-made objects and techniques. No alchemist ever came close to finding the golden recipe, and it’s unlikely that the few remaining practitioners ever will, but right here in Cocoa Beach, underground soap makers Sonia Dietschy and Jessie Granger are giving them a run for their money.
Sonia and Jessie, or “the Two Soap Girls,” as they like to be known, are, thankfully, beardless and unassociated with the crackpot pastime, but what they create in their workshop is eminently more useful and precious than gold.

Beginning with a vegetable oil as a base and mixing in the finest herbs and ingredients with pure essential oils, Sonia and Jessie make a truly all- natural, handcrafted soap. Mainstream synthetic soap makers use the bare minimum of natural ingredients required by the FDA to emblazon their packgaging with the word “Natural,” and the results smell great and hold their shape for a bit, but rarely get the job done.
Through their company, Wishbone Soaps, the Soap Girls make a soap that lathers well, stands up to extended use, and retains its scent longer than any you’re likely to find. Readers may remember them from their old shop at 108 N. Brevard Ave., and while that’s since closed, Sonia and Jessie are still plying their trade locally with recipes formed from months and months of trial and error.

No amount of automation can stir the mixture to an ideal consistency. The girls know by instinct when it’s ready to be poured into wooden molds and how long it should set. With tender loving care they cut the bars by hand and once cured for three weeks under optimum temperatures, Sonia and Jessie hand wrap and label the soap individually. The girls have a system down, learned from long toil and a few humorous mistakes, but each day holds a new discovery and gives each piece of Wishbone soap a personality all its own.

Only the purest ingredients are used by Wishbone, the most important of which are various essential oils which give each bar its distinctive character. With varieties like Geranium Jasmine (which is good after long exposure to the sun), Lavender, Coffee (an invigorating “flavor” made with triple-strength espresso grounds and enhanced with peppermint), Lemongrass, Spearmint Eucalyptus, and Tea Tree Tangerine, Wishbone soaps exude a strong, vitalizing fragrance that lasts for weeks and even matures over time.
The aromatherapeutic benefits of essential oils are well-known, and properties which send them straight into the bloodstream guarantee other enriching effects. The soap eventually becomes part of you and your skin (your largest organ) adapting to its needs while stimulating and soothing sluggish areas of the body where toxins are known to collect. Not only do the fragrances trigger powerful sense memories, they also help clear a muddled mind. When natural herbs are thrown in, as in the Fennel Rosemary and the Oatmeal, they give the soap texture and serve as natural exfoliants, while the base vegetable oils create a thick, rich lather which makes them perfect for shaving.

The Wishbone Girls have spent time concocting soaps for vitually all skin types. The Oatmeal is particularly rich in vitamin E and excellent for those with sensitive skin and eczema, while the essential oils in the Carrot Seed soap concentrate on brightening and toning the complexion. Their devoted local client base keeps them busy (they even deliver locally), yet somehow they find the time to produce special “Soaps of the Month,” various gift packs, lotions, scrubs, and seasonal soaps with ingredients like nutmeg and cinnamon, perfect for the upcoming holidays.

The basic concept of alchemy stemmed from the idea that all things naturally tend to reach perfection; alchemists merely tried to help things along in their labs. Sonia and Jessie achieve perfection by working with Mother Nature and not trying to beat her at her own game. They know that quality and excellence come with careful attention, patience, and love - and there’s nothing more golden than that.

Call the Wishbone Soap Girls at 783-0491 or email them at: wishbonegirls@earthlink.com with orders and questions. Visit their website for product listings and other information at: www.wishbonesoap.com. You can find their soap at these beachside businesses: The Beach Place (1445 S. Atlantic Ave.; 783-4045), Surf and Skate (260 N. Orlando Ave., Ste. 4; 799-3563), and The Art of Coffee (2053 N. Atlantic Ave. in Banana River Square; 799-0902). Across the bridge in Cocoa Village you can find Wishbone products at Nature’s Spirt (415 Delannoy Ave.; 632-1221) and Baskets By Baker (2712 N. Cocoa Blvd.; 632-5753). Sonia and Jessie will also be selling their soaps at the upcoming Cocoa Village Craft Show October 15th-16th.