Peaches & Clean provides natural and vegan soaps, skin care and body products that are handmade with love by Katrina Snowden. We chatted to Katrina about how Peaches & Clean came to life, the satisfaction she gets from helping people with skin conditions, and her advice for aspiring creatives.
Photo by Karl Young
Official job title: Owner/creator of Peaches & Clean.
What inspired you to launch Peaches & Clean?
I was a long time eczema sufferer, and decided to make my own soap. It worked, and to my amazement other people wanted to use my soap as well. It all grew from there. That was ten years ago, but Peaches & Clean only came to life when I was given the opportunity to be involved in the Many project in Fremantle.
Tell us about your career background and how you’ve come to where you are now:
A lot of what I do is self taught, but I have studied aromatherapy and herbal medicine. At the moment I am studying to become a cosmetic chemist.
Describe your workspace:
My workshop is the in basement of the Many project (old Myer building). It is basically a big concrete room that is now filled with shelves upon shelves of essential oils and raw ingredients, stainless steel benches and soap curing racks. I really love working there.
Photo by Karl Young
What is the best thing about your job?
The best thing about my job is being able to help people with skin conditions that have had no luck in treating them in the past. I do a lot of custom orders, which is always fun.
Take us through a typical day of your work:
A typical day for me starts with a 20L batch of liquid soap, 12kg batch of bar soap and a batch or two of owl soaps. This takes me through until lunchtime. The afternoon is for making skincare, so I make whatever is running out, or if I’m up to date I’ll work on something new.
What music do you listen to whilst you work?
I like to listen to pretty upbeat music when I work and the stereo is always on. Having my workshop down in the basement means I can turn my music up really loud and have a sing and a boogie while I work. It definitely makes me more productive. ‘High’ by Peking Duk is on rotation in the workshop at the moment, as is anything by Bloc Party.
Photo by Jean-Paul Horre
What are you currently working on?
I have just finished perfecting a coffee scrub that I have been working on for months. I’m pretty excited about this one. I am also working on some face products at the moment.
What has been your proudest achievement?
Peaches & Clean as a whole is my proudest achievement for sure. Until now I have done everything else myself, apart from the graphic design. It is extremely rewarding.
Which local artists/musicians/creatives do you admire?
I would have to say Sarah and Ari from Feast Your Eyes. They have so many talents, and are just beautiful people. I have started working on some really huge and exciting changes for Peaches & Clean with these ladies, so stay tuned.
Any advice for those trying to enter into the creative community in Perth?
I think the best thing for me has been to get involved with a creative collective. I have been taught so many things that I no longer need to outsource, like making silicone soap molds. There are always people willing to help and offer advice. I have learnt so many things that would have taken me a lot longer to learn if I was out there alone.
Photo by Jean-Paul Horre
What do you love about Perth?
The weather! And the relaxed vibe. I moved here from Melbourne in 2012, and I just love it here.
What does Perth need?
Nothing comes to mind.
Most frequented coffee spot?
I don’t drink coffee, but I love visiting the Roasting Warehouse in South Fremantle for breakfast.
Best live music venue?
Belvoir Amphitheatre.
Favourite beach?
Trigg.
Up north or down south?
I haven’t explored up north yet, so I have to say down south.
And finally, where can we find your products?
At Common Ground in Fremantle and Northbridge, Nebraska Jones in Denmark, The Angove Collective in North Perth, Perth City Farm market (fortnightly), or online at www.peachesandclean.com.au. Katrina.