Get to Know Us
Dear members of our community,
We are lovers of Jesus, a military family, and proud parents to three beautiful children.
The seeds of Jean Baptiste Soaps, LLC were planted in 2020. We’d just had our first child, and my husband (Yves Jean Baptiste) worked three unglamorous jobs to earn enough money to enable me to resign from teaching to stay home with her full-time. It all started one evening, after a night of prayer, yummy food, and too much laughter with Baz Local—(my group of three girlfriends, all of Haitian descent who happened to find each other in Central Kentucky—we were also young wives and mothers whose husbands were attending the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.)
I watched my friend, Sarabina, clean her kitchen counters with a natural, homemade, essential oil-infused cleaner. I was curious and listened intently as she taught me about the many benefits of essential oils. My interest was piqued, and I plunged into a world of research about more natural options for home and personal care products.
At the time, our firstborn was about a year old; we wanted to use products that were safe, gentle, and nourishing for our skin and hair, especially our baby girl’s. In the midst of this, a Facebook crafting group I was following posted about a soap-making class being offered in my area. A wild idea came to mind! I had never thought about soapmaking and knew very little about the subject, but my attention was captured and I thought, “I could learn to make soap, sell it, and make some money to help supplement our income.” Jean Baptiste and I sought the Lord, through prayer and weighed the potential risks and benefits before finally deciding to move forward. There was a very reasonable half-payment deposit to reserve my spot before to attend the soaping class, but for us, it felt like a sacrificial and risky investment.
In the soap class, I brought a notebook full of questions and learned about the history of soap-making, soap formulations, and the basics of making a balanced bar. I then proceeded to check out every book on soap-making offered by my local library. I fell in love with the art and science of soap-making and began formulating soaps, lotions, and hair care products for our family of three and sharing them with friends and family. Their positive reception to soaps, lotions, and hair care products confirmed our desire to go into business, making and sharing our products with our community!
When it came time to start our business, Jean Baptiste, still a full-time seminary student, often worked overtime and overnight shifts so we could purchase everything we needed, from oils to tools and safety supplies. When that wasn't enough, we invested our savings. He burned the candle at both ends, putting in many long hours at work and pulling all-nighters studying for exams and completing assignments. He believed in the dream even before I cut my first bar of soap. This company would not be here without his tremendous sacrifice and constant encouragement; his belief in me gave me the confidence to take risks, try new things, fail, and keep trying.
Since then, we've poured our hearts into creating high-quality, natural products, driven by the desire to share the benefits of our creations with others and build a sustainable future for our family. Every bar of soap, every lotion, and every hair care product we craft carries a piece of that initial curiosity, the shared laughter of friends, and the unwavering belief in a dream.
We are a tight team who shares every responsibility, every task—patiently striving together to fulfill our goals. When a batch doesn't turn out as planned or a marketing strategy falls flat, we don't despair. Instead, we learn, adapt, and press on, confident that even in failure, there's a purpose and a path forward. This proved especially true when life’s many transitions caused us to step away from our business for a couple of years.
As it says in Jeremiah 17:7 "But blessed are those who trust in the Lord and have made the Lord their hope and confidence." (NLT) In essence, Jeremiah 17:7 is not just a verse we quote; it's the living principle that underpins every decision, every prayer, and every dream for Jean Baptiste Soaps. It reminds us that our true security and ultimate blessing come from Him, making our business not just a source of livelihood, but a continuous journey of faith.
As you use our skin and hair care products, our prayer is that you feel seen, cared for, and reminded of God's goodness in every detail.
We'll continue crafting for your glowing skin,
Yves ( Baptiste), Gina-Lou, NaNou, Zachi, and Gracie