Lather up, unwind and experience an Atlantic Canadian infusion of natural soaps, lotions and potions.

You've had a hard day. You're grubby, weary, dry of skin and drained in spirit. What do you do? Indulge in a soothing shower with natural goats' milk soap. Treat your face to a herbal scrub. Slather protective cream on your chapped hands and aching feet. You might even convince your partner to give you a chamomile-infused back rub. Or maybe you just want to sprawl on the couch with a lavender eye pillow to cool your eyes.

Aaahh. Feel better now?

While handmade soaps, lotions, salts and sprays won't cure all your aches and pains, they're wonderful ways to soothe body and soul-and they're found in an array of creative home-based or cottage-industry businesses throughout Atlantic Canada.

For a stress-busting sampler kit to get you all lathered up, read on.

Queen bee

Nancy Maxner's business, near Windsor, NS, was born of equal parts necessity and inspiration. For years the landscaper, gardener and dairy operator was unable to wear any kind of jewelry because of problems brought on by working with soil.

"My skin would crack open around my nails, in every joint-right up to my elbows," she says.  "Dermatologists couldn't help; I tried all kinds of creams and lotions, and nothing worked."

Her late father, Gerry Smeltzer, a beekeeper, reminded her that beeswax is antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal. Nancy began experimenting in her farm kitchen, eventually coming up with a concoction that worked for her. Landscaping customers were amazed to see her wearing rings and watches, and when they found out why, they wanted some of the cream, too.

And so Naturally Nancy's Protective Cream came into being. Although the product was originally developed for gardeners, medical practitioners now recommend it to treat a variety of skin conditions, such as psoriasis and eczema. It's popular with men, who like the cream because it has minimal scent. Nancy even knows of woodsmen who use it on their hands-and to treat their leather work boots and protective gloves.

The self-dubbed "reluctant entrepreneur" gets tremendous support from people who use the cream. "I've had people call me; cancer patients… with the radiation and chemotherapy, their skin is dried and cracked and very itchy. They use my cream and get relief, and they thank me for the first full night's sleep they've had in a while. That's worth so much to me, I can't even express it!"

Orders come from across North America. "People call the number on the jar; I ask them where they live, and send them some," she says. "I've had people call from Los Angeles, Inuvik, Saskatchewan and Texas. People coming into Halifax on the cruise ships pick it up at the Halifax Farmers' Market."

There's certainly a buzz about honey and beeswax in spas, homeopathy centres and cosmetic shops around the continent, but the healing nature of bee products is not news to Vi and Aubrey Goulding of Paradise Farms in Paradise, NL-they've kept bees for more than 20 years, initially as a hobby and for their own honey use, later selling the honey.

But as Aubrey says, "There's way more to a beehive than just honey." The Gouldings engaged the services of the National Research Council of Canada to investigate byproducts of the beehive, travelled to European research facilities, and began experimenting with a variety of formulas, recipes and ingredients.

In 1995, Vi and Aubrey began selling additional products, which today include hand and foot cream, lip balm, facial lotion and specialty balms for fishermen, gardeners, babies and even pets. "Salt and ice cause a lot of problems to the tender paws of cats and dogs during the winter," says Aubrey. "Our customers use one of our balms on their animals' paws before they go outdoors-it acts as a great protectant. And if they lick it off, it won't hurt them."

The Gouldings also sell bee propolis, a resinous substance with antibiotic properties that the bees make mainly from tree sap. Most of their products are available only locally, and demand for their honey far outstrips supply. Their popularity is in part because they do not have to use chemical treatments-Newfoundland doesn't have the tracheal or varroa mite, which plagues many mainland beekeepers.

Goat ease

Branching out in business can be deliberate, as with the Gouldings, or inadvertent, as with Em Zember who used to run a bed and breakfast in Brackley Beach, PEI. In 2002, as a way of amusing guests, Em dressed up in period costume and encouraged guests to join her at work on pioneer-style projects. One of the activities she undertook was soap making. Although Em says that first attempt "wasn't a pretty sight," guests loved the activity, and many came back wanting to make more soap.

Em kept goats, so it seemed only natural that the innkeeper started experimenting with recipes for goats' milk soap. She finally found a handful that satisfied her-and a growing list of customers. Today all the soaps sold by her business, The Great Canadian Soap Co., are made using milk from a herd of 20 Toggenburg goats, a breed from the Swiss Alps that thrives on the East Coast despite the vagaries of our winters.

"Milk has long been used as a natural skin rejuvenator and moisturizer," says Em. "Goats' milk in particular is the most neutral for skin as it has almost the same pH as human skin, whereas cows' milk is more acidic."

Goats' milk is easily absorbed into the skin, she adds, making it ideal for delicate complexions and even baby's tender tush. The soap, handmade by cold-processing, contains 36 per cent goats' milk, a percentage higher than any commercial soap produced. "Many of today's commercial soaps are full of synthetic detergents, petrochemicals and artificial preservatives that clog your pores and create dry skin-they aren't soaps at all but actually detergents," Em says.

The Great Canadian Soap Co. uses glycerine, cocoa butter and shea butter in combination with other natural products including beeswax, essential oils and aloe vera, but no dyes, deodorants or water. As well, the soap contains natural exfoliants like sea salt, espresso grounds and sand.

Turns out it's a recipe for success. Visitors regularly descend on Brackley Beach looking to clean up their act, and merchants across the country now carry The Great Canadian Soap Co. products. Next up: a line of fizzy bath bombs, salts and milk baths, and Em is cultivating a herb garden for use in the company's products. "We like to keep everything as fresh as possible," she says.

Luxurious lavender

Working together on a cottage industry and home schooling their two young children is a dream come true for Anita and David Carlson. Although they met and got married in British Columbia, the Carlsons returned to David's Nova Scotia roots in 1999 when they bought nine acres from his parents' farm overlooking the Northumberland Strait on Nova Scotia's north shore. They built their home and started thinking of ideas for a small business that could use and develop their skills, as well as sustain their family and help the economy of their rural community. After spending a season studying and experimenting with different herbs lavender won out, and Beach Lane Lavender Farm was born. "Our ideal was the lavender farm images of Europe, where we would be able to grow and harvest lavender; distill oil, formulate, craft and market our own products," says Anita.

Today Beach Lane Lavender Farm sells all things lavender, including soaps, bath and body oils, deodorant and lip balm. "Lavender is known for its calming properties, as well as being antibacterial and antifungal," Anita says.

Along with the usual lineup of skin care products for women (all made without a hint of petroleum, animal or artificial synthetic additives), the Carlsons have developed several products specifically for men, featuring a mixture of sandalwood and lavender. The Maritimer Men's line includes a body oil for use as a muscle rub or bath oil; aftershave cream and shaving soap.

Each product is registered with Health Canada; the Carlsons want to ensure their customers have full confidence in the quality of their products. As well, the company became certified as organic through the Nova Scotia Organic Growers Association earlier this year.

"We find that a lot of people are keen to support local farms and local products, so it's up to us to be accountable to them in return for their support," says Anita, adding that they've been overwhelmed by the reception they've had.

In the end, of course, accountability comes second to a steaming bath suffused with a hint of lavender, a pinch of beeswax and a lather of goats' milk.