The maker behind Diva Mountain
Hi, I’m Susan — the founder, maker, and chief scent-tester behind Diva Mountain Soap and Candle Co.
It really started at my grandmother Rosey’s kitchen table in Oneida, New York. As a little girl, I’d pull up a chair and watch her stir great swirling pots of soap by hand, the whole house wrapped in lavender and woodsmoke. Rosey had a saying — that the little things are the big things: a good bar of soap, a slow morning, a bit of beauty worked into an ordinary day. She lived with a passion for life that was downright contagious, and somehow it all ended up in those bars of soap.
Those afternoons never left me. Years later — in 2014 — I dusted off Rosey’s old recipes, added a chemist’s eye for what actually works, and Diva Mountain was born. Every batch we make still carries a little of her: her hands, her patience, and her love of the good, simple things. What began as a passion is now something I’m proud to share — from my family to yours.
Small-batch, made by hand
Everything we make is crafted in small batches, by hand — every bar cut by hand, every candle poured by hand. No mass production, no shortcuts. Small batches mean we can care about every detail, from the first swirl to the lather to the label.
We work with nature-inspired, skin-loving ingredients — cocoa and shea butters, olive and coconut oils, goat milk, and real botanicals — in scents designed to turn an ordinary shower into a moment of calm. We test everything on our own family and friends first, because we won’t sell anything we wouldn’t happily use ourselves.
These days it’s a family affair. My sister Kathy came aboard, and together we turned the top floor of our home in Troy, New York into a little studio, curing room, and shipping desk. It’s where we make it all — soaps, body creams, bath bombs, candles, even solid shampoo and conditioner bars — one small batch at a time.
Inspired by nature, crafted by hand
That line isn’t just a tagline — it’s how we work. The mountains and woods of upstate New York shape the scents we’re drawn to and the calm we try to bottle. Skincare, to us, should be an experience: a delightful blend of nature-inspired scents, beautiful design, and ingredients you can trust.
Find us at the market
You’ll most often find us at weekend craft shows and markets around upstate New York, where we love meeting the people who use what we make. There’s nothing quite like watching someone find their scent in person. Come say hello — check back to see where we’ll be next, and you can even order online and pick up from us at a show.
A sanctuary awaits
At its heart, Diva Mountain is about small, everyday luxuries — a little sanctuary you can bring home. Thank you for being part of the story.
— Susan
Diva Mountain Soap and Candle Co