Sweet Olive Soap Works

The absinthe soap is my absolute favorite. I’ve been buying their soap for years and I love it so much. The Storyville jazz soap is my other favorite scent.

Not only are these some of the best scented soaps I have ever come across (and believe you me, I’m addicted to good smells), but they lather up like a motherfucker. Also, the designs and names are decidedly NOLA (Red Beans and Rice or Ponchatoula Strawberry, anyone?) and make cool gifts for friends and family back home who become ecstatic over all things associated with our fair city. I mean, do they really need another hand towel with fleur de lis all over it? That might make them happy, sure, but better yet, holiday colored soap that smells like gingerbread or Christmas tree! Oh yeah…
Me, I’ll take some Desire: «A creamy shea butter lather like fine silk on your lustful flesh, complimented with the deep and sensual fragrance blend of oakmoss, Southern magnolia, cedarwood, and pettigrain» (their glorious words, not mine, I’m afraid).
You owe it to your loved ones this Christmas to let them in on the clean little secret of Sweet Olive Soap Works.

Psssst — would you like to know the best kept secret of the Oak St corridor? This is it. Using regional components and branding her products in ways unparalleled, Emily wows the world with (wait for it): soap. Yes, soap.
Born Uptown in the backroom of an old double shotgun on Dante, these soaps embody the richess of our livelihoods and heritage. And Emily is the perfect conduit for these gems and the life she gives them.
Sometimes it’s as if you may be bathing yourself in history — honestly. Trust when I offer I’ve had the pleasure of personally been using her soaps for years, often imparting them as client gifts. Try just one, and you’ll see.
I’d offer a line-​up of what’s what but frankly I wouldn’t do it justice. Emily takes her craft and produces works of art. The end result is distinguished, refreshing, and quite beautiful. Support local artisans like Emily, and buy some Sweet Olive, just for you or? ??

Through most of my years, my friends have had to hear a lot out of me, but hardly ever was I starting a sentence with– So this soap I was using this morning was so freaking awesome– I talk a lot, but only about things I know about or use a lot and soap isn’t either… but Sweet Olive is great because its all about New Orleans.
Soaps themed around Miss Antoinettes Red Beans and Rice, Soaps flavored with beer from local breweries, Ponchatoula strawberries or mirlitons. She has a muddy mississppi soap (the one I use) dark and filled with oatmeal chunks good for your face and for accuracy in conveying our big chunky river.
I might not have written a review for someone who is still hoping to set up a storefront, but the last time I saw her she was selling new gift boxes. Crab Boil and gumbo sets, each with 5 – 6 small soaps (I wasn’t counting, it was before the Saints game, I was already deep in the cups) shaped like crab, lemon, corn on the cob, chickens… whatever various ingredients are needed for each. Really fun and a perfect gift for anyone not getting their fill of New Orleans for whatever reason.
The art markets f New Orleans have really been taking a step up the last few years and all of them are worth supporting. Anyplace that makes me smell socially acceptable can fairly be said to deserve 5 stars.