Natural, Handmade Soaps Made In Lacey: Savvy Fit Soaps

LACEY, NJ — When Forked River resident Thomas Ascough and his wife, Stephanie, started to learn about misinformation in food and wellness about ten years, they became "label readers."

"As someone who did artistic things, including making soap, this became the next thing that I took a microscope to," Ascough told Patch. And he didn't like what he saw.

"I was blown away by the careless nature that companies had in providing something that their consumers came to trust," he said.

Having skin cancer in the family, he turned to natural products, but found that even those had fake smells, harsh detergents and fake colorants.

Ascough, a wellness coach, began offering soaps along with what else he offered in health and nutrition. And thus, Savvy Fit Soaps was born.

Savvy Fit Soaps is a Forked River-based company that offers products that are "Really Friggin' Natural," as the company's motto says. Along with the soaps, Ascough offers lotions and deodorants as well. "Our customers know that anything we will give them to put on their body is only the best oils, butters, essential oils, and exfoliants on earth," he said.

Savvy Fit Soaps has been around since 2017, but Ascough said they really began taking it seriously in 2019 as demand rose, though the company did not even have a name yet.

"People were wanting more and more of our nameless brand and it felt amazing," Ascough said. He came up with Savvy Fit Soaps as a name - Savvy, for his and wife's first daughter Savannah. Fit - for fit skin. And soaps - for the obvious.

The products are made for the whole family and are even gentle enough to be used on babies, Ascough said. "Every smell is therapeutic as well as cleansing in the finest ways."

These products do more than just make the body clean, though. Ascough says they make a difference in the community.

"Personally, I feel like our Savvy Fit Soaps are making a real difference in people's lives," he said. "Every time someone who uses detergent style soap on their skin, moves themselves over to our brand, I feel like I made the world better."

As a father of three, it's extra special when customers have kids who love the products, he said.

The company is also directly involved in the community.

"Our soap savers (thousands per month) are labeled by people with disabilities at The Arc," Ascough said. "This work allows these men and women to make an income that they feel great about, so they can support themselves."

Savvy Fit Soaps also works with more than 100 schools, clubs, teams and organizations each year to offer its products for fundraising.

"We give all of the profit of these campaigns to help them make a difference. It's pretty cool," Ascough said.

While you can find Savvy Fit Soaps at events across the state and locally like the Lacey Farmers Market and Lacey Day, the best way to purchase them is from their website. Shipping is free over $20 and you can get a discount by entering the code LACEY.