🌿Don’t Be Rash: Made with Love (and a Little Sass)

Some of the things I make come from grief. Others come from memory.
This one? This one came from watching my grandkids come in from playing outside, scratching like crazy and looking miserable.

Every summer, it’s the same story—red, irritated skin from something they brushed up against while doing what kids do best: running wild and free. I wanted to give them something made with care—gentle, thoughtful, and cooling. Something that felt good on their skin and gave them a little comfort without the harsh stuff.

One day, after watching them scratch and squirm for the third time that week, I decided to do what I do best—head to the soap room and start mixing.

That’s how Don’t Be Rash was born.

A cold process soap with a crisp, clean scent—tea tree and peppermint to wake things up—and a blend of calamine, clay, oats, and butters that just feels good when your skin’s had a day.

Now?
They ask for it by name.
Whenever that familiar itch creeps in, they say, “Where’s that soap you made?”

It’s not a treatment. It’s not medicine.
It’s just made for the moments when skin feels off and a little extra care goes a long way.

And let’s be honest… sometimes it’s not just the kids who need it.
This bar’s for anyone who knows the outdoors are great—until they’re not.

Because comfort doesn’t have to be complicated.
Sometimes it starts with a good bar of soap—and someone who made it for you.

Because the ones we love are strong motivators,

Angie

🔥🪽Judy’s Light: For the ones we still carry, even when they’re gone.

I didn’t set out to make a memorial candle. I wasn’t trying to create something poetic or marketable that day—I just missed my best friend.

Judy and I were best friends for over 52 years. That’s not just a chapter—that’s a whole book. A lifetime of inside jokes, hard conversations, quiet support, and love that didn’t need explaining. When she passed, the silence e left behind was deafening.

One day, in the middle of missing her, I poured a candle. I didn’t think. I didn’t plan. I just needed to make something—something real. And without even meaning to, I labeled it: Judy’s Light.

It was my way of saying,
“You’re still here. I still see you.”

This candle isn’t just wax and scent. It’s memory.
It’s grief in a softer form.
It’s love that lingers.

And if you’ve ever loved someone so long they became part of your foundation—and then lost them—you know exactly what this candle means.

May her light show you the way when you are lost on your path.
May her flame burn bright for those who journey with you.
— Judy’s Light label

If this candle finds its way into your hands, I hope it brings you comfort. Or clarity. Or just a moment of stillness.
Because sometimes, a flame is all we have left—and all we need to keep going.

If you carry the memory of someone whose light still lingers, I can help you honor them.
A custom label, just for your loved one.
A scent that speaks their name without a word.
Together, we’ll create something that helps their light shine on.

From my heart to yours,

Angie

Why I Create the Way I Do

Some things are easier to say with scent than with words.

I didn’t start this business because I had it all figured out. I started it because my hands needed something to do when my heart was too heavy. Every candle I pour and every bar of soap I make comes from that place—a place of grief, memory, and healing.

This blog, Behind the Scents, is where I share the stories behind what I create. Not just how I make something, but why I made it in the first place.

Because scent carries memory.
Lavender smells like calm and care.
Orange sherbet brings back sticky fingers and barefoot summers.
And sometimes, a quiet candle says “I miss you” louder than words ever could.

I make handmade soaps and candles that are meant to comfort, to ground, to remind you that you’re not alone. Whether you’re buying for yourself or someone who needs a little gentleness, I hope you feel that intention in every detail.

Handmade should mean more than handcrafted.
It should mean heart-led.

Thanks for being here—for reading, for supporting, and for letting what I make become part of your story too.

Angie

Healing in small batches.

🕯️ Why I Started Just Made Scents

Posted in Behind the Scents | By Angie Nichols

“Take time for you. You’re worth it. Indulge, even if it’s just a little.
May your life burn as bright as a flame.
May your flame ignite a light in others.”
— Angie Nichols, Owner of Just Made Scents

Some stories begin with joy. Mine began with grief.

When I lost my mother to a rare neurological virus, I felt untethered. The world kept spinning, but I stood still—flooded with silence, questions, and a pain I didn’t know how to carry. In that quiet, I found myself reaching for something—anything—to bring a sense of comfort.

I began to create.

At first, it was small. A candle here. A batch of soap there. My hands found a rhythm before my heart found peace. But little by little, I realized what I was making wasn't just for me—it was for others too. For anyone going through something heavy. For anyone needing a reminder to breathe, pause, and feel held.

That’s how Just Made Scents was born.

Every scent I blend, every balm I pour, every bar of soap I cure is crafted with intention. To offer comfort. To spark warmth. To remind you of your own light.

This brand isn’t just about products. It’s about gentleness—for others, and for yourself. It’s about taking time to slow down, smell something beautiful, and remember that healing can happen in small batches, too.

Thank you for being here. For reading this. For supporting handmade healing.
You deserve care. And I’m honored to make something that might hold a little piece of that for you.

With love,
– Angie

Blog Post Title One

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Two

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Three

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Blog Post Title Four

It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more. Or maybe you have a creative project to share with the world. Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.