Austin Soap Works

Jan started making soap in the late 90s as a calming balance to a hectic life in the big city. It took a half-dozen years for her to develop the creamy, gentle soap she makes today.

Along the way Jan began visiting a close friend who, upon her husband's retirement, had moved to central Nevada near Austin.

There was something about the charming mountain town that drew Jan to Austin. She bought a historic building on Main Street and opened up a general mercantile, selling her soaps and Victorian-themed neccesities.

Her soaps are inspired by Austin and some contain botanicals from the local landscape: Nevada Sage (from the green Reese River Valley), Wild Roses (Austin is full of wild yellow roses), Lavender (grown outside her shop) and many more. A coffee fanatic (she believes the best cup of coffee requires chewing), she also makes a gritty soap with ground espresso beans that is perfect for scrubbing garden hands!

She is lucky to have her grandson, Tyler, live with her. Together they make "Good Dog" biscuits. Tyler tested the recipe on his black lab/cow dog mix, Scruffy, who gives them a five star rating. Tyler puts all the sale proceeds in his special college fund, along with all the pennies he finds in parking lots.