Washing our hands is second nature, a quick ritual to follow every restroom trip and precede every meal. But how often does soap leave an impression or stun us with its personality? Maybe our soapy trips to the sink would be a little more memorable if the suds had a name like “Frankincense’s Monster” or “Miss Emily’s Tomato Soap.”

The Left Hand Soap Company, located here in Tuscaloosa, believes that soap can be memorable. With unique soap varieties ranging from “Coffee” to “Chris Merritt Jerkface Zombie Soap,” the Left Hand Soap Company wants their customers to enjoy the parts of their everyday lives that include soap.

Soapy Jones, the head manager for the Left Hand Soap Company, said the company has evolved since its inception in 1999. 

“When we started, natural soap was a craft, dismissed as something decorative for the guest bathroom,” Jones said. “We didn’t like the idea that our hard work making soap that’s good for the skin was being wasted. That turned the company in a different direction and we’ve been walking that path ever since.”

Left Hand uses all natural ingredients in its soaps, with a base of olive, coconut and castor oils. According to the company’s website, the soap is gentle enough for sensitive skin and strong enough to clean up after life’s adventures. This soap is not just soap for the sake of having soap, but for the sake of personal health.

“Your skin is your first line of defense for illness and pollution,” Jones said. “It purges the body of toxins and takes in resources for rejuvenation. We can help with all of that. The skin is the largest organ in the body. We think it’s important to care for it.”

Left Hand looks at college students as a prime example of those who should get the most out of their soap. Their view is that soap does not have to be fancy and expensive to be organic and healthy for your skin, and it should not be an ordeal to purchase a quality bar of soap.

“Left Hand Soap Company is a company dedicated to making high quality skincare at a price that doesn’t break the bank,” Jones said. “We are locally sourced when possible, organic when possible, and we consider how our products can nurture and support the barrier between the world and your health.”

Left Hand was founded in 1999 by Soapy Jones and a friend from college. Their idea came about when the two of them began making soap for holiday gifts, and those who received it kept asking for more.

In the beginning, the company was worried that their soap was simply being used for decoration, as if customers were buying bars of soap merely to spruce up their bathroom atmosphere. This realization led the company to move forward with the belief that natural skincare is important.

From then on, Left Hand began increasing its knowledge of the soap-producing business and improving its products. What first started as a craft was becoming a well-oiled machine, with a clear goal of expansion on the horizon.

“That turned the company in a different direction and we’ve been walking that path ever since,” Jones said. “Future plans are always on the table; but I don’t want to give them away just yet. We believe in our products, so we want them to enrich the lives of as many people as possible. Expansion is the key.”

Left Hand Soap Company has its products in nineteen different locations across Alabama and one location in Louisiana. It is established in eleven Tuscaloosa locations, including Druid City Brewing Company and the Kentuck Art Museum. However, Left Hand’s reach is not limited to these places.

“We currently ship internationally,” Jones said. “Thanks to modern technology, we’re locally grown, but, we have an expansive reach. We’re open to more stores, of course. We like to support local stores ourselves.”

The Left Hand Soap Company looks to provide its customers with a high-quality, naturally-made bar of soap that can do the job it is supposed to do, and do it well. College students are not exempted from the idea that hand cleanliness is a key factor in overall health.

“College is stressful,” Jones said. “Long nights studying – or not studying – coupled with the anxiety of life changes, massive amounts of information intake, and all that comes with it, it’s important to care for yourself as often as possible. We can help with all of that.”