Zahida of Handmade in Florida creates stunning cold process soap featuring signature swirls and gorgeous colors. With numerous soap challenge wins under her belt, Zahida has popularized several soaping techniques including the “Butterfly Swirl.” Her passion for creating and eye for design shines through in her blog and YouTube videos.
Before diving into soap, Zahida worked in corporate management and was an active member of the aviation industry, serving on several boards including the Pass Bureau Association. Zahida took a break from the corporate world after the birth of her son, and began soaping shortly after. Read on to learn more about Zahida, her business, and what inspires her to create such gorgeous soap!
How long have you been soaping for and how did you get started?
Like many soapers, I made my first batch out of necessity seven years ago. I had just given birth to my son and as an uber-cautious-first-time-mom, my hands were cracked and painful due to so much washing. I had gone through countless “gentle” soaps and lotions and nothing helped…infact, it got worse. My husband and I decided to try making our own lavender soap. Fortunately, it turned out great and helped my skin tremendously! I soon whipped up some hand cream and have been hooked on handmade body care since!
What sort of advice would you give to those soapers just starting their businesses?
Believe in your product and in yourself! You can do this! Yes, it’s always a bit scary when you’re putting yourself out there, but you’ll never know unless you try!
What is your favorite type of product to make?
Cold process soap, hands down! I love everything about making cp soap (with the exception of cleanup and waiting). I love playing with the oils and butters, fragrances and colors…each batch of soap is an adventure.
What inspires you to create?
People, places, colors, scents, nature, art…pretty much everything!
How did you come up with the name for your business?
It’s kind of funny…I was looking for a name that would allow for creative freedom and I live in Florida…thus, “Handmade in Florida”. It’s about as generic as it gets!
Secret Feather Swirl Cold Process Soap
What is your favorite Bramble Berry product and why?
I love everything from Bramble Berry! If I had to pick just one thing that I could not live without, it would have to be your heat resistant plastic pouches! I love using them to masterbatch my oils, they are so convenient!
Tell us something unusual or unique about yourself!
I started my first business at the age of 14. It was in the early 90’s when handpainted t-shirts were “the thing” lol. I painted every day after school and soon had several wholesale accounts that kept me busy until college! At one point, my mom, dad and sisters were even helping to paint t-shirts!
Pumpkin Spiced Chai Cold Process Soap
What are some of your other hobbies and interests?
In addition to soap making, I enjoy watercolor painting, photography, sewing and baking.
What is your number one soaping tip? (Could pertain to oils, trace, molds, colorants, fragrance…anything!)
I like soaping cool (room temp)….I find that it gives me the most time to play with my soap 🙂
Romeo and Juliet Cold Process Soap
Have you ever experienced a horrible soapy fail? How did you work through it, and what did you learn?
Oh my goodness, my very first soap was an adventure! My husband and I were suited up to the max and the soap making session was so stressful that I didn’t think I’d ever make soap again! Luckily, I loved the soap and just had to make it again (without the hazmat gear)! Unless I’m working with some crazy expensive and/or rare ingredient, I just go with the flow…if it turns out, great! If not, lesson learned!
What do you love most about creating bath and body products?
I love that I can create a variety of ultra luxurious and skin loving products that would typically be out of my price range…if even available!
Find Handmade in Florida
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What did she mean about soaping at room temp? Does that mean bringing the lye and oils into the 70s before blending? Isn’t that too cool?
Hi Gwen!
Some soapers prefer to soap at room temperature! Zahida is an expert soaper, and has found that is the best method for her. 🙂
If you’re just getting started, we recommend soaping around 100-130F. If your oils or lye are too cool, they can solidify any hard oils or butters before everything is fully emulsified. Those oils start to thicken and clump up in the batch. This is called “false trace.” Read more about that here: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/tips-and-tricks/trace/
Once you’ve got a couple batches under your belt, you can start experimenting with temperatures and find the perfect method for your recipes. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Stunningly beautiful soaps! WOW!!!
I think so too Kaye! I’m a big fan of her work. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I am just FLOORED by how beautiful these soaps are. So impressive!
Hi Leilani!
Aren’t they so stunning? We love Zahida’s work. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Beautiful. I would have trouble separating the butterfly.
Hi Gina!
