Our story
Soap is a small thing. We treat it like it matters.
Lather Ritual began at a kitchen table with a single batch of cold-process soap and a stubborn belief that everyday things deserve care. Today we make soap and bath goods by hand, in small batches, for people who notice the difference.
The slow way
Cut by hand. Cured for weeks.
Every bar is mixed in small batches, poured into wooden molds, hand-cut, and left to cure for four to six weeks. The wait is the point — it makes a harder, longer-lasting, gentler bar. There are no shortcuts here, only patience and good ingredients.
We scent with essential oils and a restrained hand, because soap should smell like a clean room, not a candle store.
Meet the team
The hands behind the ritual.
Our customers are at the heart of everything we do. Our team is here to offer personal help, answer your questions, and make your everyday rituals feel a little more special.
Bert & Charis Echterling
Owners
Bert and Charis are the husband-and-wife team behind Lather Ritual, celebrating 30 years of marriage and four grown children. It all started when Charis went looking for better baby food for her kids, a search that grew into years of learning, formulating, and making cleaner everyday products. Today Charis is usually in the shop with the team and our customers, while Bert keeps things running behind the scenes.
Taylor Johnson
Store Manager
Born and raised in Waco, Taylor has been with Lather Ritual for two years and keeps the shop running day to day. When she isn’t making soap or helping customers find something they love, she’s busy with her four-year-old son, her partner, and her family.
Corbin Echterling
Assistant Manager
Bert and Charis’s youngest son, Corbin grew up in Waco and has been part of the shop for two years. He has become one of our most dependable candle makers, and his friendly, helpful nature and sense of humor make him a familiar face to our regulars.
Julie Brown
Weekend Assistant Manager
A Waco native and mom to one daughter, Julie has been with us for more than a year and leads the shop on weekends. She joined the team to meet new people, and her warm smile helps every visitor feel welcome.
Jianna Villa
Team Member
Jianna grew up in the Waco area, graduated from Robinson High School, and is now in college studying to become a teacher. Soft-spoken and kind, she brings a calm, thoughtful presence to the shop.
Taylor Ferguson
Team Member
Born and raised in Waco, Taylor has been with us for almost a year. Quick-witted and funny, she keeps the whole team laughing and brings fun, positive energy to every shift.
Isabella Johnson
Team Member
One of our newest team members, Isabella was born and raised in Waco and is working toward her bachelor’s degree on the way to a career in the medical field. Kind, hardworking, and a quick learner, she has quickly become a friendly face for our customers.
4–6
Weeks of curing
100%
Plant-based oils
0
Synthetic dyes
“We hope a bar of our soap turns an ordinary morning into something a little more deliberate.”
— The Lather Ritual studio