On Venice Boulevard in the upcoming Los Angeles neighborhood of Mar Vista lurks a little hideaway for people who love soap. Well, not just soap. Also great smells. And fine skin products. And silly puns. And enthusiasm. Enthusiasm for natural handmade soap and fine skin products that are named with silly puns.
The soap kitchen is off to the left, through the shelves, in this picture. You can watch and smell as new batches are made.
It truly is an Only-in-LA experience with all of its contradictions. It is both chic -- appealing to Hollywood starlets -- and completely down-to-earth whith a hippie surfer vibe. Soaptopia is trendy -- at the heart of the whole handmade and ecoprenuer movements. And, while Soaptopia aspires to the greatest heights of individual and communal restorative, herbal, aromatherapeutic, new-agey Well Being, Soaptopia is all about fun and silliness.
In the shop, you can sneak a look through the shelves and watch them whipping up new batches of creams, lotions and bar soaps. You can ask for a slice of whatever's fresh and they'll chop off a bar for you. If it is a gift, they'll package it brilliantly with flower petals and other niceties which just make you happy that neighborhood stores still exist and that people still make stuff by hand.
Frequently you'll find Jolie, the owner, founder and head soapmaker, behind the counter sharing stories and tips. She can expound upon the aromatic benefits that the various flavors have on your chi and evangelize about the healing properties of raw shea butter direct from Senegal. All under a disco ball and a sign reading "Love and be loved... One Love."
Sure, the soaps look really neat -- they come in huge bars creatively designed with lots of colors and even chunks of herbs and other ingredients. And they have fun names like "LA Squeeze," "Hipeeeee," "Orange You Glad, Honey" and "Red Hot Lover." They smell delicious. And there are some sexy romantic oils and slathers for someone special. Yes, it is true, the pure, natural, fair-trade ingredients and all that mean the products are amazing to use and earth friendly. And, yes, you'll likely get completely hooked on the skin-loving, soul stirring fancy soap (no worries, just order more online). But even more, for the tourist or casual visitor, going into the store is a sensory experience that just screams Southern California.
Stop by, enjoy the sites and smells, get a little something for your sun-burned skin and pick up some affordable whimsical travel gifts all at the same time. And enjoy the neighborhood. This particular strip of Venice Blvd in Mar Vista is home to groovy coffee shops, a hip LA barber shop, a tattoo parlor, a costume store, kids' boutiques, a bank, a bowling alley with a surprisingly good restaurant, great taquerias, a techno club and Vineyard Christian Fellowship. And on Sunday mornings check out the Mar Vista Farmers Market. It is not far from the beach and the illustrious uber quirky Museum of Jurassic Technology.
Open 7 Days a week. Located on the Westside of Los Angeles just east of Venice Beach, south of Santa Monica and west of Culver City.
Soaptopia
http://soaptopia.com
12228 1/2 Venice Blvd.
Mar Vista, CA 90066
Also:
Floyds Barber Shop: http://floydsbarbershops.com/
Club Good Hurt: http://www.goodhurt.net
Mar Vista Farmers Market : http://marvistafarmersmarket.org/
Mechie Children's Boutique: http://mechiechildrensboutique.com
Robinson Beautilities (costumes): http://www.yelp.com/biz/robinson-beau...
The Tattoo Lounge: http://www.thetattoolounge.com/
Mar Vista Bowl: http://www.amf.com/marvistalanes/
Venice Grind Cofee (with free wi-fi): http://www.venicegrind.com
Vineyard Christian Fellowship http://vcfwestside.org/