Bathing in Crisp Ocean Breezes and Balmy Salt Air

After Jake and Steph Kopper received a gift of handcrafted soap, they were intrigued by how different it felt from store-bought soap, and they dove right into cold-process soap-making in their Newport kitchen. That was in 2011. They’ve long since moved production of their soap and body products to a large West Kingston space and now market their Shore Soap brand across the country and even in Australia. But their heart (and their elegant store) remains in Newport. It’s there that you can browse the shelves of their signature lines, both Atlantic and Pacific, and the popular Mermaid Kisses or Warm Sand. In bar soaps and body washes, salt scrubs and sea sprays, lotions and shampoo bars, soy candles (the second-biggest seller, next to the bar soaps) and shaving oils, there are fragrances and textures for female and male, older and younger shoppers. Shredded loofah or sea salt add texture to some of the bars; herbs, spices and citrus add flavor and atmosphere. Coming from creative and business backgrounds, the Koppers took delight in using natural olive oil and shea butter (with no sulfates or parabens) for the base of the soaps, then smelling many essential oils for fragrances and “a lot of trial and error,” according to Jake. The result is clean-smelling scents without the cloying sweetness or overpowering perfume one finds on the market these days.

At select stores around Rhode Island and at 302 Thames St., Newport. 401.846.0305; ShoreSoapCo.com