An 8-year-old Philadelphia boy's painful eczema flare-ups, which sometimes caused his skin to bleed overnight, have become the unlikely inspiration for a family-run bath and body business. Carolyn Clement and her son, Grayson Clement, founded Soak & Soothe Co. to make handmade products gentle enough for sensitive skin, turning years of difficult bath-time struggles into fragrance-free bath bombs, body butters and oils.
Grayson's eczema once made bathing a struggle, according to PHILADELPHIA.Today, with flare-ups severe enough to leave his skin bleeding by morning. Carolyn Clement said the idea for a gentler alternative came to her while reading her son a bedtime story that happened to include a bath-bomb recipe. That spark led her to ask a simple question, she recalled: “Why don't we try to come up with something that would be gentle, and that he could actually use?”
From Bedtime Story to Bath Bombs
The mother-son pair began making fragrance-free, dye-free bath bombs with coconut oil, according to the same report, aiming for something soft enough for Grayson's skin but still fun enough to get him into the tub. That second part turned out to be Grayson's idea. He suggested tucking a small surprise toy inside each bath bomb, giving the products a playful hook beyond their skin-care purpose.
Carolyn Clement said the payoff has gone beyond just getting her son clean. Finding bath bombs that make Grayson want to bathe and feel comfortable having his skin touched has been wonderful, she said, describing a shift from dreaded bath time to something her son now looks forward to.
Growing From a Kitchen Project Into a Small Business
Soak & Soothe Co. has since expanded well past its original bath bombs. The Philadelphia-based company now offers body butters, oils and self-care gift boxes, per the outlet's reporting, and has launched an online store alongside wholesale offerings for other retailers. The business also introduced monthly subscription boxes, giving regular customers a rotating lineup of products.
The brand has picked up in-person shoppers too, attracting customers at local markets including the Made in Philadelphia Market at City Hall. Carolyn Clement and her son Grayson are behind Soak & Soothe Co., a skincare business.
Why Fragrance-Free Matters for Sensitive Skin
Soak & Soothe Co.'s approach lines up with broader guidance for people managing eczema. The National Eczema Association recommends using a fragrance- and dye-free, gentle cleanser for sensitive skin, and advises moisturizing immediately after bathing or showering to help restore the skin barrier.
Bath bombs can pose risks for sensitive skin. WebMD notes that bath bomb ingredients, even natural ones, can trigger skin sensitivity and cause itching or dryness, and that those with underlying skin conditions like eczema face an increased risk from dyes and fragrances commonly found in commercial bath products.
What Regulators Say About Homemade Cosmetics
Small cosmetic businesses like Soak & Soothe Co. operate under a lighter regulatory touch than many shoppers might assume. According to the FDA, the law does not require cosmetic products and ingredients, with the exception of color additives, to be approved by the agency before they go on the market. Cosmetics must still avoid being adulterated or misbranded, must be safe when used as labeled or customarily used, and must carry proper labeling.
The FDA also does not preapprove cosmetic labeling claims. The agency has confirmed it does not maintain a list of approved or accepted claims for cosmetics, meaning marketing language on gentle or sensitive-skin products is not vetted by regulators before reaching shelves.
Grayson's idea to hide a small toy inside each bath bomb also touches on a separate area of federal oversight. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission notes that toys and games containing a small part, latex balloon, small ball or marble must carry choking-hazard warnings for purchasers when children of certain ages could be at risk. It remains unclear whether Soak & Soothe Co.'s surprise toys fall under those specific definitions.
For now, the Clement family's story remains centered on a simple goal born out of hard nights and bleeding skin: making bath time something Grayson could enjoy rather than endure, one coconut-oil bath bomb at a time.