The soaps do look so pretty sitting next to each other. She definitely has some amazing techniques! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I follow Handmade in Florida on all available social media outlets. I get so excited when she posts something new. Her artistic eye is beyond amazing!
Now, if you could convice her to teach a butterfly swirl class… that would be amazing!!!!!
Hi Tammy!
I love when she posts new stuff on her social media pages! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
WOW!!! These look amazing!
Hi Ceme!
Agreed! I’m so impressed with her soap.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I am in total awe of this woman’s soaps. Her eye for color and the swirl techniques she uses are impressive and beautiful. I can’t wait to visit her website to learn more. Thanks for sharing this amazing art, producing a useful consumer product.
Hi Donna!
I agree, her work is so stunning!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Zahida is so talented and I am a huge fan of her work (as she already knows)! It’s great that you have given her so much coverage in your blog because she deserves it!! I simply love her technique.
Hi Nancy!
So glad you like this post! We were so happy to be able to talk with her 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
So inspiring! Thanks for sharing with us!
Hi Karen!
You’re welcome, I’m so glad you liked it. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Such creative beautiful soaps! You can tell the photography is a part of the beauty as well…thanks for inspiration and being part of the “soapy” world.
Hi Joan!
Her photography and soaping skills are excellent. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Really beautiful soaps! Some of the soap creations I see these days are pretty, but not really “user friendly” with all the doo-dads sticking out of the top and big “icing”. Zahilda’s soap is beautiful but also looks like soap you’d want to actually use to wash with, not just for cute decoration. Very well done!
Hi Kristen!
It’s very pretty and functional! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Oh I just can’t stop watching the video’s… I just started making soap and my ideas about stopped by a one-color-block-with-a-nice-scent. This is a huge inspiration for me. Can you do a tutorial with the products and amount used?
Hi Annemieke!
They’re so much fun to watch. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Exquisite eye for color design and details. Swoon worthy. The passion for your craft shows.
Hi Rhonda!
I agree! I love all the intricate details. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I had the pleasure of meeting Zahida through the Soap Challenge Club,love her work & I wish her more success in her Soaping endeavors 🙂
Hi Pooja!
That’s awesome! She’s such an inspiration. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
It’s really fun to hear the details about your background, Zahida, as you’re such an inspiration to us all. Your work is breathtaking, and you raise the level for everyone!
Hi Claudia!
It is incredibly breathtaking. I love her blog!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Love her YT Videos … Watching her create her soaps is awesome , My fav is the Coffee (ITP Swirl) using the TS mold from American Soap Supplies … Pls Make More More More YT Vids .
Hi Bliss!
Those are great videos! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
These are beautiful!!! Love them!!! I just subscribed to her You Tube page. I would love to know what oils she soaps with. Is she working with a recipe that is good for swirls???
Hi Sabrina!
I’m not exactly sure! You may want to contact her and see. 🙂
We recently did a Christmas Tree Swirl Cold Process Soap that allowed us a lot of time to work! You may like it for your swirly designs.
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Christmas Tree Swirl Cold Process: https://soapqueen.com/bath-and-body-tutorials/cold-process-soap/christmas-tree-cold-process/
Zahida’s soaps are so creative and beautifully done!! She has been an inspiration to so many in the Soap Challenge Club!! Love her work!
Hi Amy!
They are totally show stopping! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
These soaps are all so gorgeous! What an inspiration.
Hi Marcy!
Agreed, they’re stunning! 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I found Zahida’s soaps purely by chance while browsing YouTube tutorials one day and instantly fell in love her work. Her videos look professionally produced and make cold process design look so effortless. I was thrilled to find out that she is super nice AND local to me.
Hi Carla!
We love watching them in the office. They’re very inspiring. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Holy wowza, that’s the prettiest soap yet!
Hi Alicia!
They are gorgeous!
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Absolutely stunning!!! Loved this post!!!!
Hi Bethany!
So glad you liked it. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
I have been following Zahida’s work for some time now, and she’s one of my biggest inspirations for my own soaping adventures. Her soaps are some of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen. Her work is at a level that I aspire to reach one day, in terms of skill and creativity. Great post!
Hi Naseerah!
We are totally inspired by her work too. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry
Holy, wow.
These are INCREDIBLE! I have a major crush on them, gorgeous work!
Hi Rachel!
They’re so amazing! We love them too. 🙂
-Kelsey with Bramble Berry