The Hour

Islay woman Ailsa Hayes has embraced the local ingredients of the island, namely the eight distilleries, to create the world’s only whisky soap.

Hayes, a former chemist, returned to the island from London as she planned to raise a family. The mother of two was looking for something to keep her busy and chose to use her previous experience to make soap from her own kitchen.

Hayes started her own company, Spirited Soap, and made her products transparent in order to be more distinctive from other Hebridean soap manufacturers.

“Transparent soaps require alcohol and what better source to use than what’s on your doorstep,” she said.

After approaching the various distilleries on the island for cooperation in her new plans, Hayes found most were delighted to be part of her venture.

Having begun production in her own kitchen, Hayes revealed her family are glad she has finally got her own shop.

“The family are now happy that mummy has moved production out of the kitchen and that dinner is now available at normal hours and that their sandwiches no longer taste of soap,” she explained.

Spirited Soap now exports all over the world including Denmark, Germany and Spain, amongst others and VisitScotland are exporting her soap as far as China, the USA and Australia.