Soap Made for the Soul

Standing at 4’11” tall, Jasmine Kay decided her hand-made soap business should reflect who she is. Thus, Tiny Soap Diary was created. 

The small business owner initially started making soap in 2020 when the pandemic led to soap shortages. Jasmine saw soap making as a fun, creative hobby to do with her husband and a sustainable way to stay busy.

“It was something new, and I thought the soap making process was fascinating. Plus, I loved designing and playing with different colors and fragrances,” Jasmine said. “I hated chemistry in college, and yet found myself having fun with it.”

Like so many small businesses begun during the pandemic, Jasmine’s quarantine hobby grew into a new passion. Not only was it enjoyable, but it also provided much needed relaxation while working as a nurse.

“Due to the stresses of my career path at the time, I was diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder,” Jasmine shared. “Those couple of years taught me that my chronic feelings of extreme nervousness and panic attacks were not the norm. Something had to change. I felt so imbalanced during that time, especially with my career.”

So, Jasmine shifted her career, but maybe not as much as it seems. She traded scrubs and the medical world for a different form of science, one that results in perfectly formulated hand-made soaps. 

“In soap making, balance is important. It is meticulous in a sense of making sure every ingredient is formulated just right,” Jasmine said. “It is the same with mental health, balance is key.”

From that point on, Jasmine viewed creating soap as a gentle reminder to prioritize self-care. That can still be a challenge, as Jasmine described starting a business as sometimes uncomfortable. As the sole business owner, she juggles soap creation, branding, social media, and many other roles, with her husband offering assistance navigating other business elements. She dedicates hours to research and development, aiming to release new products throughout the rest of 2022. 

Despite the challenges Tiny Soap Diary continues to face as a small business, Jasmine said she’s thrilled to be doing something that makes her soul happy. What was once a side project became a new profession, and the trials of the pandemic unveiled an unexpected yet exciting career path. 

Jasmine said, “Somehow through this process, something that’s so ordinary became much more than that.”

Here’s where you can learn more about Tiny Soap Diary:
Website: tinysoapdiary.com
Instagram: @tinysoapdiary
Facebook: @tinysoapdiary
TikTok: @tinysoapdiary
Pinterest: @tinysoapdiary

Read more stories about AAPI-owned small businesses in Sacramento:
Taloa’s Bakery: The Best of Both Islands
Sun Kissed & Co.: Good for You, Better for the World
Small Business Stories from the Family Dining Table