Proudly Made in the USA: Behind the Scenes at Bend Soap Company

With the Fourth of July just around the corner, there’s no better time to celebrate the things that make America special. For us, that means faith, family, hard work, and making something worth being proud of.

We’ve always been a little bit old-fashioned in the best way: handcrafted products, clean ingredients, and real people behind every bar of soap. 

With so many brands outsourcing production or cutting corners, we wanted to give you a peek behind the curtain and show you what "Made in the USA" actually looks like at Bend Soap. Because for us, it’s not just a label—it’s a commitment we live out every single day.

It All Started with a Boy and a Bar of Soap…

If you’ve been here for a while, you know we didn’t start out as a skincare company. We were just parents trying to help our son with his eczema. We tried everything—and we mean everything—but nothing seemed to work. Finally, we turned to something a little unconventional: goat milk. The same kind we drank every day from our very own goats.

Dwight whipped up the first batch of soap in our kitchen using just goat milk, nourishing oils, and nutrient-rich ingredients. No junk or fillers, just the good stuff. And wouldn’t you know… it worked. Our son’s skin finally began to heal, and pretty soon, we had friends, neighbors, and complete strangers asking for bars of their own. 

That first batch became what’s now our Unscented Goat Milk Soap—the bar that started it all and is still a customer favorite today. Dwight poured his heart into Bend Soap Company, and even though he tragically passed away earlier this year, we carry his legacy forward every day. 

We’re still family-run, mission-driven, and making soap with the kind of integrity he believed in from the start. Today, we produce over 700,000 bars of soap per year. Each one is handcrafted, cut, and packaged by real people who care deeply about what you put on your skin.

Why Small Farms Still Matter in 2025

Back when we were just getting started, all our milk came from our own herd of goats. But as demand grew, it became pretty clear we couldn’t do this alone. We had two choices: scale fast and cut corners, or partner with like-minded small farmers who shared our values.

Can you guess which one we picked? To this day, we’ve worked with more than 15 small, family-run dairy farms. They’re real people who care deeply for their animals and the quality of the milk they provide. 

That same milk goes into every product we make, from our Goat Milk Lotions to our Goat Milk Baths. It’s not the easiest way to source ingredients from an operational perspective, but it’s the right way. And that’s what matters to us.

This model also gives us something most companies don’t have: flexibility. When one farm needs time to rest or rotate its herd, we can work with another. That means consistent quality, better animal care, and a supply chain that makes sense from start to finish.

Dwight always believed in doing things the right way, not the fast way. That belief still guides every part of our process today, from the farms we partner with to the way we handcraft and package every bar of soap in our Tennessee warehouse. 

“Wait, aren’t you located in Bend, Oregon? Isn’t that what inspired your brand name?!” We’re so glad you asked! Here’s what happened… 

How a Big Move Helped Us Stay True to Our Roots

After years of operating out of Bend, we had a big decision to make. Most of our customers were thousands of miles away, and shipping from the Pacific Northwest was taking longer and racking up costs in a way that didn’t sit right with us. So we made a bold move—literally.

In 2022, we moved our warehouse to Lawrenceburg, Tennessee. Leaving our original storefront and farm behind was bittersweet, but this shift meant faster shipping, better access to supplies, and more room to grow. It also brought us closer to the bulk of our customers, which meant it would be easier to get products into (and onto) your hands faster. It was a win-win! 

The best part? Tennessee welcomed us with open arms. Now we’ve got plenty of room to grow, faster shipping for you, and the freedom to keep making the kind of nourishing, no-junk skincare so many of you have come to love. 

Come See How Your Favorite Skincare Products Are Made

Not to brag, but our warehouse is kind of amazing—and we love showing it off. If you’re ever in Southern Tennessee, come take a tour and see how your favorite soap bars, lotions, and lip butters get made.

You’ll see the giant walk-in freezers where we store our goat milk, peek into the soap room where everything’s mixed and poured, and stroll through curing racks stacked high with freshly cut bars. 

Then, you’ll get to watch our team package, label, and prep orders with the kind of attention to detail you just don’t find in mass production. Even our scrap pieces don’t go to waste. We collect and sell them at a discount, so nothing gets tossed and everything finds a home.

To schedule a tour, email us at info@bendsoap.com or give us a call at (541) 241-6185. We’ll even send you home with a little gift to thank you for stopping by to see us.

Who’s Actually Making Your Products? We Are.

If there’s one thing you should know about our production, it’s that you won’t find giant machines or robotic arms doing the work. Just a dedicated crew of around 20 amazing people who genuinely love what they do.

Whether we’re hand-pouring lip butters or answering customer emails, every product is made, packed, and shipped by someone who cares.

We write real thank-you notes, double-check your orders, and pack everything with human hands—not robots. During the holidays, we bring on a few extra folks to help keep things moving, but the core of our team stays steady and committed all year long.

What “Made in the USA” Means to Bend Soap

We don’t outsource, white-label, or cut corners. Every bar of soap is poured, cut, cured, and packaged right here in the USA. That means we know exactly what’s going into your soap—and who’s making it. We trace our ingredients back to real farms and blend every batch with care. 

Being made in the USA lets us hold ourselves to a higher standard than the skincare brands that outsource. It helps us support local jobs, stay true to our roots, and keep delivering the kind of quality your skin deserves. That’s the Bend Soap difference.

American-Made & Sensitive Skin-Approved

Could we use cheaper ingredients (like powdered milk instead of fresh goat milk) or switch to automated machines? Sure, but that’s not us. We’re here to make products that actually work for your skin, and that starts with intention. From the beginning, our mission has been about healing, not shortcuts or empty claims.

We’re proud to be made in the USA, but even prouder to carry on the legacy Dwight began all those years ago. His vision, values, and heart are woven into every bar of soap we make and every customer we’ve helped feel more confident in their skin. Bend Soap continues to be fueled by the same heart, grit, and love for people that he poured into it from day one.

The next time you grab a bar of goat milk soap or slather on your favorite lotion, just know that you’re supporting something small, genuine, and USA-made. Thanks for being here and for making all of this possible. We couldn’t do it without you. 

Curious to learn more about how we do things? Leave a comment, we’d love to hear from you. If you’re ever in Tennessee, come say hi and take a tour—and keep an eye out for our upcoming storefront in downtown Lawrenceburg. We can't wait to meet more of you soon!