Meet the Moores, a couple whose salsa dancing passion led to a new career - making soaps

THAT'S the trouble with salsa dancing, you never know where it could lead. For Kate and Phil Moores, it led to a whole new career, a burgeoning business, and an end to a 60-mile daily commute. Oh yes, and the loss of their dining room. And they couldn't be happier.

Ten years ago, craving the country life, they had moved from Leeds to a cottage in the pretty village of West Tanfield, near Ripon, even though it meant a 30-mile drive there and back to their jobs at the British Library at Wetherby.

"It was worth it to live here," says Kate. But gradually they wanted something more.

"We wanted to spend more time here," says Phil. "People talk a lot about work- life balance, but we wanted a more integrated life and, ideally, a chance to do something more creative."

They toyed with a number of ideas including making hand-made books - they have made some exquisite books. "But that was always going to be very specialised."

Meanwhile, they took up salsa dancing, so much so that they went off for weekends and workshops. And at the end of a day's hard dancing, Kate always put her own blend of essential oils in the bath to ease the aches and pains.

"I always liked to use the most natural products I could find. And that's when it occurred to us to make soap. There are a number of artisan soap makers, but we wanted ours to be absolutely natural - no additives, artificial scents or colours."

So natural are they, that the ingredients list reads more like a cookery recipe - olive oil, orange, lemon, lime, black pepper and paprika. And they talk about it as lovingly as if it were food. But it is made in pretty much the traditional way that soap has been made for centuries.

"We start with olive oil, coconut oil and palm oils. We use a mixture because that's how we get the best balance of gentleness and lather without the soap going to mush. Then we add essential oils for the scent. While it's still liquid we add spices, such as the cinnamon we use in the Brass Monkey soap or paprika, which makes it a lovely salmon pink colour."

It's all made in small batches in what was the dining room, but now renamed "The Bubble Room", which is overflowing with bath sherberts, lip balms and soaps - and smells delicious.

"After two days the soap has the consistency of fudge and then we leave it for four weeks or so to air dry or cure, " says Phil.

The packaging is as simple as you can get - a paper label wrapped round the middle. "Simple, because we want you to pay for the soap not the packaging and also because it means you can really smell the soap before you buy it, know what you're getting, " says Kate.

The soaps have lovely names "That's part of the fun, thinking them up", including Brass Monkey, Oomilegs, "just the thing to help you unwind after a day gardening, hill walking or salsa dancing", or Oooaaaah, "It's the sound you make when you get into a nice relaxing bath at the end of a busy day," says Kate.

They also make bath sherbets - they're a bit like bath bombs, but more measurable and smell delicious. They come with a dinky little wooden scoop with which to measure them out and names like Ommmmmm or Tchilloot.

Moisture melts are tiny sweet-shaped solid moisturisers made from cocoa butter and sweet almond oil - lovely presents. You can use them straight on your skin, or melt them in the bath. And finally, their lip balms are made from beeswax and sunflower oil with added ingredients.

"The beeswax for Honey Pie comes from Yorkshire, of course, and Choco Loco has real chocolate in it - delicious chocolate from Angel Chocolates in Reeth."

The products are all sold in local small shops and businesses and at fairs and shows. "There's a very nice community spirit among the small businesses and so many people have been very helpful and encouraging to us." Including the Fat Sheep in Reeth, Black Sheep Brewery in Masham, The Good Life in Hawes and the Forbidden Corner near Middleham, as well as shops throughout the country, including London.

They also sell via their website on the internet.

"Mainly people who've brought from us at shows and who want to order more, but we're beginning to get new customers and it's building steadily."

So much so, that production has already overflowed from the dining room and kitchen and is threatening to take over the cottage. Kate and Phil have plans for expansions, but not far away and definitely not on an industrial estate.

"No, this is a proper cottage industry in a proper cottage. And that's the way we like it."

Oakwood Aromatics, www.oakwood-aromatics.com

Bonmarche-ing into Acomb

STYLE queens have plenty to look forward to with the opening of a new shop in Acomb, near York, next Thursday. Bonmarche's new store in Front Street will not only bring new jobs to the town but also a lot of choice for mature, fashion-conscious women in the region.

The new shop, managed by James Price, will kick off trading with Bonmarche's new exciting autum/winter 2007 collection.

The new fashion season is defined by strong, sexy silhouettes, mid-length embellished skirts, giant knitted shapes and elegant short and belted jackets, as seen on the catwalk. Taking inspiration from the top designer houses, the value fashion store has taken these top trends and made them wearable for everyday to suit women of all shapes.

Presenting a palette of chocolate, cream and taupe highlighted with mint and raspberry hues, the new look is made up of printed tunics and jersey dresses, knitted shrugs and cardigans layered with quintessentially English tweed jackets. Bell sleeves, cowl necks and waterfall fronts make for statement knitwear, while seersucker textures and lace trim details add to the special feel of this style.

Androgynous styles stay strong for the coming season, and Bonmarche offers a striking printed black waistcoat and belt trousers for shoppers to adopt this look. Pinstripes and multi-fabric shirts are contrasted with fitted knitwear in greys and creams, topped with a trendy trilby or baker boy hat to compete the look.

Bags for this season are minimal and structured, using high quality leather with contrast-coloured stitching details.

Patent trims are a key trend and they have been used to frame printed patterns and create contrasting texture. In short, these bags look cool and carefree, while being functional and able to take the knocks and bangs of everyday life.

* For more information, visit www.bonmarche.co.uk