Bogue Milk Soap began in Ojai, California, in 1973, when Grandma Helen Bogue opened Dos Manos, an all-handmade shop rooted in the creative spirit of the Ojai Valley. The goat milk soap first made for that shop became the foundation of a family craft that has continued across three generations.

Real ingredients. Small batch. Noticeably better.

Over the years, that original bar grew into a broader world of botanical bath, body, shaving, hair care, and wellness products—still shaped by the same hands-on approach. Fresh goat milk, plant-based oils and butters, mineral clays, botanicals, and pure essential oils remain at the heart of our Farm to Bath philosophy, while Ojai's mountains, citrus groves, herbal traditions, and maker culture continue to inspire the blends we create.

Today, Bogue Milk Soap remains a small, independent family business. Our story is not simply about making soap for more than five decades; it's about carrying a craft forward, allowing each generation to learn from the last while adding new ideas of its own.

Meet the Bogue Family

Today, Susan and Adam Bogue carry the family tradition forward, combining decades of hands-on experience in botanical formulation, ingredient sourcing, product development, and small-batch craftsmanship. Together, they continue to evolve Bogue Milk Soap while staying connected to the Ojai roots and family philosophy that started it all.

From the original cold process goat milk soap to today's BESPOKE, WELLNESS, and Valley of the Moon blends, each generation has helped shape what Bogue has become—a living family craft, made in Ojai and passed from one generation to the next.

Susan Bogue making Natural soap at shop

Meet Susan Bogue

Susan Bogue is the founder, original soapmaker, and creative force behind Bogue Milk Soap.

Her journey began in Upper Ojai during the early 1970s, when she and her mother, Helen Bogue, explored traditional crafts, handmade goods, and botanical products inspired by the natural beauty of the Ojai Valley. Together they opened Dos Manos ("Two Hands"), an artisan shop that fostered by the local makers and craftspeople.

It was during this time that Susan first began making handmade soap. Surrounded by native botanicals, gardens, and the agricultural traditions of the valley, she became fascinated by the combination of creativity, chemistry, and craftsmanship that soapmaking required. What began as experimentation soon became a lifelong passion.

While building a successful career in sales, marketing, and business development, Susan continued refining her soap recipes, studying ingredients, and developing new formulations. Over time, her handcrafted soaps began finding their way into specialty retailers and then Whole Foods Markets.

For Susan, soapmaking has always been about more than cleansing. It is the intersection of botanical knowledge, artisan craftsmanship, and daily ritual.

As Adam grew up around the soaps, workshops, and artisan traditions that shaped the family business, a second generation became a third. Together, Susan and Adam continue the work that began with Helen, carrying forward a tradition rooted in Ojai, craftsmanship, and products made with intention.

Adam Newton-Bogue in soap hop with cut soap

Meet Adam Newton-Bogue

Adam Newton-Bogue represents the third generation of the Bogue family tradition of craftsmanship, entrepreneurship, and creating products with purpose.

Raised between Ojai, California and the East Coast, Adam grew up surrounded by farmers, bakers, restaurateurs, artists, and makers. As a child in Ojai his grandmother Helen Bogue and mother Susan Bogue opened a handmade artisan shop "Dos Manos", helping inspire a lifelong appreciation for thoughtfully made products and the people behind them.

Throughout his career, Adam has worked closely with chefs, farmers, designers, artisans, and producers, always drawn to those whose passion matches their talent. After building successful hospitality concepts in New York City, including the iconic CAFETERIA restaurant, he became increasingly focused on ingredient sourcing & sustainability during the emerging farm-to-table movement. Those experiences would later influence Bogue Milk Soap's approach to botanical ingredients, artisan production & what Adam often describes as "I went from farm to table, to farm to bath."

Today, Adam's philosophy remains simple: start with exceptional ingredients, respect the processes behind them, and create products that are refined, artisanal, mindful, and effective.

Rooted in Ojai and inspired by generations of makers, Bogue Milk Soap reflects a commitment to craftsmanship, botanical traditions & daily ritual with products designed to support the wellbeing of both people and planet.

