Once upon a bath time…today
Soak & Soothe Co. began with a bedtime story, a little curiosity, and one very good idea.
While reading together one evening, we came across a bath bomb recipe and immediately wanted to make our own. But once we looked a little closer, we realized the formula was simply too harsh for our sensitive, eczema-prone skin. So we tinkered, softened, reformulated, and created something gentler – a bath bomb that still felt playful and magical, but much kinder to our skin.
Grayson made those first little bath bombs as Valentine’s gifts for his classmates, and from there, the idea began to grow. The tiny toys tucked inside? That was Grayson’s idea too – his way of making bath time feel like a little treasure hunt.
What started as a sweet kitchen project turned into something much bigger: a realization that other families were looking for the same thing we were – bath and body products that feel charming, special, and fun, without all the fragrance, dyes, and extras sensitive skin doesn’t always love.
Fragrances, dyes, and highly scented bath products already have their place. We wanted to create the alternative – thoughtful, fragrance-free rituals made with nourishing butters and oils, with plenty of whimsy still tucked inside.
Our creative background in professional photography and brand merchandising shapes everything we do, from the products themselves to the packaging, the storytelling, and the tiny details that make each one feel special.
When we aren’t busy pressing bath bombs and whipping body butter, you’ll find us snowboarding, camping, playing football, and listening to the birds on our evening strolls.
From our family to yours.
Chapter 1: A bedtime story, by Grayson
It all started at bedtime. I was young, my skin was itchy from eczema, and most nights ended in discomfort before I even got to my bedtime story. My big brother Elliot was old enough to help Mom read the ingredient labels out loud with me, even though I thought some of those words looked made up.
So instead of trying another drugstore bottle, Mom started really reading labels – not just skimming them. If we couldn’t pronounce half the ingredients, or the list was too long, it went right back on the shelf. What began as Mom trying to get through one bedtime turned into a small kitchen experiment. Then a bigger one. Then a business.
Chapter 2: Three of us and one kitchen counter
Our kitchen became our family’s quality time. Mom mixed, Elliot kept everything labeled and organized, and I gave the final approval. Tapping, sniffing, and declaring things “good” or “start from scratch.” If something burned or itched or made our skin feel worse, it didn’t make the cut.
Every bath bomb, facial oil, and jar of whipped body butter is still made the same way today: mixed, poured, and packaged by hand, by the three of us, in small batches, right here in Philly.
Simple ingredients. No exceptions.
The same rules have shaped each of our products since the first bedtime experiment.
Fragrance free
No added fragrance, oils, or perfumes.
Dye free
No dyes and no glitter, so what you see is what you get.
Small batch
Mixed, poured, and packaged by hand in Philadelphia, one batch at a time.
Chapter 3: Grayson and his new potions
Once upon a time..today, there was another little boy doing quality control for a small bath products company. As big brother, he spends his days testing out bath bombs. After all, someone’s gotta make sure all children have the perfect amount of suds at bathtime.
Before anything is allowed to leave the kitchen, Grayson has to stamp each item as “approved” or “rejected”.
Somewhere between the land of homework and weekend markets, Grayson is already dreaming up what’s next: upcoming potions, cuter jars, and who knows, possibly a shop with his name on the sign one day.
The story isn’t finished. It’s just getting to the good part.
25+
Local Community Markets
Find us around Philadelphia
Most weekends, you’ll find our table set up somewhere nearby.