Meet Gloria Torres | Student Physician & Soapmaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Gloria Torres and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Gloria, how does your business help the community?
My all-natural, handmade cold process soap business supports a healthier planet by using ethically sourced, sustainable ingredients and avoiding harmful chemicals, such as parabens and phthalates, that pollute waterways and harm skin. Each bar is crafted with care to reduce waste through minimal, eco-friendly packaging. By choosing palm oil free and cruelty free formulations, my business promotes responsible consumerism and environmental awareness while supporting local suppliers. In addition to benefiting the environment, we donate all our soap scraps and some soap bars to Eco Soap Bank, a nonprofit that employs women to recycle leftover soap scrap for children in 30 countries. Furthermore, my soaps nourish the skin with gentle, plant-based ingredients, moisturizing oils, milks & juices, and natural colorants like clays and botanicals, while essential oils offer soothing aromatherapeutic benefits, making each bar a holistic experience for both body and mind.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I’m a fourth-year medical student who began creating handcrafted soap during my Step 1 Medical Board Exam dedicated study period as a way to cope with the intense stress of medical school. I needed something that felt grounding and healing, something that allowed me to create with my hands and nourish my soul, mind, and skin. Soap making was the perfect way to incorporate self love, peace, and creativity to my daily routine. So I decided to venture into the wonderful world of Cold Process soap making. As I started to gift my soaps to friends and family the upcoming of my small business occurred organically. I now have the pleasure of offering my handcrafted soaps for personal use and and for those looking for custom soap gift favors for bridal showers, weddings, baby showers and other party favors.

The Cold Process Method is a traditional soapmaking technique that involves mixing oils and butters with a lye solution (sodium hydroxide) at room temperature, triggering a chemical reaction called saponification that transforms the mixture into soap and naturally occurring glycerin. The natural glycerin produced during saponification helps draw moisture to the skin, making these soaps exceptionally hydrating and moisturizing. This slow, natural process preserves the beneficial properties of the ingredients, resulting in a gentle, skin-nourishing bar. Using natural oils and butters, such as olive oil, shea butter, or tallow, helps moisturize and protect the skin by maintaining their natural fatty acids and vitamins. Additions like soothing milks, aloe vera, oatmeal, raw honey, botanicals such as calendula or lavender and pure essential oils enrich the soap with anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and skin-calming properties. To color our soaps and create beautiful bars we use natural clays and plant based colorants such as activated charcoal and kaolin clays, which in cold process soap offer a range of skin benefits, including detoxification, gentle exfoliation, and improved skin texture. These ingredients make the soap ideal for all types of skin, especially sensitive or dry skin, promoting hydration and overall skin health. The cold process method also allows for full creative control over every ingredient, making each bar a thoughtful and beneficial addition to a natural skincare routine.

What sets my business apart is that it’s rooted in both science and empathy; as a student physician and aspiring Psychiatrist, I’m passionate about promoting mental health through everyday rituals like skincare. Each soap bar is made with skin loving ingredients and scented with pure essential oils chosen to support skin health and soothe the mind. It hasn’t been an easy journey balancing school and a business, but staying connected to my purpose keeps me going. My goal is to help others feel better inside and out by offering affordable, skin-loving soaps that care for the body’s largest organ but also encourage moments of calm and mindfulness in people’s lives.

Marketing a small business and spreading awareness has been one of the biggest challenges I’ve faced, especially with no prior experience in business or social media. Learning how to build a brand, engage an audience, and navigate online platforms has been overwhelming at times, particularly while managing the demands of medical school. There have been moments of doubt and frustration, but I chose to keep going and that persistence is something I’m incredibly proud of. Along the way, I’ve learned the value of authenticity, patience, and showing up even when the results aren’t immediate. Every kind message, returning customer, or shared post reminds me that even the smallest impact can make a meaningful difference. Those moments fuel my passion and keep me committed to growing both as a business owner and future physician.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
We absolutely love living in Miami and supporting our local community, so when friends or family visit, we plan a week full of exciting and meaningful experiences across South Florida. We like to start with a day at local farms like The Berry Farms and Tinez Farm, where visitors can walk through strawberry or sunflower fields, meet farm animals, and relax under the trees with a fresh smoothie made from locally grown fruits. A beach day at Haulover Beach is also a must, especially for pet lovers, since it has a dog-friendly area where pups can roam freely. We always recommend spending a day or two in the Florida Keys, with kayaking or paddle boarding through the mangroves with Lazy Dog in Key West, a locally owned, pet-friendly business offering unique guided tours.

To support other small businesses, we enjoy visiting farmers markets like Coconut Grove and Pinecrest, where you can connect with like-minded locals and discover handmade goods and fresh produce. A visit to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden is a beautiful way to experience South Florida’s lush natural landscape. For drinks and socializing, we frequent local breweries such as Cervecería La Tropical, Tripping Animals, MIA Beer Co., and Doral Yard. Dinner often includes local food trucks and small restaurant favorites like Temaki Miami, El Bori Food Truck, Pia’s Just Not Pizza, and Rakki Sushi & Omakase. One of our favorite ways to end the week is brunch at Keik Bakeshop followed by a Marlins game during baseball season. Miami is a vibrant, culturally rich city, and we’re always discovering new places to share and enjoy.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My journey wouldn’t be possible without the unwavering support of my family and friends. Their encouragement, belief in my vision, and willingness to cheer me on through every step have been the foundation of my growth, especially during the challenging years of medical school. Balancing intense studies, long hours, and constant pressure all while starting a small business has been extremely challenging. It was their love and support that kept me grounded. I also want to give a heartfelt shoutout to Ashley from My Healthy Soap, who generously shared her knowledge and passion for natural soap making and skincare. She taught me how to create handmade soap using oils, clays, and botanicals, offering me not just a creative outlet, but also a therapeutic escape that helped ease the stress and bring balance into my life. Learning from mentors and other soap makers has been crucial in my personal and professional growth, for which I am forever grateful.

Website: https://encantosoapco.com/

Instagram: encantosoapco

Other: Etsy Shop: EncantoSoap

Image Credits
All pictures have been taken by myself, Gloria Torres, and my husband, Ricardo Fajardo, from Encanto Soap Co.