Soap Start-up to Open First Retail Location in Troy

Just in time for the Holidays, organic and vegan soap maker Green Olive Soaps will open its first retail store in Troy on Small Business Saturday, November 30 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Located at 3964 Rochester Road just south of Wattles, Green Olive Soaps’ first brick and mortar location features nearly 1,000 square-feet of retail space offering about 100 hand-made bath and shower products including body butters and scrubs, a variety of soaps, lip balms, bath salts, shower bombs, gift sets, and more.

The store opening represents a significant milestone for the Troy-based small business that was founded out of necessity by Ford engineer Camilla Rice. Rice, 42, started crafting bath products at home several years ago to soothe the eczema plaguing her two young children. According to the CDC, eczema affects around 3 million children in America. In 2016, the Troy resident officially launched Green Olive Soaps with a modest line-up of natural skin-nourishing products.

“I am so excited to open my first store in my community,” said Rice. “I am looking forward to growing my business and being a part of the Troy community for years to come.”

Rice crafts all of her products at home with a love of science and years of engineering experience to guide product development. She uses only wholesome ingredients such as whole grain oats, kaolin clay, charcoal, mango butter, among others. All Green Olive Soaps products are certified cruelty-free by PETA and are absent of animal fats, palm oil, soy, almond oil (nut allergies), paraben, tallow, lard, and phthalates. Green Olive Soaps’ new store will allow Rice to manufacture and sell her products in one location.

To celebrate the store opening, Green Olive Soaps will debut a new facial/body bar called Obsidian. Obsidian comes in scented tea tree and unscented bars and was designed to detoxify and nourish skin with ingredients including Israeli mud, mango butter, argan oil, charcoal, among other natural ingredients. As part of the opening, Rice will give away free handmade rose soaps to online and in-store customers, while supplies last.

Green Olive Soaps’ s store will be open each Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Holiday hours begin December 10 and will be open Tuesday through Saturday 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Extended Holiday hours are December 20 and 21 from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Super Saturday. Green Olive Soaps products are also available online at www.greenolivesoaps.com.