East Hampton Woman Takes 'Crafty' To Next Level With Nauti Gal Soaps

EAST HAMPTON, NY — For the perfect hostess gift, how about some cupcakes — delicious, non-fattening soap cupcakes, that is?

The adorable soaps are just one of the many styles offered in a new line, Nauti Gal Soaps, created by East Hampton's Christine Moran.

For Moran, the foray into her own business is a dream fulfilled: She creates hot and cold pressed soaps, and handles all aspects of the fledgling business from her home, including production, packaging and photography.

"As a single mom working tirelessly to raise my family and always being 'crafty', I decided to take it to the next level," Moran said. "I'm always in the kitchen, enjoy cooking, and from what I'm told I'm an excellent cook from friends and family members. But now I'm not creating a meal, I'm creating a luxurious experience in the shower or washroom."

Her soaps, which can be found on the Nauti Gal Soaps Facebook page, are all handmade and organic, made with organic oils, essential oils and fragrance oils, she said, as well as colorants such as clays, all natural micas, and pigments.

Moran said she enjoys incorporating coconut milk, goat's milk, or fresh ingredients such as aloe in her line, which includes offerings such as avocado soap and an array of Nauti Gal bath bombs.

"Creating recipes is endless and that's what's so enjoyable. I feel like a chemist creating a 'magic skin happiness potion,' that makes your skin sing tunes of joy," Moran said. "For instance, instead of using basic cornstarch in my bath bombs, I research organic root powders, incorporating clays that will be more nurturing to our skin. I enjoy designing the color patterns combined with a lovely fragrance."

Moran, who will display her soaps at the upcoming East Hampton Street Fair on May 20, created a special soap for the event, which includes a lime citronella fragrance, with an eye toward boaters and mariners "that want to keep those little flying pests away. I always have the individual in mind."

The all natural soaps, she said, contain no harmful parabens or phthalates. "Just pure, clean soap," Moran said. "I'm not selling something that isn't pure or I wouldn't use myself. My skin is your skin."

Right now, Moran is growing her new business, with a small cliental just from her Nauti Gal Facebook page and word of mouth.

She plans to hand out free sample to some local retailers and will also will be touching base with some local farmers as well this season, hoping to incorporate some of their goods in her soaps, she said. She's also willing to donate baskets of her soaps to local fundraisers and charities.

"I dream of my own soap shop one day where I can just create, create, create — and give a healthy feeling and glow to people's skin," Moran said.

Her newfound passion has only one drawback: "My friends love my soaps, but they have expressed how I no longer have time to cook for them," she laughed.

Photos courtesy of Christine Moran.