I first encountered The Handmade Soap Co during my honeymoon in 2018. My wife and I were staying at a country house hotel in Kilkenny. In our ensuite bathroom, a small bar of soap caught me by surprise. The Lemongrass and Cedarwood scent inspired a moment of mindfulness—so much so that I looked forward to washing my hands every day.
To this day, the Lemongrass and Cedarwood fragrance from The Handmade Soap Co is a staple in my home. I see the brand daily on the pillow mist in our bedroom or the diffuser in our bathroom. It's a brand I've grown to love.
Over the years, I've spent countless hours studying their logo: a script wordmark with a bath illustration placed above to form a circular shape. As charming as the logo was, I noticed that some of its delightful details would get lost at small sizes, and flourishes would overstretch to fill negative space in the circular shape.
I believed some thoughtful refinements would enhance the logo and strengthen its character. In this situation, I felt less was more, so I removed the bath illustration and any forced flourishes. No longer confined to its invisible dome, the letterforms now have more space to breathe. I added thickness to the bottom of the letters to give the mark weight, while retaining the down-to-earth attitude through script lettering and the curving angle of the words.
I loved the original addition of the heart on the tail of the "S" and reworked it to sit bottom center as a tidy sign-off.
Sketch
This design was my way of showing enthusiasm and love for the brand and the scent that will forever be connected to the memory of my honeymoon.
P.S. My wife and I took as many of the Lemongrass and Cedarwood soaps from the hotel as our conscience would allow.
