Behind the Business: Valerie of Gilded Olive Apothecary
I've always believed the things you reach for every day should feel like they were made for you. It's why I started Luvons, and it's what I recognized in my friend Valerie's work.
Valerie is the founder of Gilded Olive Apothecary, a line of handmade soaps, body care, and soy candles rooted in turning everyday routines into small, considered rituals, with just a hint of Jazz Age charm. The kind of brand you discover and immediately want to tell someone about.
I sat down with Valerie recently to learn more about her story. Here's what she had to say.
Q: What inspired you to start making soap?
A: My grandmother kept a collection of beautiful soaps and perfumes, and I was completely enchanted by them. Arranged neatly on her dresser, they were more like treasures than everyday things.
Years later, I gave soapmaking a try, mostly to see what I could come up with. When friends and customers began telling me how much they loved using it - how soft it left their skin, how different it felt from anything they’d tried - I realized it could become something more than I had originally imagined.
And from the very beginning, I knew it had to be lovely to look at, too… just like my grandmother’s.
Q: What sets your products apart?
A: Everything at Gilded Olive is handcrafted in small batches using high-quality, plant-based ingredients. Beyond that, the heart of the brand lies in its atmosphere - timeless fragrances paired with vintage-inspired design.
Q: Do you have a favorite product?
A: That’s a tough one, it’s so hard to choose! If I had to narrow it down, I’d say my olive oil soap holds a special place in my heart, since it’s where everything began. People are drawn in by the scents, but what keeps them coming back is how the soap leaves their skin feeling - soft and smooth, never dry or tight.
And while I don’t believe in the perfect candle, I think I’ve come very close!
Fragrance has a way of connecting us to memory and emotion - it can instantly shift the entire feel of a moment. I think that’s why my Cuppa Joe and Christmas Past candles are so popular.
Q: What do you hope people feel when using Gilded Olive products?
A: I want them to feel relaxed, cared for, and confident in the products they’ve chosen - something they’ll look forward to using.
We can’t make more time, but we can be more intentional with it. Lighting a candle or treating yourself to a beautiful bar of soap becomes a quiet ritual, one that turns an ordinary moment into something worth savoring.
Already smitten, like I am?
Valerie is offering 20% off sitewide with code FRIEND20 (excludes already discounted items) - available through May 3rd, 2026.
