Your Maker

Meet Your Maker: Kelly

Hi, I’m Kelly! founder and maker of The Gentle Bar Soapery. The journey started with a thoughtful gift from my husband: a soap-making class taught by a chemist. What was meant to be a fun, creative experience quickly turned into a passion. We came home from that class inspired, and during the early days of COVID-19, we turned our kitchen into a small-batch soap lab.

At the time, my husband was struggling with back acne, and I was managing eczema flare-ups. We started formulating soap that addressed our real, everyday skin concerns—and to our surprise, our skin loved it. Our barriers healed. Our confidence returned. And that’s when we knew we had something worth sharing.

The Gentle Bar Soapery was created by a passionate Durham, NC native out of that personal need—for relief, for gentleness, and for skincare that actually supports sensitive and problem-prone skin. Every bar is made with intention, compassion, and the belief that healing begins with consistency and care.

Thank you for trusting me with your skin story. I’m honored to be part of your routine.