Our story
Odds & Suds is a family-run artisan soap maker with very humble beginnings – a single market stall piled high with hand-cut bars of soap, and a lot of hard work behind it.
From a Single Stall to a Loved Local Brand
The story starts with Jenny Elesmore.
More than twenty years ago, Jenny began hand-making soap on the Devon–Cornwall border and selling it at Tavistock Pannier Market, long before “artisan soap” was fashionable. Her stall quickly became known for its beautiful, cake-like bars, natural ingredients and wonderful scents.
Those early days were all about graft: setting up in all weathers, hand-stirring every batch, cutting every bar, and wrapping each one by hand. That “roll-up-your-sleeves” attitude is still at the heart of Odds & Suds today.
Over time, the little stall became a permanent feature of Tavistock Pannier Market and later a much-loved Odds & Suds shop display in the town, with a reputation for quality soap and one-off homeware pieces.
Growing with the Next Generation
As the business grew, so did the family involvement. Building on Jenny’s original Tavistock brand, her daughter Kelly Elesmore opened Odds & Suds Ashburton, taking the look and feel of the business into a full interiors and lifestyle store while keeping handmade soap at the centre.
All of our soap is still handcrafted by us on the Devon & Cornwall border, using recipes refined over decades of small-batch making.
(Independently run)
Odds & Buds Florist
The Odds & Suds story doesn’t stop at soap. It’s also bloomed into a sister business: Odds & Buds, a florist in Tavistock now successfully owned and run by Jenny’s daughter Rosy Elesmore.
Odds & Buds is known for its personal service, creativity and attention to detail – from everyday bouquets to weddings and events. Together, Odds & Suds and Odds & Buds reflect the same family values: craft, care and a genuine love of making beautiful things – whether that’s a bar of soap or a bridal bouquet.
(Independently run)
TV & Press
Our quiet corner of the world has had some lovely moments in the spotlight:
- Kirstie Allsopp and her team visited Odds & Suds in Tavistock to film one of her Channel 4 craft and homes programmes, highlighting the traditional, hands-on way our soaps are made.
- Craft and interiors writers have featured our soaps as examples of true British handmade products – celebrating the way they look, smell and are individually wrapped with care.
The focus has always stayed the same: make good soap, by hand, and let people discover it for themselves.
Where We Are Today
Today, Odds & Suds is still very much a family affair. Jenny’s original vision – simple, honest, beautifully made soap – now runs through:
- The Tavistock Pannier Market stall and displays, still stacked high with soaps and seasonal arrangements
- Odds & Suds Ashburton, a destination for interiors, furniture and, of course, the soap that started it all
- Our close association with Odds & Buds Florist, owned and run by Rosy Elesmore in Tavistock
- The many homes, holiday cottages and hotels around Devon, Cornwall and beyond that now stock and use our soaps.
