Soypa's Icelandic collection has six handmade soaps inspired by some of the most spectacular places and features in Iceland. All soaps contain dissolved Icelandic sea salt from the Westfjords, one of the most remote parts of the country, to imitate sea water in producing so called brine soaps. This due to lack of sun in this region salt is produced by using geothermal energy which makes this salt more expensive. It contains high percentage of minerals such as magnesium, copper, sulphate, iron and others.
The collection had been developed for over six months of testing the designs and ingredients, where unique Icelandic geology and landscapes were my main motivation. Five soaps are named after locations around Iceland, while one is named after one of the most famous Icelandic products - wool sweater. I gave authentic Icelandic names to almost all soaps, except the Highlands as the location might be too hard to pronounce (Kerlingarfjöll). Let me present you each of them and tell you the story behind the designs.
HEKLA
As you probably know, volcanoes, together with glaciers, have been one of the main factors in shaping the landscape of Iceland. Evidence of disruptive volcanic eruptions is visible in many lava fields, craters, layers of volcanic ash, and basalt columns. The main inspiration for this soap came from this photo of an unknown volcano taken near Borgarnes in December when days are short, but sunrises and sunsets are colored by the most beautiful shades of pink, peach, and purple.
Soap is named after one of the most active Icelandic volcanoes Hekla, a word for a short hooded cloak in Icelandic and a popular women's name. It erupted over 20 times since the settlement age, with the last eruption in 2000.
The design of this soap is a volcano covered with snow with black intrusions of basalt stone and an ombre sunset over a volcano. It is scented with earthy tones of Amyris, elemi, and patchouli trying to express the scent of a volcano.
HENGIFOSS
Iceland is for sure a country of thousands of waterfalls. When driving or hiking around, you can see so many waterfalls coming out of nowhere powered by the melting ice. Despite there are more popular waterfalls, Hengifoss, together with Svartifoss, is the most memorable one to me. Located in the eastern part of Iceland, Hengifoss is the third highest waterfall in the country. Why is it so special?
Repetitious layers of basalt and red clay and water falling in the middle of this steep cliff is one-of-a-kind nature's wonders.
This soap follows this geological formation in the layers of activated charcoal and red Moroccan clay, while the mix of spearmint, lemon, and eucalyptus essential oils evokes the scent of a fresh waterfall drizzle.
HIGHLANDS
Highlands cover a vast, spectacular inner part of Iceland with a very unique and fragile ecosystem. The three largest Icelandic glaciers are located in this remote area with numerous volcanoes, craters, lakes, and hot geothermal springs. Visiting any part of Highlands will leave you speechless! After the trip to the surreal Kerlingarfjöll mountains, I knew I must make soap to mark down this beauty. Breathtaking endless white and beige scenery intersected by steam coming from hot springs is once in a lifetime experience.
Layers of white and beige/brown in Hengifoss soap reflect the geothermal landscape covered with snow patches. Arctic thyme is a beautiful Icelandic herb covering the ground all over the country in the summertime. It is used as a powder, together with red clay for the brown parts, while kaolin clay is used for the white parts of the soap, which makes this unscented soap suitable for sensitive skin.
LOPAPEYSA
Lopapeysa (Lopi - wool, peysa - sweater) is one of the most recognized Icelandic products with numerous recognizable yoke patterns and a symbol of national identity. Lopi wool is warm, light and due to specific conditions of sheep freely grazing in the wilderness for months, it is water-resistant, so it is not uncommon to wear it instead of the jacket.
This soap literary reflects the design of my first knitted Lopapeysa. It took me 2 months to finish it, but it was worth every knit! As mentioned in a soap description, colors represents some of the main icelandic elements - white the ice, blue the ocean and glaciers, and grey the basalt and volcanic ash. Natural indigo and charcoal powder are used to get as much as accurate colors as the original wool ones and with citrusy - earthy scents of orange, patchouli and lavender.
REYNISFJARA
Reynisfjara, also known as Black sand beach, is a must-see location on the south coast of Iceland (cover photo). With its tall basalt columns, black sand, and sneaky waves, Reynisfjara is probably one of the most stunning beaches in the world. Since there is no land for thousands of kilometers in between, these strong rolling waves can easily drag the person into the cold ocean in a second. If you ever visit Reynisfjara, have in mind not to go close to the ocean and don't put your life at risk!
Design in Reynisfjara soap shows layers of these sneaky rolling waves over black beach sand. Waves are colored with different shades of blue mica, while activated charcoal is used for the ocean bottom. It has a traditional scent of clary sage, lavender and cedarwood essential oils.
SUND
For me as a Croatian, the sea is a vital part of my identity. When I moved to Iceland, the sea was a bit different, a bit darker, colder, but still had magical soul healing properties. This soap is dedicated to the Icelandic sea in which I was never brave enough to swim, so I made my first Sund (swimming) with Icelandic ocean water. Since I don't have access to the ocean water anymore, I use double the amount of Icelandic salt compared with the other soaps to get salty water.
Inspiration for the design comes from aerial photos of glacier rivers, an unbelievably beautiful natural phenomenon.
(Photo from Unsplash)
