Niagara Holiday Market - Niagara Soapworks

The Niagara Holiday Market, which debuted with great success on Black Friday, is the largest European-style holiday market and festival in the United States! Local vendors offering everything from baked goods and wine, to jewelry, knitted hats, scarves, photography, paintings, and artisan soaps give local and area shoppers an opportunity to purchase one of a kind gifts for their loved ones this year, and score some great deals for themselves. The Niagara Market also features, live entertainment, community events, ice-skating and other winter activities with an international flavor until New Years Day.

One local vendor at the Niagara Holday Market and friend of mine is Niagara Soapworks, owned by artists Tina and Andrea Galyn.

Their booth, which has a very Urban Outfitters / Terrain vibe, smells delicious from the moment you walk through the barn door - a grand floral bouquet with a hint of spice, mixed with familiar vanilla and a dash of spring lilac - their all natural soaps are a huge hit at the Niagara Holiday Market, and one of my absolute favorite local products!

The booth has more than just soap, though - with antiques and vintage products for sale right off the wall,  crochet and bejeweled scarves and winter caps, and hand-made jewelry.

Tina and Andrea can whip up great gift boxes or baskets, too, with a vast selection of all natural loofah, sea sponge, or organic washcloths and mitts.

Aren't the vignettes beautiful? I think this Ball Ideal Mason Jar is a hint ... anything from Niagara Soapworks will make an IDEAL gift!

Bejeweled scarves for just $5?! WOW!

Again with the vignettes. Stunning, right? So - let's get right to it though ... I feel like I have to tell you about these all-natural artisan soaps. Made with secret recipes perfected through the thousands of batches they've made, I can tell you that they have organic olive-oil and shea nut butter, making them all organic, vegan, and moisturizing.

Scents are vast ... but include New York Apple, made with real New York State apples, shea nut butter, and vitamin E oil. Andrea tells me that apple pectin is a natural way to help heal damaged skin, and as you know shea nut butter is the best all natural moisturizer!

Gorge Trail, a wonderful woodsy scent with a fresh overtone has real ground almonds and cedar bark to act as a natural exfoliant. This soap is a great option for those of you who love to garden, or know a gardener. Afterall, when you've gotten your hands dirty in the garden - what's better than cleaning up with an all-natural soap?

Mary Magdelene's Soap for Very Dirty Girls is a humorous flavor, a hint of pear with a warm redwood finish, making it the perfect gift. A soft soap to help wash away those dirty sins!

One of my favorites, is Pear and Berry, a beautifully clean smelling soap with a real soothing quality. But my all time favorite, and one that I have several bars of ...

Frasier Fir Soap is made from the natural oils from fir tree needles. I mean - really? Do you know how much work goes into these soaps! Tons, and you can tell from the moment you open the box. Each time I use the soap my hands are fragrant for hours, and the soap acts as a masculine sort of natural air-freshener!

It also comes in liquid soap, along with another one of their best sellers, lavender! And, now - for something that Andrea and Tina have never done before, they are offering 5 bars of their premier and artisan soap to my readers for $30, shipping included! That's $6/bar for soap that others sell for $10.

Here's how my loyal and wonderful readers who aren't anywhere near the Niagara Holiday Market can order the soap:

Simply pick 5 of your favorite scents from the list below, and email me at artie.vanderpool@gmail.com. I will then send you a paypal invoice, and deliver your paid order to Tina and Andrea who will package up your in-stock choices right away! Simple right?

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SCENTS FOR YOUR CHOOSING:

New York Apple - A warm apple fragrance, with natural skin heeling pectin and moisturizing shea nut butter.

Mary Magdalenes Soap for Very Dirty Girls - A pear flavor and hint of redwood, a great "fun" gift for those bad girls on your Christmas list!

Gaia Soap - A wonderful masculine scent, with a sandlewood undertone. Perfect for that boyfriend or husband that needs softer hands!

Clover Soap - A spring fragrance of clover, another option for that man in your life!

Fresh Scent - A clean linen fragrance making it a crowd favorite!

Frankincense & Mihrr - A musky, but familiar scent.

Cucumber Melon - A clean and fresh sweet smelling soap that's sure to please!

Spice Cake - A smell that brings back fond memories of the holidays with a hint of clove and nutmeg.

Gorge Trail - A wonderful exfoliating soap perfect for the gardener in your life!

Fir Tree Soap - My favorite, the smell of Christmas in the palm of your hands!

Indian Champak - A relaxing and meditative scent of Hindu incense.

Lavender Fields - Like a French field of lilac, and a hint of honey.

Dragons Blood -  An Earth-Centered scent from healing Asian tree sap.

Creme Brulee - A hint of sugar cookie in this warm scented, soothing flavor.

Dark Vanilla - A fan favorite, and best seller! The familiar scent of vanilla.

Pear & Berry - A delightful and fresh scent of pear and berry - a nice feminine scent.

Lilac & Lilies - Like getting lost in a field of lilac, this soap is extremely fragrant, and absolutely intoxicating!

Coconut Milk - The softness of coconut, with a hint of floral. Another fan favorite!

So, if you're looking for stocking stuffers, gifts for the girls at the office, that certain something for the friend who has it all, or maybe a little something to treat yourself after gift shopping for everyone else on your list - send me an email with your five favorites and I'll pass the order along.