Multi-Award Winning Artisan Soaps & Eco-Friendly Bathing Accessories

Organic | Vegan | Cruelty Free | Zero Waste

 

 Named as one of Scotland's "finest health and beauty brands" - June, '24 

Scottish Field Magazine
         

 Five of the best Christmas gifts made in Scotland - Nov, '23 

The Times Scotland Newspaper
         

 Their exquisite array of products epitomise luxury and elegance. Each creation is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, showcasing not only stunning aesthetics but also spectacular scents that altogether transform a simple bathroom into a lavish sanctuary. The brand's prioritisation of utilising gentle, high-quality ingredients sets them apart in the industry, complemented by their relentless pursuit of excellence. 

Louise Jane CEO, The Vegan Choice Awards
         

 If The Dark Island Soap Co. hasn't crossed your path yet, you're in for a real treat! This brand is celebrated as one of the top vegan beauty companies, and it's easy to understand why. They offer a stunning variety of handcrafted products that are not only gorgeous but work wonders. It's clear they've mastered their art, producing items that are a feast for the senses, converting your skincare routine into a luxurious affair. That being so, they are without doubt a brand that has one my heart for the long haul! 

Louise Jane CEO, Vegan Beauty Awards
         

 The best beauty & skincare buys your skin will love this winter - Nov, 2024 

Glamour Magazine
         
Fáilte!

The Man Behind the Business

The Dark Island Soap Co. was created in honour of my beloved late father, Donald MacLellan.
Dad hailed from Lochboisdale, South Uist, in the beautiful Outer Hebrides of Scotland, known as "The Dark Island."
Unfortunately, he passed away on the 31st of August, 2022, from Vascular Dementia.

A business owner himself, he served his apprentice with Croall & Croall of Stockbridge, Edinburgh and became a Volkswagen Specialist, going on to own and run his successful motoring business in the sought-after area of Morningside, Edinburgh for over 50 years.

It is a privilege to dedicate this business to my father, and keep his memory alive.

Tapadh leat,

- Chiara MacLellan
Our Roots
The Dark Island Soap Co. are proud to celebrate their rich Hebridean heritage. 

Staying true to their seafaring roots, they capture the "essence" of the Isles perfectly in their Hebridean range of soaps, with complimenting ingredients such as Scottish Seaweed, Sea Salt, Sea Moss and natural clays, and their exclusive essential oil blends are a wonderful compliment to their soaps. 
Why not try some of their eco-friendly and sustainable accessories to enjoy artisan bathing at its finest!

“Away to the westward, I'm longing to be, where the beauties of heaven’ unfold by the sea. Where the sweet purple heather’ blooms fragrant and free, on a hilltop high above the Dark Island.”
Lyrics from the Dark Island - David Silver

Tatler Magazine, Dec ‘24

Tatler Magazine's “Beauty Bible”

Natural is Always Best
Being a mother to two young daughters, The Dark Island Soap Co.'s creator, Chiara, only uses her owns soaps on her girls, knowing that natural is always best, especially where children are involved.
Our soaps are safe to use on young children, and, adhereing to UK guidelines, from 3 years of age and over. 

Our "Bare Naked” soap is specially formulated to be used from birth.

 "We are delighted to be stocking the gorgeous range of soaps from The Dark Island Soap Co. These beautiful soaps are handmade from skin loving ingredients, including natural clays, essential oils, and botanicals. Oh, and they smell divine!" 

Hebrides by MacGillivray, Isle of Benbecula Stockist
         

 "Soap is amazing and beautifully presented. Chiara is so friendly. Would highly recommend this company, you will not be disappointed. Will be purchasing some more very soon." 

The Stirling Candle Company Verified Customer
         

 "I highly recommend the beautiful soaps that Chiara makes. The quality of the soaps are excellent. The way the soaps arrived in their gorgeous packaging, it was so beautifully wrapped I almost didn’t want to open them! Can’t wait to try out others in the range." 

Karen Ni Thighearnain Verified Customer
         

 "I would highly recommend, super fast delivery and beautifully presented. They are very reasonably priced for all natural products and they smell absolutely amazing. I can't wait to try them and will be letting my friends know and inviting them to this page. I will definitely be ordering again. Thank you Chiara!" 

