Ah, my dear ones, gather close and let me share with you a story. It is a story of inspiration, tradition, and the journey that led to the creation of one of our beloved RavenSong soaps. You see, finding inspiration for the soaps we create has never been a struggle for me. No, the Creator has blessed me with an overflowing well of ideas. When I first began this path, I couldn’t make the soaps quickly enough to keep pace with the designs, scents, and stories swirling in my mind. From the celebrated Potlatch Series to the Full Moon Series, and even our core line, the creativity keeps flowing like a river, strong and constant.

Among the many soaps we’ve brought to life, one stands out—a cherished creation called “Basket of Berries.” Like many of our artisan bars, it has transformed over time, evolving from its earliest beginnings into something deeply meaningful and rooted in memory.

You see, scents are powerful guides. They transport us through time, connecting us to places, people, and moments long past. For me, the scent of berries has always held this magic. It takes me back to my childhood on Haida Gwaii, in the village of Daajing Giids, where the air was filled with the salt of the sea and the songs of the ravens. I remember those long summer days, heading out with my cousins to gather berries. Nuni—our grandmother—would encourage us, saying, “If you pick enough, I’ll bake you a pie.”

With that promise, we’d scatter across the forest, baskets in hand, plucking salal berries, blackberries, and wild raspberries. Nuni herself would harvest rhubarb from her garden to add to the bounty. When we returned, sticky and grinning, she would transform those berries into the most wonderful pies and crisps. Oh, the smell of them baking in her kitchen—it was the scent of joy, of family, of home.

 

Years later, as I began my soapmaking journey, the memory of those days stayed with me. I wanted to capture that essence—the feeling of childhood summers and the taste of Nuni’s berry pies. But it was not an easy task. Every berry fragrance I encountered was close, but not quite right. Some were too sweet, others too heavy with strawberries. None of them transported me back to those sacred moments.

So, I began blending my own. I added green undertones to mimic the leaves and the earth beneath our feet. I tempered the sweetness with the tart crispness of rhubarb. Slowly, patiently, the fragrance began to take shape, until one day it was perfect. It was as if Nuni herself had whispered the recipe into my heart.

“Basket of Berries” began as a simple Black Raspberry with notes of Vanilla, then transformed into other varieties, before settling into what it is today. Now, when I hold it in my hands, I feel the laughter of my cousins, the warmth of Nuni’s smile, and the timeless beauty of our homeland. Each bar carries that memory, a gift from my heart to yours.

So, dear ones, when you hold “Basket of Berries,” know that it is more than soap. It is a celebration of family, of culture, and of the stories that shape us. It is a connection to the land,  the seasons, and the love that binds us together. May its scent bring you the same joy and warmth it has always brought to me. As adults, you will find us still scarttering across the forests in Haida Gwaii.