100% Natural Body Care for people, horses and dogs.
Looking For Sassafras and Finding My Life Mission...
Who would have thought that searching to capture the health enhancing benefits of a sassafras tree would have turned into a life mission to create a body care business for people, horses and dogs? At the time, I surly didn’t. I was too wrapped up in climbing the corporate ladder, however it didn’t take long for my perspective to change.
A trip to Asheville, North Carolina in September 2001 was where it all started for me. The idea was sparked in a cabin on a gorgeous mountain, in front of a cheerfully glowing fireplace. As I basked in its warm luminescence, a thin book sitting by itself on the coffee table drew my attention. Skimming through, for some reason I was drawn to the section that highlighted Appalachian traditions. The fireplace cracked warmly and I paused to take in the moment. Returning to the page I focused on the part about making handcrafted soap, made in a time honored tradition from simple ingredients; using a special sassafras branch blending process that infused the mixture with an all natural, wonderfully scented insect repellent. Spellbound, there it was, the moment that changed my life!
The sassafras that the volume was describing helped to open my eyes and see that nature in a new light. The sassafras represented a connection between the living earth and the living person. I can’t say it better than Henry David Thoreau:
"We need the tonic of the wilderness. The ocean, the mountains, the deserts, a wooded grove....all contain the Magic needed to restore pure radiant energy to a stressed soul. Mother Earth in all of her infinite compassion and strength has remarkable powers to restore vitality. Wash yourself in the pure water of the streams, put your bare feet on the good earth, fall asleep in the arms of an ancient tree. There is good medicine to be found in nature. It is long lasting and heals the soul."
I realized all the tools for health and vitality are available and I was going to become a "connector". My life forever changed in a way that I now search out healing properties from nature and share them through handcrafted soap and body care products.
It was about this time I started bumping into the messages of this philosophy from a variety of inspired sources, most recently from visionary Rosemary Gladstar, renowned herbalist and author:
“You can’t get energy, health and vitality from a pill. or even from a cup of herbal tea. Everyday radiant well-being, in mind, body, and soul, is a function of everyday self care. It’s a prescription for life. It’s a part of what you do, what you take into your body and what you feed your mind.”
Since so much of what is applied to our skin is absorbed I started analyzing what I was putting on my own skin. I thought I was buying the highest quality products to care for myself, but I found these products were composed from ingredients that are inorganic, even toxic, hard to pronounce, and understand. I was shocked. I wanted to get rid of them all. So I started with my own skin care routine. I looked for products that were very high quality, 100% natural and certified organic. In many cases there simply weren’t any. I experienced a sort of personal paradigm shift and decided to make my own. To celebrate the genesis of these newly learned concepts, it seemed fitting that pure natural sassafras soap be the first item I created. So I did and loved the results. So much so that I began giving it away as gifts. Everyone loved them!
The news spread and I am getting requests for products for specific issues. The feedback is overwhelmingly positive. As word of mouth grows, so does the dream. What began as a personal quest and a fascinating hobby has grown into the array of 100% all natural personal body care products throughout these pages.
And we can’t forget about our critters! Horses and dogs are a big part of my life and I can’t help but share the principles and create products for them as well.
Sassa Bella was created to provide the highest quality, earth-inspired, 100% natural handmade soap and body care products for people, equines and canines. We make products that promote well-being, encourage a sense of inner harmony and enhance your own unique radiant beauty.
Every facet that goes into the creation of our products supports the philosophy that our health is integrally linked to the world around us. Our focus is on making choices that are good for us and the Earth; our raw materials come from suppliers that utilize sustainable and renewable farming practices and our manufacturing principles are based on waste elimination, sustainability, and corporate citizenship.
Hand crafted soaps, creams, lotions, body butter, bath salts, bath teas and lip balm
Equine - Hoof Moisturizing Serum, Hoof Moisturizing Cream, Anti Thrush, Anti fungal therapy for skin, shampoos and Natural Fly Spray
Canine - Soothing Skin Spray
Private Label upon request
