Some things never change…the old timers would say you could swear by death, taxes and lye soap. The wonder suds were a common household staple created when water leached from wood ash produced lye that was then combined with lard or animal fats and cooked down. This resulted in a batch of lye soap that would have to last until the next was brewed.
Back in the day, lye soap was a surefire cleaner and the cure-all. Need to do the laundry…lye soap. Taking a much-needed bath…lye soap. Been out in the woods with chiggers, ticks and mosquitos…lye soap. Floors need a scrubbin’ or the dishes washed…lye soap. The same holds true to this day.
During the early Colonial days, the British government would tax things considered luxury goods and soap was one of those items. Colonists often didn’t have the funds and, in rural America, there often weren’t the resources to buy soap from, so settlers made their own. This age-old wisdom and the craft of lye soapmaking was thereby passed down from generation to generation.
Today, our soapmaker Darla Kelly, is proof of this. Each batch of lye soap she creates draws on traditions that were passed down to her by her grandmother and great-grandmother before her. Kelly likes to think of it as her “fingerprint in history” as she demonstrates daily.
This summer, stop by and see Darla as she handmakes tried-and-true lye soap concoctions right in front of your very eyes. These include a few new limited-time scents that celebrate America's 250th like Stars ’n Stripes, a patriotic color palette with the fragrance of warm Apple Pie, and Washington Soap in blue and gold tones and featuring a Cherry Blossom scent.
Can't come to Silver Dollar City to stock up on your soap? No problem! You can check out our online store for all your lye soap needs... AND MORE!
Meet Tiffanie Zajac
As a 25-year contributor to the Silver Dollar City Marketing Team, Tiffanie has been telling and shaping the stories of the The City for as long as she can remember.…