By EMILY REED

Special to the Reporter

HOOVER – A new soap company has opened its doors off U.S. 280, providing customers with natural products that make “scents.”

Buff City Soap Company opened a retail store at 5361 U.S. 280, between Brook Highland Parkway and Cahaba Valley Road, on May 5, bringing the concept of ‘farm-to-tub’ with crafted soaps, lotions, body scrubs, and other skin care products that are 100-percent natural, organic and chemical free.

“I recently moved to Birmingham and fell in love with the city instantly,” store owner Jeff Collier said. “I recognized the strong buying power of the local consumers and the accolades of the existing retail community on Highway 280. We knew 280 is where we needed to be to be successful and to introduce ourselves to a vast majority of the community.”

Collier said the store’s products are unique in that each bar of Buff City soap is created at the store.

“It is a bit of a mad lab stocked with ingredients like gardenia petals, lemon zest, hemp seed oil, shea butter, charcoal and tea tree oil,” Collier said. “Even our body scrubs are squeaky clean with natural exfoliates like chopped loofah bits, crushed walnut shells and poppy seeds. You can even customize your products like our very popular body butters with the scent (or non-scent) of your choice and the ingredients that you prefer. The possibilities are endless.”

Buff City’s product line also includes shower oils, beard oil, lip balm, bath bombs, shower fizzies, pet care products and even laundry detergents, according to a press release about the company.

“We are the mad scientists of soap, creating new custom fragrances daily, along with seasonal and regional favorites for a distinctly local vibe,” Collier said.

Customer favorites at the store are the artisan soaps, which soothe, moisturize and condition skin with coconut palm and olive oils.

“Our awwww-natural ingredients are (almost) good enough to eat,” Collier said.

Collier recognizes from a consumer standpoint, the current trend in bath and beauty products is geared toward natural and holistic products.

“Most of the trusted brands people are washing up with are made with detergents, chemicals and tallow, which is just another name for cow fat,” Collier said. “Sulfates, artificial detergents and parabens can cause irritation, trigger allergies and have other unpleasant side effects. That does not exactly say ‘refreshing shower,’ to us.”

Customers also love the store’s activated charcoal bar because it helps draw impurities out of the skin, which have been known to treat acne and soothe redness.

The Buff City Soap Company was founded in 2013 by Brad Kellum and Jennifer Ziemianin.

The duo wanted to avoid detergents, chemicals and tallow that make up most commercial soap products, due to the ingredients causing irritation, triggering allergies and other side effects.

After experimenting a bit, the company was born.

Headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee, the company also has store locations in Castle Rock, Colorado, and Tupelo, Mississippi.

The store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily.

For more information, follow Buff City Soap on Facebook, visit BuffCitySoap.com, or call 730-9199.