Master Soapmaking Since 2023
Multi-Award Winning Herbal Skincare Apothecary

Handcrafted Soaps & Skincare by Holistic Herbalist and Certified Reiki Master, Chiara MacLellan 

 
Who Are We?
The Dark Island Soap Co.: A Modern Heritage of Skincare

The Dark Island Soap Co. is an artisanal apothecary dedicated to the intersection of ancient botanical wisdom and modern self-care. Rooted in the belief that skincare should be a grounding, intentional experience, we specialise in handcrafted, small-batch formulations that honour the raw power of nature.
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, with “The Dark Island” being a place we would spend many a happy vacation when dad was visiting his home.
Unfortunately, he passed away on the 31st of August, 2022, from Vascular Dementia.

A business owner himself, he served his apprenticeship 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 ​
Follow us on Instagram, Threads, Facebook and TikTok for all the latest updates! @thedarkislandsoapco 

 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 won my heart for the long haul! 

Louise Jane CEO, Vegan Beauty Awards
         

 The best beauty & skincare buys your skin will love this winter. - Nov, '24 

Glamour Magazine
         

 The Dark Island Soap Co. wins the Customer Satisfaction Award. Combining handcrafted, organic soaps with a robust sustainability ethos, their commitment to planting trees and reusing materials resonates with eco-conscious customers. Their ground-breaking efforts not only meet the growing consumer demand for eco-friendly products but also showcase how innovation and responsibility can thrive together. By embracing sustainable practices and pushing the boundaries of possibility. - Dec, '24 

UK Business Awards
         

 The Dark Island Soap Co. embodies everything we value in a sustainability award winner—authenticity, transparency, accountability and commitment to natural and plastic-free practices. Their soaps have a rustic charm that feels deeply connected to the earth. Plus they not only smell incredible and work beautifully, but they also represent a meaningful step toward a more sustainable future. This is a business that proves you don’t have to compromise quality or luxury to care for the planet. - Dec, '24 

Anna Chatburn Sustainability Award Founder
         

 16 products our beauty editors are shopping this January 

Glamour Magazine
         

 The Dark Island Soap Co. recognised among best companies to watch in 2025 - Jan, ‘25 

CEO Vision
         

 As the founder of the Sustainability Award, I’ve had the privilege of witnessing countless businesses strive for eco-conscious practices. The Dark Island Soap Co. truly stands out. Their dedication to sustainability is not just a marketing ploy; it’s woven into the very fabric of their operations. Achieving the Diamond Level award signifies an exceptional commitment to environmental responsibility, and the Dark Island Soap Co. embodies that wholeheartedly. Beyond their remarkable sustainability efforts, their soaps are simply divine. The natural ingredients create a truly luxurious experience. The scents are beautiful, and the gentle formulas leave skin feeling nourished and refreshed. It’s rare to find a product that so perfectly balances ethical practice with exceptional quality. Dark Island Soap Co. proves that you can have a product that is both kind to the planet and a delight to use. Plus, their Founder Chiara is always so delightful to communicate with, you can really tell the love and dedication behind the brand. I wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone seeking a sustainable and indulgent bathing experience. - Feb, ‘25 

Anna Chatburn Sustainability Award Founder
         
Heritage
The Dark Island Soap Co. celebrate their rich Hebridean heritage through traditionallly made handcrafted soaps and skincare.
Staying true to their seafaring roots, they capture the "essence" of the Isles perfectly in their Hebridean range of soaps, skincare and eco-friendly bathing accessories. Complimenting their handcrafted creations with ingredients such as Scottish seaweed, sea salt, sea moss, raw unrefined shea butter, organic plant-based oils, and natural clays. With their exclusive essential oil blends that all add to a wonderfully luxurious bathing experience.  