Fresh raw goat milk into organic plant oils in soap shop

How it's Made

Our family still makes Bogue goat milk soap in small batches, carrying forward the traditional cold process craft that began in Ojai in 1973. Fresh goat milk is blended with our signature combination of plant-based oils and butters, then thoughtfully formulated with botanicals, mineral clays, and pure essential oils according to each blend.

Every batch is mixed and poured with care, then slowly cured to create a firm, long-lasting bar with the rich, creamy lather that has defined Bogue Milk Soap for generations.

SHOP GOAT MILK SOAP

FAQ

When was Bogue Milk Soap founded?

Bogue Milk Soap traces its beginnings to Ojai, California, in 1973, when Grandma Helen Bogue opened Dos Manos, an all-handmade shop inspired by the creative and independent spirit of the Ojai Valley. Goat milk soap was first created for the shop and became the foundation of a family soapmaking tradition that continues today.

Is Bogue Milk Soap still a family-owned business?

Yes. Bogue Milk Soap remains a small, independent family business with three generations connected to its history and craft. Today, Susan and Adam Bogue carry the tradition forward, combining hands-on soapmaking with decades of experience in botanical formulation, ingredient sourcing, product development, and small-batch production.

Is Bogue Milk Soap still made in Ojai, California?

Yes. Bogue Milk Soap continues to make its handcrafted goat milk soap and botanical personal care products in Ojai, California. The valley's mountains, citrus groves, native botanicals, wellness traditions, and community of artists and makers have influenced both the character of the company and many of the blends developed over the years.

How did Bogue Milk Soap get started?

The story began with handmade goods and a bar of soap. When Grandma Helen Bogue opened Dos Manos in Ojai in 1973, goat milk soap became one of the products created for the shop. What started as a local handmade craft gradually grew into a wider collection of goat milk soaps and, eventually, botanical bath, body, shaving, hair care, and aromatherapy products.

What does three generations of soapmaking mean at Bogue Milk Soap?

For Bogue, three generations represents a craft passed forward rather than a formula frozen in time. Each generation has learned from the one before it while contributing new botanical ingredients, essential oil blends, product ideas, and ways of working. The original goat milk soap remains at the center, while decades of hands-on development have led to the BESPOKE, WELLNESS, and Valley of the Moon collections found throughout Bogue today.

What is the connection between Bogue Milk Soap and Ojai?

Ojai is more than the location of the Bogue workshop—it is part of the company's identity. The valley's agricultural history, citrus groves, surrounding mountains, herbal traditions, creative community, and long association with wellness have provided inspiration for many Bogue products and botanical blends. Names and stories throughout the collection reflect places, landscapes, and rituals connected to life in the Ojai Valley.

What was the first Bogue Milk Soap product?

Handcrafted goat milk soap is where the Bogue story began and remains the foundation of the company. Over time, the original soapmaking tradition expanded into moisturizing, exfoliating, BESPOKE, and WELLNESS soaps, along with signature shaving soaps and a broader range of botanical bath, body, hair care, and aromatherapy products.

How has Bogue Milk Soap changed since 1973?

Bogue has grown from its roots in an Ojai handmade shop into a broader botanical bath, body, and wellness company, but the approach remains intentionally small-scale. New products and signature essential oil blends have been developed over the decades, while small-batch craftsmanship, botanical ingredients, and the family's connection to Ojai continue to guide the brand.

When did Bogue Milk Soap begin selling beyond Ojai?

While Bogue's roots are local to Ojai, the company's handcrafted products gradually reached a wider audience. A significant chapter came in 2009, when Bogue's signature goat milk shaving soap kits were first carried by Whole Foods Market, introducing the family's approach to traditional wet shaving and botanical soapmaking to customers beyond the Ojai Valley.

What does Farm to Bath mean in the Bogue story?

Farm to Bath describes the philosophy that has grown alongside the Bogue family craft: staying connected to the origins of ingredients and thoughtfully transforming goat milk, plant-based oils and butters, botanicals, mineral clays, and pure essential oils into products for everyday rituals. It connects the company's soapmaking roots with the broader botanical personal care products Bogue creates today.

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