Candice Bolton Verified Customer
         

 "I, (we) love your products. In my son's words, "lush"! They are just nature's best of the best. Can't wait to order more!" 

Alison MacKenzie Verified Customer
         

 "I received my beautiful parcel this morning with my soaps, and freebie. I am absolutely delighted with my purchase, your soaps are beautiful! I am thrilled. I absolutely love my soaps and you have made my day. Thanks so much!" 

Lisa Heming Verified Customer
         

 "I just wanted to send a wee note to say thank you. Thank you for the lovely product, presentation and wee extra gift. It all looks amazing! I confess I have not used the soap yet, as I purchased them for next week’s holiday but I know they will be fine. The soap dish and pad are fab and just what I was looking for." 

Andrew Kuzma Verified Customer
         

 "Thank you so much for my order, arrived today, lovely packaging and card! Looking forward to using my soap!" 

Morag Alexander Verified Customer
         

 "OMG, thank you so much! I can't believe how gorgeous your soaps are - are you 100% certain they don't taste as nice as they smell?! You have put so much care into it, from the items themselves, to the packaging - I felt like a kid at Christmas!" 

Sam Joslyn Verified Customer
         

 "I collected some beautifully packaged soaps from Chiara yesterday. I didn't know which one to try first, as they all smelled amazing! She recommended lime and poppy as I love citrus scents. I've used it a couple of times this morning, the smell is divine, and it's so moisturising, which is perfect for me, as I mostly work outside so my hands can become quite dry. I look forward to trying the others, and hoping my current soap is used up quickly! Yet another fantastic small and local business." 

Allison Crumley Verified Customer
         

 "I'm admiring the lovely packaging and dried flowers. The perfume was wonderful when I opened the parcel!" 

Catherine Munnoch Verified Customer
         

 "So many amazing and beautiful soaps (plus bath salts and facial steamers) from the amazing The Dark Island Soap Co. in our wee shop." 

Clan Artisan, Stirling Stockist
         

 "Shampoo soap is gorgeous, lovely lather and leaves hair feeling soft. Love it, and will def be ordering more shampoo bars and soap." 

Ann MacKenzie Verified Customer
         

 "My Solaris soap is absolutely amazing, the smell is out of this world. Love it!" 

Candice Bolton Verified Customer
         

 "Always love all my orders, everything smells amazing! Thank you." 

Candice Bolton Verified Customer
         

 "We are so excited to be one of your first stockists in the borders. Your products are beautiful." 

Herringbone Gift Shops No. 56, Peebles Stockist
         

 "My order arrived within 2 days of ordering and I could smell my soaps before I opened the box. So lovely packaged, and the aroma is amazing. There was a lovely thank you note inside, with free bath salts too. I'm so happy with my order, and I would highly recommend ordering from this company. It's 5 stars plus." 

Lynn Scott MacLean Verified Customer
         

 "Honestly, I absolutely love all your products, and even better because they're all natural with no nasty chemicals. My hair hasn't been this good in a long time, and your soaps are so good on my skin!" 

Candice Bolton Verified Customer
         

 "Your soap is beautiful, I was singing its praises in Benbecula!" 

Martha Brindley Verified Customer
         

 "Hi, I tried some of your products today at my cousin's house. They were divine!! I liked them so much that I have just placed an order. I'm really looking forward to starting to use them. Thanks, Michelle." 

Michelle Verified Customer
         

 "Can I just give a humongous shout-out to The Dark Island Soap Co. I received my gorgeous order this morning from Chiara and was honestly blown away,... I'm not just saying that for the benefit, I was like a small child peeling back layers of lovely packaging to reveal my goodies inside and they are simply beautiful. As an added bonus, a tree is planted for every order placed. If you haven't yet checked out out Chiara's website, I cannot recommend her highly enough." 

Yvette Stone Verified Customer
         

 "I only came across this gorgeous company on Saturday, blown away by their amazing products and eco beliefs! I placed my first order, and know it won't be my last." 

