The Soap Factory makes its soap in the manner of the soap crafters during the Victorian era. Using a 19th century process, the company manufactures high quality Castile soap and soap products.
Marietta Ellis, owner of the company, and her husband Arthur have turned a volunteer project from a part-time hobby into a full-time business. In the 1960's Marietta researched home soap recipes in order to help field workers teach women in developing countries to make soap for their families.
Turning her over 30 years experience and knowledge of soap making towards a business application, Marietta starting selling her soap on weekends at local craft fairs. At first the response was slow, as many people had a negative attitude about "homemade soap". Once people began trying the soap and finding out how much better the soap was over the mass produced soap, word spread.
The business grew. When an article on The Soap Factory appeared in Yankee Magazine's December 1988 issue, people sent in for the soap from all over the country and the business became full-time.
The Soap Factory is located in Bedford, Massachusetts.