On a sunny winter day in 1997, a friend recruited my help for a soap making project. She thought it would be a good chemistry lesson for my home-schooled children. So, we crowded into her kitchen (equipped with goggles and gloves), and learned how alkali combines with oils to make soap.

My friend had to convince me to try the soap. At first, I was a little afraid to try it because the old fashioned soaps I knew growing up were very harsh (they made their own lye from wood ashes). Thankfully handcrafted soaps have really progressed.

I never realized how drying commercial "soaps" were until I tried our handmade goat milk soap (I have learned most commercial "soaps" are actually detergents). I was finally able to get out of the shower without feeling dry and itchy or like my skin shrank. I was hooked on making my own all-natural soap. I started researching, reading, and learning all I could about making the best soap, and the more I learned, the more I was sure I never wanted to use commercial "soaps" again. I started to read the ingredients on commercial soap labels—yikes!!!

At first I started making it for my family and friends and giving it away as gifts. Eventually my husband, Dean, convinced me that we should go into business and sell our soap. That's how Alabu was born.

Since then, we have continued to grow. We have now expanded from just soap to a line of all natural skin care products. My son, Hal handles most of the day to day operations, and Dean and I have taken more of a supporting role.

Natural continues to be at the forefront of all that we do. Our products have the ability to change the way you think about all-natural skin care, and as someone that cares a lot about the health of my skin, I can assure you that you'll love our products.

—Maryclaire Mayes, Founder