Gill Child Verified Customer
         

 "I've just opened the door to the postman, he handed me the most gorgeously wrapped box,... which smelt heavenly even before I opened it. I honestly, and that's the truth, never received a package so beautifully wrapped, and with so much care and love. Inside was some free soap slices, and a Peppermint tea!" 

Gill Child Verified Customer
         

 "Chiara is so lovely to talk to, she sent me some sample soaps that were just so beautifully packaged, with a gorgeous heady scent. I can't wait to try them all out. I can't choose my favourite, as they all smell divine. Thank you so much!" 

Laura Richardson Verified Customer
         

 "Oh, just wow! I've just received my beautiful order from The Dark Island Soap Co. and it smells amazing already! Definitely worth taking a look at her Facebook page and website, her products are fabulous!" 

Michelle Ann Brown Verified Customer
         

 "Hello, I got my order and it was absolutely amazing! I loved it. I can't wait for the next one!" 

Louise Powell Verified Customer
         

 "I have just opened my order which not only smelt fantastic but looked fantastic too, that was before I unwrapped it. My rose candle smells amazing. Thank you for the free gift of the Double Oatmeal soap for my sensitive skin. I look forward to using both products and ordering again. Thank you so much, Chiara." 

Karen Verified Customer
         

 "First of all - beautiful packaging!!! I opened it so carefully to allow it to be saved. I bought as a gift for my mum to put in her new, and very long awaited, bathroom. She loved it! (And I was jealous!) Excellent products, excellent customer service, and prompt postage/delivery. Will be ordering again and highly recommend." 

Straight Line Aversion Verified Customer
         

 "OMG!!! I received my Pumpkin Spice Soap. It smells out of this world! I can't wait to try it." 

Candice Bolton Verified Customer
         

 "Hi, just to let you know that I received my order. Wow, what can I say, except many thanks. An absolute delightful treat, from the moment of opening my parcel, which was gorgeous and every detail lovely. From the hand written address label, the out packaging, to the gifts wrapped inside and the personalised note. I shall most definitely be a returning customer!" 

Kerry Richardson Verified Customer
         

 "OMG, just received my parcel - beautifully wrapped! They were gifts, but won't make it! The smell is absolutely AMAZING!!! I will definitely be ordering more for presents. Super fast delivery and thanks for the freebie of soap." 

Leigh-Ann Aitchison Verified Customer
         

 "I received my shampoo today, and I could smell the box as soon as I went into my porch. It was absolutely out of this world, and cheered me right up after the rough week I've had. Thank you so much, I need to keep stocked up with these, as they're helping to reduce flairs with my skin and scalp. With other shampoos they react with my skin, and it feels like my scalp and face are on fire where my hair brushes my face. With your shampoo, it stops it all together. I may have to get you to make me a whole batch so I never run out!" 

Candice Bolton Verified Customer
         

 "Hello, I just received my parcel, it was so beautifully wrapped I didn't want to open it but I did, and was not disappointed. The smell was AMAZING! Thank you so much for the gift too." 

Yvonne Allen Verified Customer
         

 "I just received my second order and I can't praise this lovely lady enough! So helpful and the packaging is just fantastic, the soap smells amazing! Quick delivery and thank you for my free gift. 100% recommend." 

Yvonne Allen Verified Customer
         

 "Thank you for my lovely parcel that arrived today. I don't think I have ever had such a beautifully wrapped parcel through the post - so much, that I really didn't want to open it! Thank you for all the goodies inside and I will definitely be back in touch to order more. The Lemon soap sample you included is also beautiful." 

Susan Cook Verified Customer
         

 "Chiara, I received your beautiful package today, and, as before, it smelled good enough to eat! Everything individually packed with care. I look forward to trying it all out. Many, many thanks for everything, Fiona." 

Fiona Morrison Verified Customer
         

 "Hi, I received my beautiful parcel and I hate opening it, as it is so beautifully wrapped! But I did, and I love it. The smell is amazing, and thank you for the soap which is also amazing." 

Yvonne Allen Verified Customer
         

 "Lovely, long lasting soap. High quality ingredients and a touching story behind the brand and business. Wishing you the best of luck and success." 

