Lather Up: A family-owned business featuring sustainable, handcrafted bath products, soothes and satisfies

_{FAMILY BUSINESS: The McDowell family makes all products in-house at their Canton location.}

Anyone seeking handcrafted bath and body products that are sustainably made using local ingredients need look no further than Willow Hill Soap Company in Canton. What’s more, Willow Hill is family-owned and operated, with roots going back two generations.

Currently run by Ben and Alison McDowell, the soap company is a continuation of a business founded by Alison’s mom Pam, which was then-called Carolina Lily Naturals. A lifelong educator, Pam began the business after retirement as principal from Haywood County Schools.

“She applied the same dedication she brought to her career in education to mastering the art of soap making—researching formulas, experimenting with ingredients, and teaching herself through trial and error,” says Alison.

Alison and Ben began running the business in 2018; when they took over, Pam began homeschooling their kids, which allowed Alison and Ben to travel the country building their brand and selling soap at trade shows. The company’s current name, Willow Hill, was inspired by Ben’s fond memories of growing up and visiting his great-grandfather’s property that included a home on a hill and a big willow tree.

Alison earned her degree in secondary education from Appalachian State University; Ben holds a degree in manufacturing engineering technologies from Western Carolina University. The couple brings knowledge from their careers as educator and manufacturing engineer (hers and his, respectively) to bear in their own business. His background in engineering helps him create operational efficiency and structure to the production side, which nicely complements Alison’s creative nature and vision.

“We make a variety of handcrafted bath, body, and home fragrance products. Everything is made in small batches, with clean, safe ingredients,” Alison says. “Our collection includes bar soaps, artisan washes, sugar scrubs, lotions, and soy candles in a wide range of fragrances and/or essential oils. Everything is handcrafted by our small team of employees in Canton.”

“We still make our products the same way we did in our home kitchen; by hand and in small batches. But now we do it in a larger manufacturing space that feels a lot like a commercial kitchen,” she explains.

Their products are paraben, phthalate, and sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) free. An alternative to commercial soaps, Willow Hill’s soaps, lotions, butters, bombs—all of their products—are natural and gentle on the skin and ideal for people with sensitive skin issues.

“We’ve grown over the years and now have an amazing team of employees who help with our day-to-day operations, but it’s still very much rooted in family,” McDowell notes.

^{A LOT TO OFFER: Alongside bar soap, the McDowells produce hand and body wash, candles, scrubs, and lotions.} 

Willow Hill Soap Company’s products are available both online and in several retail locations across Western North Carolina. They have two storefronts: one in Canton and another in downtown Hendersonville. Additionally, their wares can be found at Provisions Mercantile in Asheville, Minted Mercantile in Waynesville, Horse Feathers Mercantile and Boutique in Dillsboro, and Relax and Unwind Social Spa in Asheville.