Ruth Denison is the creator of a range of stunning handmade ammonite fossil soaps.
The soaps are handmade from moulds of original Whitby ammonites found locally on the beach at well-known fossil sites along the Jurassic Coast. The moulds themselves are handmade by Ruth from silicone impressions of the ammonites.
Earlier this year, we visited Ruth at her beautiful home in the heart of Whitby to learn more about these unique soaps and how they are made.
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Dactylioceras ammonite soaps
This is the classic ammonite soap design. Measuring 5cm in diameter and weighing 20g, the dactylioceras ammonite soap is flat one side, just like the original.
The original dactylioceras ammonite came from Byron Blessed at Natural Wonders in Whitby.
“This fossil had been cleaned and prepared, leaving one side in the matrix relatively flat. This meant the ammonite had more stability and allowed me to reproduce the ammonite fairly accurately as soap. The moulds are simple pour-in moulds. The ammonites are face down, and the top surface after pouring in the soap batter becomes the flat back of the ammonite.”
It is a beautiful handmade gift that is perfect for any occasion. You can buy a gift box of 6 soaps here.
What do the soaps smell like?
What should an ammonite smell like? This question challenged Ruth.
“I wanted something that reminded you of the sea. There is a seaweed absolute available used in perfumes. It’s costly, and I feel that it is too refined for soap. Herbal scents had a lot of appeal, especially plants that grow at the North Yorkshire seaside. I was certain I would use essential oils and not artificial fragrances. Scent evaporates no matter what you use. However, if the outer layer of soap has lost its scent, then using the soap frees up the lower layers. Also, the scent is preserved quite well by wrapping the soap in tissue paper. The question of scent occupied me for some time.”
In the end, inspiration was taken from her own house.
Essential oils scent the soaps. Rosemary and lavender grow happily in the garden at Ruth's house and are seaside plants. These plants inspired the choice of scent and a little warming cedarwood was added.
Are the soaps made from natural ingredients?
These delightful ammonite soaps are handmade from natural ingredients. The finest essential oils are used to prepare these wonderful artisan cosmetics. Essential oils always vary due to climate, rainfall, or geographic origin.
The beige and black soaps contain bladderwrack seaweed, and the black soap has additional black clay and charcoal. Black soap takes a bit of getting used to, as it produces greyish suds, so avoid using it with white facecloths.
Keeping the soap dry and drained between uses prolongs its lifespan and keeps it looking nice, too.
What was your inspiration for the ammonite soaps?
“Early on, a friend said, “This is such an obvious thing to do!” And it’s true, it was an obvious thing to do, but no one seemed to be making soaps that looked like natural Whitby ammonites. The inspiration was simply the lovely shape of ammonites.“
“Even when an incomplete piece of ammonite has been thoroughly washed and worn by the sea with only the vague idea of a spiral remaining, it still looks beautiful. And so, I thought, a soap in the shape of an ammonite would look good and stay good as it was worn away.“
What inspires you about Whitby?
“I cannot remember a time when I did not want to be in Whitby. There are early memories of playing in the woods at Golden Grove, following the monks trods, days spent on the beach at Kettleness or on the moors near the Roman road. I was lucky enough to spend a lot of time in Whitby as a child and as a teenager one year worked in a café on Church Street for the summer holiday.“
“It’s the light, the wild coast, waves, wind, high stratified cliffs, its tangible history.“
“Having hosted guests from near and far for a couple of years now, I often see people falling in love with Whitby. There is an energy that leaves its imprint and generates a special meaning for so many. One of my most cherished moments was my eldest grandson, then aged three, being lifted up to stand on the windowsill so he could look across the harbour to St. Mary’s church – he had an obsession with church bells at the time – and asking my daughter, “Can we stay here forever?”
Where can I buy these Dactylioceras ammonite soaps?
You can buy Ruth's ammonite soaps directly from The Whitby Guide here. All orders are shipped directly from Ruth using Royal Mail 1st class delivery. The packaging is standard kraft boxes and translucent paper, printed at home.
Drawings by Jo Witney, Whitby
Six Whitby Ammonite Soaps (£15.00) – Buy Now
Four Black Dactylioceras Soaps (£13.00) – Buy Now
Twelve Dactylioceras Boxes (£42.00) – Buy Now
Stay at Mount House – beautiful guest rooms with a stunning view
Mount House occupies a striking position halfway along Cliff Street. This charming property is in a gated courtyard and commands an enviable view across the harbour towards Whitby Abbey.
Perfect for an inspiring stay in a Whitby home throughout the year. You can learn more about Mount House and book your stay with Ruth here.
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