Chris Graham Verified Customer
         

 "Lovely handmade soap, very gentle to sensitive skin and safe for children." 

Constanze Rose-Keller Verified Customer
         

 "OUTSTANDING! I've only recently discovered this gem of a business. I'm now a repeat customer. As a standard overall, from communication through to delivery, and not forgetting the actual quality of the products, is just WOW!" 

Kerry Richardson Verified Customer
         

 "I'm not usually one for soap, but they're just absolutely amazing!! Not burned my candle yet, I'm keeping that for the winter nights!" 

Michelle Ann Brown Verified Customer
         

 "Lovely shop, armed with beautiful products that always impeccably wrapped. If only more shops had this level of customer care (and concern for the environment!)." 

Sam Joslyn Verified Customer
         

 "First class service from The Dark Island Soap Co. every time we use them. Her products are all hand-made and smell amazing! Highly recommend." 

Hebrides by MacGillivray, Isle of Benbecula Stockist
         

 "These are beautiful products made in Scotland and definitely worth an order! I have just bought the Chocolate Orange soap, and it smells divine!" 

Gillian Keery Verified Customer
         

 "As soon as I opened the box, I could smell the lavender, and a beautiful personal message from Chiara. The lavender soap is exquisite, and the lip balm, and body butter are just beautiful, all in their own little pouches, beautifully presented and packed. Thank you, Chiara, for the lovely thoughtful gift." 

Helen Hewitt Verified Customer
         

 "Thank you, Chiara, The Dark Island Soap Co. What wonderful service you provide! I contacted Chiara a couple of days ago about her soapy samples. I placed an order so I could use them to give to my customers as a freebie. Well wow, beautifully packaged, they smell amazing and thank you for my little gift too. I'm sure my customers will love their little gift!" 

Karen Johnson Verified Customer
         

 "My order just arrived and I could not be happier! So beautifully packaged and the smell upon opening is divine. The care and attention to the detail and the quality of the products is astounding! Can't wait to go try them out! And a free tree planted too! Thank you, The Dark Island Soap Co." 

Jennie Wike Verified Customer
         

 "Highly recommend The Dark Island Soap Co. Lovely hand crafted products which smell gorgeous and are beautifully packaged. Perfect for gifts or as a treat to yourself!" 

Normalene Darrien Verified Customer
         

 "The best quality soaps and products, all packaged beautifully with love and care. So, so pleased with my first purchase and will be back for more!" 

Jennie Wike New Customer
         

 "Not only is the owner the most lovely person, but everything about this company is wonderful. From where and why they started to their products. Clearly love and care go into every little detail, not to mention the products are wonderful themselves! The soap samples I have are amazing plus I cannot wait to use the gorgeous shampoo bar! Everything is packaged so wonderfully as well, and, if their fab range of products isn’t enough, only natural products are used PLUS they plant a tree for every single order!!!! Could not recommend more (neither could my Mum or little Tommy pickles)." 

Heather Wike Verified Customer
         

 "Received another absolute exquisite parcel. All the details from the packaging to the product are divine, and great communication as usual. Thanks, Kerry. 

Kerry Richardson Verified Customer
         

 "Fab service. Goodies delivered quickly and smell divine! Great communication. Thank you." 

Kathleen Hoy Verified Customer
         

 "Another order delivered quickly and so beautifully packaged. You can smell the products before you open the package. The service is 100%, and nothing is too much for this lady. She always answers any queries quickly and honestly. I have purchased a few items and have never been disappointed." 

Yvonne Allen Verified Customer
         

 "Oh, my goodness, it feels like Christmas here this morning! I have just received the most beautiful box of goodies from The Dark Island Soap Co. They smell incredible, I will definitely be having a pamper session this evening. Thank you!" 

Michele Verified Customer
         

 I am using your soaps everyday, they are amazing! My skin has never felt better, I am now a soap addict! 

Michele Verified Customer
         

 "I had the pleasure of stocking some of these lovely items for my clients at Christmas. My family also adore the Gingerbread Cookie soap. I’m loving the Rosemary hair oil. This is a wonderful small business with a beautiful story behind it and amazing products." 

