Artisan Soap Makers in Indiana: The Clean Chemist
Indiana is home to a thriving community of artisan soap makers who care deeply about what goes into their products. Across the state, small businesses (like The Clean Chemist!!) are creating handmade soaps, skincare, and bath products that focus on quality. From farmstead goat milk soaps in southwestern Indiana to creative cold-process bars in northern Indiana, our state’s makers bring passion, creativity, and care to every batch.
Meet The Clean Chemist: Science Backed Soaps from Central Indiana
Hi, I’m Sondra, and I run The Clean Chemist. My soap journey began around 2010 in a high school chemistry class. My amazing teacher used soap making as a fun way to explore tricky chemistry concepts, and I was hooked. Soap making was so much fun! The little bar I made left my hands feeling nice, even if it didn’t smell great. Since I had fragrance allergies and eczema, I went back to my usual unscented beauty bar from the grocery store. It worked well enough, and while it wasn’t exciting, it was better than the lard-and-soy bar I made at school.
Fast forward ten years: I had finished my bachelor’s degree in chemistry and was teaching my own students. They loved the soap-making lab as much as I had. I was still using the unscented beauty bar, but it wasn’t working for me anymore. My skin would turn red, cleansers burned like fire, and moisturizers stung. Everything was flaking. The only thing I could use comfortably was water.
On top of my own skin struggles, my son developed eczema. We tried creams and lotions, but the only relief came from steroids. The product that helped him most was Stelatopia Cleansing Oil by Mustela, which worked for us both—but it was expensive.
I decided to make something similar but more affordable for my family. I spent the next three years experimenting with soap and soap-adjacent products that wouldn’t irritate our sensitive skin.
When I launched The Clean Chemist in early 2025, I had a bar soap I loved, a bath bomb that left skin soft and moisturized, and fun products like Bath Playdough that my kids could enjoy in the tub without worry. I continue to improve my formulas to bring safe, gentle, and sensory-friendly bath products to families like mine, including neurodivergent children who are especially sensitive to scents, textures, and overstimulating products. My goal is to make bath time fun, soothing, and accessible for everyone in the family.
I’m proud to be part of Indiana’s community of artisan soap makers. Across the state, small businesses are crafting handmade soaps with care, creativity, and attention to what really works for skin. At The Clean Chemist, I combine science and craft to make products that are gentle, effective, and a little playful—perfect for families who want bath time to be enjoyable and safe.
Other Artisan Soap and Skincare Makers in Indiana
The Clean Chemist is part of a much larger community of talented Indiana soap and skincare makers. If you enjoy discovering locally made bath products, there are many others worth exploring across the state:
Goat Milk Stuff in Scottsburg, IN makes handcrafted goat milk soaps on their family goat farm
The Rusty Bucket French Farm in Warsaw, IN makes beautiful cold process soaps and handpainted bath bombs
Salt and Ash in Indianapolis, IN makes soaps and scrubs and is an eco-concious refillery with a store front located in downtown Indy
Debbie’s Handmade Soap in Muncie, IN makes cold process soaps, cleaning products, and lip care and has a storefront in downtown Muncie
Local farmers markets and small boutiques throughout Indiana are also great places to find rotating selections of artisan soap makers.
Why Choosing Local Soap Makers Matters
Buying from local artisan soap makers supports small businesses, thoughtful production, and products made with care. These makers focus on small batches, ingredient transparency, and formulas designed for real people with real skin needs. Additionally, purchasing products from local makers makes an immediate impact on famililes in your community!
If you’re looking for artisan soap in West Central Indiana, The Clean Chemist combines gentle, science-backed formulas with a love of chemistry and creativity. Every product is made locally with intention, care, and a curiosity that makes bath time feel special.
