Meet the Maker: The Story Behind Outback Body Products

 

People often ask me how Outback Body Products started, and the truth is—it began long before I ever made my first bar of soap.

I was born and raised about 20 miles east of Homer, Alaska, in a homesteading family. Growing up there teaches you a lot early in life. Hard work wasn't optional, and you learned to appreciate what you had and care for it. I was also raised with the belief that we are stewards of the land God gave us to look after.

Those values stayed with me and continue to shape the way I approach life and business today.

But alongside the hard work, there was creativity.

My mother gave me the artistic side of who I am. She and my grandmother both created absolutely beautiful things over the years—from stained glass and hand-thrown pottery to cakes, woodworking and countless other creative projects. Making things with your hands wasn't unusual in our family; creating was simply part of life.

Then there was my dad.

He had what I lovingly call a "Git Er Done" attitude. No fuss, no overthinking—just work hard, figure it out and get on with it. Looking back now, I can see how much that mindset shaped me and pushed me to become who I am today.

Somewhere between creativity and determination, Outback Body Products probably started taking shape long before I realized it.

Years later, I found myself wanting to understand more about the products my family used every day. I wanted to know exactly what ingredients we were putting on our bodies and have more control over what we used in our home.

That curiosity led me to soap making.

What began as a hobby quickly became a passion.

I discovered that making soap wasn't just about creating something beautiful—it was about learning, experimenting and understanding ingredients in a completely different way.

I began by learning through careful research, testing and hands-on formulation. That interest grew into formal study with Formula Botanica, where I am now nearing completion of the Diploma in Organic Skincare Formulation. During my studies, I have earned Distinctions in Formulation Skills and Cosmetic Compliance, and I am preparing to submit my final formulation for grading.

That continued learning strengthens the care behind every Outback Body Products creation, with quality, performance and thoughtful formulation remaining at the heart of what I make.

        And through all of it, my husband has been there cheering on my "I bet I can make that" projects for the past 16½ years of marriage. Whether the idea involved soap, body products or one of my many creative rabbit holes, he's always supported the next experiment.

Today Outback Body Products has become more than soap.

It's creativity, family, hard work, curiosity and a little piece of the journey that brought me from the Alaskan homesteading life I grew up with to creating handcrafted products here in Queensland.

And every order, market visit and message genuinely means a lot.

Thank you for supporting a small Queensland business and the family behind it.

— Sara