Vermont Soap

Vermont Soap has been making real soap for over 30 years in Middlebury, long before "clean beauty" was a term and long before the big corporate giants like Clorox and Unilever started buying up natural brands. Founded by Larry Plesent in 1992, the company was born out of a literal allergic reaction to the synthetic detergents and chemical fragrances found in commercial cleaners.

What makes Vermont Soap different is that they’re actually making soap, not "detergent bars." Most mass-market products, even those from brands owned by large conglomerates, use synthetic surfactants like sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). Vermont Soap, on the other hand, uses saponified organic oils and natural essential oils. Their process hasn’t changed even as they’ve grown; they still produce in small, human-scale batches in their Middlebury facility.

Maintaining their independence has allowed them to stay true to their USDA Organic certification—a standard that many competitors struggle to meet while balancing the demands of outside investors. Whether it's their classic bar soaps, their Castile liquid soap, or even their natural pet shampoos, everything is crafted with care from simple, biodegradable ingredients. For anyone looking for a brand that hasn't compromised its values for a buyout, Vermont Soap is a benchmark of integrity.

Products

• Organic Bar Soaps
• Liquid Castile Soap
• Foaming Hand Soaps
• Organic Pet Shampoo
• Natural Household Cleaners

Why We List Them

• Independent and founder-led in Middlebury, VT since 1992.
• USDA Organic certified across major product lines.
• No synthetic surfactants, SLS, or artificial fragrances.
• Fully transparent sourcing and local manufacturing.