Designed for Suds: 12 Months of Country Clean
By Diana Cook
I just received my “A Year in the Country” soap collection from those fabulous Beekman Boys. Twelve in all, each are designed to represent one month of the year by recreating seasonal fragrances from spring grass, to summer blossoms, to fresh garden vegetables, to autumn leaves, to winters by the fire and holiday baking.
And while the boys themselves bicker a bit too much for me, I do like the fact that their soaps are handmade from pure goat milk using non-chemical methods. The goats graze freely on the Beekman farm and drink the waters that once made Sharon Springs one of the most famous spa destinations in the world. The individually wrapped bars come in the following inspired scents:
JANUARY – Come along with us on a crisp, snowy day in the pine forest.
FEBRUARY – Romance blossoms with lots of Red Hots and warming Patchouli.
MARCH – The earth returns with the cleansing of clay and the smell of new grass.
APRIL – Wildflowers are the first brave blossoms of springtime.
MAY – Green, Green, Green. Spring is fully here, with every fresh scent imaginable.
JUNE – Oranges up north? No, but the ancient Mock-Orange hedgerow is in full bloom at the farm.
JULY – A walk through the herb garden, with thyme, mint, and more tasty summer favorites.
AUGUST – A lavender bath is sometimes essential on a hot summer night after chores.
SEPTEMBER – The garden in fall: tomato leaves, rosemary, and other woody scents.
OCTOBER – Apple wood in the fireplace and walks through autumn leaves.
NOVEMBER – It’s time for sitting by the kitchen hearth and enjoying the smell of baking spices.
DECEMBER – Cutting down pine boughs for garland and returning home to warm cookies