The Wellness Studio Verified Customer
         

 "Wow, the smell from this package was amazing and that was before I opened it up. All of the products smell beautiful and the packaging is beautiful too. Thank you so much." 

Karen Davies Verified Customer
         

 "A bespoke order for soap, nothing was too much trouble. Quality and packaging is beautiful - highly recommend." 

Lily Menzies Vegan Beauty Kitchen Verified Customer
         

 "I bought a mixed soap giftset with the handmade soap dish, my mum was over the moon with it. Packaged beautifully, smells absolutely divine! I could smell the soaps before even opening them. I'll be buying more for other gifts in the future, 100%" 

Vicki Livingstone Verified Customer
         

 "I absolutely love the soap!!! It's fabulous and I need some more." 

Tracey Faulds - Scottish Field Magazine Verified Customer
         

 "The soaps are absolutely beautiful! The bridesmaid's were so pleased to receive them as a gift. The wedding was in the Dark Island Hotel on Benbecula, so the soaps were very appropriate and a great reminder of the day. Thank you." 

Nan Mac Verified Customer
         
Sustainability
Proud winners of the Plastic Free Champions Award, by Surfers Against Sewage, sustainability and going plastic free is at the core of The Dark Island Soap Co.'s heart. We use recycled packaging and have a wonderful range of eco-friendly bathing products, with most of them being biodegradable, too!

Feel good about the products you use and know they're sustainably sourced and non-toxic to you or our environment!
Our Nutrient Rich Mediterranean Sea Sponges
Did you know that sea sponges retain many of the beneficial minerals from the ocean water. Packed with essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium, sea sponges are thoroughly nourishing for your skin! 

Thanks to their natural antibacterial properties, sea sponges stay clean and prevent bacterial growth, ensuring a hygienic skincare routine. 

We only purchase ethically harvested sea sponges. Specially trained divers (who regularly rotate fishing grounds) carefully hand cut sponges above their root, allowing them to regrow. The sponges are then rinsed clean and hung to dry before being processed and sent to us. This sustainable practice ensures that large sea sponges can regrow (often healthier than before) and small sponges are left on the seabed to continue to grow. 
We Love Loofahs!
Loofahs have many benefits for your skin, including: 
  • Exfoliation: The natural texture of a loofah removes dead skin cells, which can improve your skin's tone and texture. 
  • Blood circulation: The gentle rubbing action of a loofah can improve blood circulation, which supplies your skin cells with oxygen and nutrients. 
  • Reduced ingrown hairs: Regular exfoliation with a loofah can help prevent ingrown hairs and razor bumps by unclogging hair follicles. 
  • Hypoallergenic: Loofahs are hypoallergenic, making them suitable for sensitive skin. 
  • Environmental benefits: Loofahs are compostable, biodegradable, chemical-free, and non-toxic. 
Loofahs are made from the luffaplant, a fibrous material that has been used for centuries as a natural exfoliating tool. 
What's in Our Soaps?
The Dark Island Soap Co. create their cold process soaps through an exclusive plant-based recipe. Each soap is made from at least 90% certified organic ingredients, and are free from SLS, palm oil, parabens and synthetics. Handcrafted to perfection to bring you an indulgent aromatherapy experience each time you bathe. 

Why not compliment them with an eco-friendly item from our bathing accessories range!
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Our Assurance to You

Our Assurance to You

The Dark Island Soap Co. are a registered UK business, complying to all UK and EU legislations. We hold full CPSR (toxicology) reports for all of our products, and are fully insured. We comply with the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) guidelines, and hold full PIF (Product Information File) reports. All our products are logged on to the Government's CPNP (Cosmetic Product Notification Portal) portal for Trading Standards and market surveillance, which is a legal requirement before selling skincare products on the UK market.

Member of the Guild of Craft Soap & Toiletry Makers

  •  26/02/2024 08:30 PM

We are a proud member of the Guild of Craft Soap & Toiletry Makers, a peer support network for all compliant artisanal crafters in the soap and toiletry industry. When you see this sign for a business that makes soap and toiletries, you know they have been checked to comply with all UK and EU legislations regarding insurance, product safety checks (cpsrs), and being a valid, registered business.

