Soaps, creams, lotions and potions by lcr soap

Goodness, how time has flown! I haven't updated my blog in ages, so I'll try and write up at least a few of the things which have happened since the last post.

The Saponifier is a long established and very popular American online soapmaking magazine, so I was absolutely delighted when I was approached by their Showcase Editor about an article on the La Croix Rosion soaps, and in particular their unusual style of labelling. Anybody who knows me will know that I love everything Victorian and in particular the Art Nouveau style, and the labels for my products reflect this, of course. It was nerve wrecking waiting for the Sept./Oct. 2008 issue to come out, and when it finally arrived in my inbox, I was soooo excited! And there, on the contents page was a picture of one of my soaps, Clarisse, and in the Showcase, a wonderful article written by Elizabeth Carnahan and more photos. I was simply gobsmacked, was she really talking about me, lol, little me?

These are the photos which were shown in the article -




And here is the article, written by Elizabeth Carnahan for The Saponifier -

When Valentine’s Day rolls around again, thoughts are set to turn to love, romance and, in the case of soap makers everywhere, preparing your business for the big day.Of course, you’ll want your packaging to reflect this great elebration of romance, and hearts, chocolates, flowers and teddy bears might be just the job. But what if you want something just a little more sophisticated, something designed to set you and your products apart from the sea of sameness that has invaded the holiday? This issue’s featured soap maker has created a line of packaging that does just that. Liz Waring has taken her love of romantic style and built her entire business around it, from her passion for the sensuous style of Art Nouveau to her love of life in France.

Liz, who operates under the name La Croix Rosion, splits her time between Hastings (of 1066 fame) in England and her 150-year-old farmhouse in Burgundy, France. “The name of the company is taken from the old name of our cottage in France, and that dictated the names of my soaps,” reveals Liz. “To me the French language is the most romantic in the world and perfectly suits the sensuous Art Nouveau style,” she continued. “Therefore, they are all old fashioned French girls’ names- with the occasional boys’ name for the soaps for the men in our lives.” Those names give only a hint of the seductive soaps underneath Liz’s lovingly-crafted packaging. ‘Natalie’, contains hemp and avocado oils with nettle; ‘Clementine’ boasts lashings of shea butter and a bright citrus fragrance, while ‘Oriane’ is a luxurious concoction of silk and a delicious cocktail of essential oils. La Croix Rosion’s best-selling ‘Clarisse’ contains cherry kernel oil and luxurious mango butter.

Alongside the soaps, the company’s tempting range of products includes facial serums, masks, scrubs and balms – all created and packaged with the same keen instinct for visual impact and sensual effect. Ironically, this unity of style comes from Liz’s magpie nature. When staying in France, she loves shopping at the Vide Greniers, the French equivalent of a flea market. “I am a terrible hoarder of weird, wonderful, and romantic old objects,” she said. “I love anything made of fabric, and have a huge collection of Eiderdowns, Durham quilts, beautiful old linens and laces and embroideries.”

Particularly in evidence in France are the luscious lines of Art Nouveau, which has been a strong influence on Liz’s creativity. “That has to be my favourite period,” she says. “I find the art of that period so very romantic, with the beautifully flowing, sinuous floral and female forms. This period has been the inspiration for the labels on my products.” Drawing on such a rich source of inspiration certainly sets Liz’s creations apart. When asked about the difference between her product design and others, she replied, “I do realise that I am bucking the trend, everywhere you look the clean, sharp, minimal modern look is very much in evidence, but I have to be true to my romantic self, so for me the only style possible is Art Nouveau.”

Teddy bears, hearts, chocolates and bouquets may have cornered the market as visual symbols for
romance, but there’s still plenty of room for something a little different – even if the roots of the idea are firmly in the past. Liz’s labels are something special – far from your typical hearts and flowers. Liz’s creations can be found at her web site, www.lcrsoap.co.uk. Or if you’d like a bit more information about Liz and her company, please visit her blog at lcrsoapcompany.blogspot.com/.

(photo credits Liz Waring)