That last day. We were standing on what felt like the edge of the world, cliffside at Muriwai Beach, New Zealand. Our rental car doors were open, music was playing, and we looked down at the black sand beach, trying to wrap our minds around the journey that was ending. That was our last destination after living out of suitcases for the past eight months - just the two of us - planning as we went along. We had no idea what to expect when we boarded the flight back to Boston the next day. We had both quit our jobs, left our lease, and weren't sure that we'd ever feel this happy again.

During that flight I thought about the people and places we met. The makers, bathers, and surfers along the way. I also thought about the beautiful landscapes I could barely comprehend, and in contrast, a glacier that had retreated so far back you could now stand on the stone it once covered. I thought about how everything I needed could fit into a single suitcase when utilizing simple, multi-use products. That realization made me feel more connected to myself and the environment. Lastly, I thought about my soap making hobby. How relevant this time-honored method of bathing with plants suddenly felt. Somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, everything changed.

That summer I obsessively researched, sourced, and tested the ingredients for a multi-use bar soap that was gentle and nourishing. A bar made from organic plants and free of palm oil and synthetic substances. As I poured myself into it, scent nostalgia crept in and memories from our adventure began to form essential oil blends. By December 2018, we launched Wild Lather. And that bar turned out to be a triangle.