Chiara MacLellan

Artistic Creator & Owner

Meet the creator and owner of The Dark Island Soap Co. Chiara, originally from Edinburgh, now resides in the beautiful Stirlingshire countryside with her fiancé and two daughters. At the end of 2022, Chiara studied for and completed a business diploma in soap making, learning about the importance of creating cold process soap safely. She is a fully self-taught soap maker, and made her first cold process soap at the end of December 2022. Along with being a traditional soap maker, she is also a certified Usui Reiki practitioner, who is training to become a Reiki Master Healer in the Autumn of 2024. A natural healer, Chiara already has a diploma in Shamanic Energy Healing and Crystal Energy Healing.

About Us

At The Dark Island Soap Co. we make our cold process soap from a base recipe of organic natural oils and raw, unrefined and organic shea butter. Cold process soap making is the original, traditional method of making soap by combining fat or oil (animal or plant based) with sodium hydroxide (lye), then blending in an addition of essential oils, fragrance oils, and/or colourants as required. This treatment causes a chemical reaction called saponification which takes up to 48 hours, and the final stage of "curing" (which hardens the bar) takes between 4-6 weeks. Our recipe is created by us, exclusively for us, so you won't find the exact ones anywhere else! Since early 2023, our soaps are now at least 90% organic, vegan friendly and cruelty free!

Since July 2023, The Dark Island Soap Co. have planted over 1,200 trees globally through Tree Nation.

Thanks to you, our loyal customers and retailers, we will keep offsetting harmful CO2 emissions through every order placed.
“Blessed is he who plants trees under whose shade he will never sit.” - Indian Proverb
Supporting Charities in the Western Isles

Supporting Charities in the Western Isles

The Dark Island Soap Co. are proud to support charities in Uist, where often they are overlooked being so remote. We have so far donated our products in Uist to Parkinson's Disease, Mental Health Awareness, and for Carers on South Uist who do a wonderful and selfless job every day. If you are a registered charity in Uist, please get in touch! At info@thedarkislandsoapco.com

Strùan Tea for Parkinson's

Strùan Tea for Parkinson's

Fundraising in Uist to support the work of Parkinson's UK in Scotland.

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The Beacon: Supporting Mental Health in Uist

The Beacon: Supporting Mental Health in Uist

The Beacon is a mental health support group which is working towards becoming a non-profit charity. It is run by a team of local volunteers who have lived experiences of mental health.

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Western Isles Community Care Forum

Western Isles Community Care Forum

Western Isles Community Care Forum SCIO (SC023918), established in 1992 as a forum which represent the interests of carers and users of voluntary care services throughout the Western Isles.

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A Tree Planted for Every Order!

A Tree Planted for Every Order!

For every order that passes through our website, we plant a tree somewhere on the globe. For wholesale orders, we plant 10 trees! Striving to do more for the planet as a business.

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We're Proud to be a Net Zero Website

We're Proud to be a Net Zero Website

Being a net zero website means that for all the traffic our website receives, trees get planted through Tree Nation, to offset all of the emissions made.

Reduce~Reuse~Recycle

Reduce~Reuse~Recycle

Here at The Dark Island Soap Co. HQ, we prioritise reusing and recycling. We use packaging that arrives from stock orders to either shred down and use as protective padding for your orders, and also, to use as secondary "safety boxes" to house your main order boxes in. If we ever receive plastic, you may see it in with your order (as bubble wrap to take an example), as we would rather reuse this harmful material (hoping that you will, too!) than just discard it straight to a landfill.

Plastic Free Communities; Surfers Against Sewage

Plastic Free Communities; Surfers Against Sewage

The Dark Island Soap Co. are proud members of the Plastic Free Communities; Surfers Against Sewage, showing our dedication to being a plastic free and eco-friendly business.

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  • Registered Office Address: The Dark Island Soap Co. LTD, 272 Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland, G2 4JR
  • Company Registration No. SC756943

Disclaimer The information is provided by The Dark Island Soap Co. LTD. We endeavour to keep the information up to date and correct. We make no medical claims, representations or warranties of any kind, expressed or implied, of the completeness, accuracy, reliability, suitability or availability.