Our current team
Clemence is the soap maker and owner of Coolin Soaps. She has a Biological Engineering University Degree (2011, France), a B.Sc. in Health Biochemistry (2012, Canada) and a M. Sc. in Immunology (2015, Canada). She worked for 10 years in research laboratories, including 5 years in the two top Research Centres in Quebec, Canada (McGill University Health Centre, CHU Sainte-Justine Research Centre).
After struggling to find truly natural skincare products during her years as a Research Assistant, she decided to use her scientific knowledge to create natural and eco-friendly skincare products that can really be trusted. After falling in love with the irish countryside, she partnered with Beth Lee in 2020 to set up Coolin Soaps in Clonbur, Co. Galway.
Coolin Soaps' founders
Forty-five years ago, Beth Lee’s mother would travel once a month to the Greek nuns for pure olive oil soap. As a nurse, she believed this soap would soothe the irritating eczema Beth suffered as a child. When Beth’s own family was born, there were no Greek nuns in the vicinity, so she learned to make pure olive oil soap to care for her children’s sensitive skin. As the years went on, Beth developed a broad range of soaps and skin care products that were in high demand by family and friends. Upon moving to Ireland, Beth felt called to make earth friendly, gentle soaps, shampoo bars, hand creams, lip balms and cleaning products to share at the local markets. Providing access to these products fulfill her deep commitment to be a material part of reducing the packaging, waste, and harsh chemicals in the home. The popularity of these soaps, shampoo bars and other skincare products developed rapidly. In fact, so rapidly, that when Clémence Guiraut offered to join forces with Beth Lee to form Coolin Soaps, it seemed like match made in heaven!
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Clemence grew up seeing and listening to her mom talking to plants and bees, caring for them and sharing stories of old times when she used to climb trees and smell the beautiful fragrances of linden trees. Skeptical at first, Clemence studied science to understand how the world around her was working in its tiniest details. Full of this theoretical knowledge, she moved from France to discover Canada in 2011. She studied and worked abroad (B.Sc Health’s Biochemistry, M.Sc. Immunology) for 8 years. After working as a Research Assistant in Immunology & Biochemistry in Canada, contributing to people's health from the confined world of research laboratories, she decided to reorient her career and use her scientific background to create soaps truly dedicated to people’s best interest. In the meanwhile, Clemence fell in love with the irish countryside, and finally understood what her Mom was saying. The most beautiful things often are the simplest ones; and we should take care of the nature surrounding us. She believes that facing this climate change, every small planet-friendly step counts. We can be part of the solution, one soap at a time.
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The two women formed in February 2020 the unbeatable team that developed soaps, shampoo bars and other planet friendly skin care products in the beautiful West of Ireland at the foot of Lough Coolin, for your enjoyment. Sláinte!