Welcome to Cyril’s Soap Shed
Handmade Goat’s Milk Soap from the New Forest
We’re a small, family run business living on a traditional New Forest smallholding, where life is shared with our goats, chickens, horses and even a few free roaming New Forest ponies! As New Forest commoners, we’re proud to carry on the age old tradition of caring for this beautiful landscape and its animals.
Our journey began with a simple desire to live more naturally and sustainably growing our own vegetables, making our own produce, and learning to live in harmony with nature. What started as a step toward self-sufficiency soon became something much bigger: a passion for creating natural, eco-friendly skincare made with our own fresh goat’s milk.
Who Was Cyril?
Cyril was Catherine’s grandad, a much loved local character with a shed at the bottom of his field, where neighbours would gather to share stories (and a mug of his famous homemade scrumpy!). When Cyril moved on to the great shed in the sky, his old shed eventually fell apart. But when we built our log cabin home, we chose the very same spot to keep his memory alive, and that’s how Cyril’s Soap Shed got its name.
From Goats to Soap…
We were already well on our way to self-sufficiency on our smallholding in the beautiful New Forest, Hampshire, with chickens and vegetable gardens providing much of what we needed. But everything changed the year we decided to get a couple of goats for milk. That’s when Penny and Florence joined our family and, without knowing it, Cyril’s Soap Shed was born in 2008!
The Beginning...
Too Much Milk and a Big Idea
The following year, our goats kidded and produced lots of milk — even after feeding their babies, we still had more than eight pints a day! After mastering cheese, yoghurt, butter, and even ice cream, we still had plenty left over. Not wanting anything to go to waste, we set about learning how to make Goat’s Milk Soap… and the rest is history.
Handcrafted the Traditional Way
We were determined to make soap the proper way from scratch, using the traditional cold process method. Although this technique takes time and care, it produces the highest quality, most nourishing bars of handmade goat’s milk soap.
After perfecting our recipe, we shared it with family and friends. Their reactions were incredible! Everyone loved how gentle and moisturising our soaps were even for sensitive skin. Encouraged by their feedback, Cyril’s Soap Shed Goat’s Milk Soap officially began.
From Local Markets to Shops Across the UK
We started selling at farmers markets and craft fairs around Hampshire and the New Forest, where our soaps quickly gained a loyal following. Today, while we still love the occasional local event, our online shop and wholesale business have grown beyond what we ever imagined.
You’ll now find Cyril’s Soap Shed Goat’s Milk Soaps in farm shops, village stores, gift shops, garden centres, National Trust Properties and health food shops across the UK. Our hotel and travel soaps can also be found in some of the New Forest’s top hotels adding a touch of quirky luxury. We’re always delighted to welcome new stockists who share our passion for natural, handcrafted products.