“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

Before: Using Blue Moon, with Blue Tansy Oil Facial Night Concentrate and Chamomile, Soothing Facial Night Cream

After: Using Blue Moon, with Blue Tansy Oil Facial Night Concentrate and Chamomile, Soothing Facial Night Cream

New Label
Stockists
Herringbone Gift Shop:
56, High St, Peebles EH45 8SW 

Delights Gift Shop: 
18, North Beach, Stornoway HS1 2XH 

Ticketty Boo Gift Shop: 
2, High St, Melrose TD6 9PB 

Art & Vintage Cafe & Gift Shop: 
3, Lyne St, Edinburgh EH7 5DN 

Crossroads Pet & Garden Centre: 
Millhouse, Tighnabruaich PA21 2BW 

Craft on the Croft Gift Shop: 
Polochaple, Culkein, Drumbeg, Lairg IV27 4NL 

Saltwater Sunshine Gift Shop:
Main St, Gullane EH31 2AR 

The Pier Cafe: 
64 A848, Tobermory, Isle of Mull PA75 6NU 

Clan Artisan Gift Shop: 
56, Port St, Stirling FK8 2LJ 

Vintage & Brown Gift Shop: 
62, High St, Marshfield, Chippenham SN14 8LP 

The Newport Bakery: 
7, Cupar Road, Newport-on-Tay DD6 8AF

Wyrd & Whimsy Gift Shop: 
2, Seafield St, Cullen, Buckie AB56 4SH

Stag & Heather Online Gift Shop:
www.stagandheather.co.uk

The Woodlands Cafe:
Abbey, St Bathans, Kennel House, Duns, TD11 3TX

Làmhan:
2a, Cross Street, Callander, FK17 8EA

The Boho Coffee Bothy:
Birchwood Business Park, Doune, FK16 6ER 
Member of The Addy

Chiara sent us her Chamomile Cold Process Soap. “The packaging was a real treat for the eyes, personalised with a thank you card and dried flowers, encased in beautiful tissue paper. Chiara added an extra special touch with the addition of night time sleep teas, to compliment the soothing scent of the soap. The chamomile and patchouli infusion is wonderfully relaxing and the perfect way to wind down by lathering yourself up in an evening bath or shower.The scent is beautifully delicate, yet potent enough that it leaves a hint of the aroma on your skin after showering.The soap truly felt like a spa treatment for the skin, treating it to a product made with natural ingredients, lovingly made by The Dark Island Soap Co.We would 100% recommend this soap and products made by Chiara. She is passionate about making organic skincare for all.”

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Member of the Guild of Craft Soap & Toiletry Makers

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 (including CPSR reports), and being a valid, registered business.

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Member of The Professional Crafters Guild

Since January 2024, The Dark Island Soap Co. have been a member of The Professional Crafters Guild.

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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, holding full CPSR (toxicology) reports for all of our products, and we are fully insured. Complying with the GMP (Good Manufacturing Practice) guidelines, and holding full PIF (Product Information File) reports. All of 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.

Accredited Ethical Business
The Dark Island Soap Co. are proud to have recieved a score of 100% with the prestigious The Good Shopping Guide, and have been awarded the title of "Ethical Innovator."
Established 25 years ago, The Good Shopping Guide is very well established as a leading independent authority on the ethical comparisons of companies and brands.
Gold Plastic Free Business Award Winners!
We are extremely proud to announce that we have won Gold status as a Plastic Free Champion business by Surfers Against Sewage.

What does this mean? By working with Surfers Against Sewage, we have now completely eliminated the use of plastic in our business.
Since July 2023, through every order placed through our website, we have planted over 2,000 trees globally through Tree Nation.

We are proud to run a registered Net Zero website, which sees all of the traffic which passes through it off-set harmful CO2 emissions by planting more trees!
“Blessed is he who plants trees under whose shade he will never sit.” - Indian Proverb

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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Proudly a Net Zero Website

Being a net zero website means that for all the traffic that passes through our website, more trees are planted throughout the globe with Tree Nation, off-setting the carbon emissions made.

Reduce~Reuse~Recycle

At The Dark Island Soap Co. we prioritise reusing and recycling. We use packaging that arrives from stock orders to break down and use as protective padding for your orders, and to also 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

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.

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. So far, they have donated their 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

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 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 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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  • Registered Office Address: The Dark Island Soap Co. LTD, Suite 2/3 Clyde Offices, 2nd Floor, 48 West George Street, Glasgow, G2 1BP
  • 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.