Hi, I’m Joyce! I’m the founder of Made by Zena, a little handmade business that started with a simple curiosity about soapmaking and grew into something much bigger than I ever imagined.
In 2025, I became fascinated with soapmaking. I spent hours watching YouTube videos, checking books out of the library, learning about ingredients, and experimenting with recipes. I started making small batches and asking friends and family to try them. What began as something I wanted to learn quickly became something I genuinely enjoyed creating.
But there was also a bigger reason behind it all. As a mother of children with special needs, I think a lot about their future, especially what life might look like when my husband and I are no longer around. I’ve always wanted to create a family business where my children could be involved, learn new skills, and hopefully have something meaningful they can continue building over the years. That’s where the dream behind ZENA comes from, and even our name was inspired by my children.
Of course, every good adventure is better with a little company! My partners, Aida and Christine, decided to join me on this crazy journey, and together we’re turning an idea into a growing handmade business. We’re learning, experimenting, creating, and enjoying the process of seeing what we can make.
We also believe that handmade products shouldn’t have to be expensive to be special. We focus on quality ingredients and thoughtfully made products while keeping our packaging simple and our prices reasonable. We’d rather put our effort into what we’re making than charge customers extra for elaborate packaging they may not need.
Today, we’re creating handmade soaps, candles, and exploring other products we’d love to share. We’re still learning and growing, and that’s part of the adventure.
Our hope is that Made by Zena becomes more than a small business. We want it to be something built with love, creativity, and purpose, something our families can be proud of for years to come.
Quality ingredients. Thoughtfully handmade. Affordably priced.
