Vermont Soap

Vermont Soap makes certified organic bar soaps, liquid castile soaps, and personal care products in Middlebury, Vermont. Larry Plesent founded the company in 1992 after struggling to find soap that didn't irritate his own skin. A self-taught formulator with a background in organic agriculture, Plesent started cooking soap in small batches and selling at farmers' markets. Thirty-plus years later, Vermont Soap still operates out of Middlebury, still makes everything on-site, and still runs on the same basic principle: if you wouldn't eat the ingredients, maybe don't rub them on your body.

That philosophy drives the formulation. Vermont Soap products are built on organic plant oils — olive, coconut, jojoba — saponified using old-process methods without synthetic detergents, fragrances, or preservatives. They're USDA Certified Organic, which in the soap world is a harder standard to meet than most people realize. The USDA organic seal on a personal care product means the actual ingredients meet food-grade organic certification — not just that the company paid for a "natural" label.

Their castile liquid soaps have become a staple for people trying to reduce chemical exposure in their homes. One bottle works as hand soap, body wash, dish soap, and all-purpose cleaner. It's the kind of product simplicity that appeals to anyone tired of buying twelve different bottles of glorified detergent.

On the bar soap side, Vermont Soap cold-processes their bars in small batches, curing them for weeks before cutting and packaging. The texture is different from commercial soap — less uniform, slightly rougher, and far more moisturizing because the glycerin (a natural byproduct of saponification) stays in the bar instead of being stripped out and sold separately, which is standard practice for large manufacturers.

Vermont Soap is independently owned. Larry Plesent still runs formulation and operations. There's no parent company, no outside investors, and no plans to sell. The team in Middlebury is small, the approach is unglamorous, and the product is honest.

Products

• USDA Certified Organic bar soaps (unscented and essential oil varieties)
• Organic liquid castile soaps
• Pet shampoo bars
• Organic body washes and lotions
• All-purpose liquid cleaning concentrates
• Travel and sample sizes

Why We List Them

• Independently owned and founder-led since 1992
• USDA Certified Organic (higher standard than "natural")
• Traditional cold-process soapmaking in small batches
• Manufactures entirely in Vermont
• No corporate backing or private equity involvement