Welcome to "The Truth In This Art." I'm your host, Rob Lee. In today's episode, we have a captivating conversation with Pat Illes of Mount Royal Soap Co. Mount Royal Soaps offers luxurious soaps, baths, and skincare products that are handcrafted in small batches.  Pat and their team started making soap as a hobby and it eventually grew into a successful business. They are known for their unique formula that uses natural vegetable oils and excludes palm oil and animal fats. Pat is passionate about raising awareness about the destructive nature of palm oil farming and providing alternative options for consumers. We discuss the soap business, autobiography titles, and what it's been like to work in what has become an essential business.In our talk, Pat shared:The eco-conscious ethos of Mount Royal Soaps as they use natural vegetable oils, leaving out palm oil and animal fats. Expect to learn how they raise awareness about the environmental impact of palm oil farming through their thoughtful choices.Be inspired by the captivating tale of Mount Royal Soaps, a personal care product line that started as a mere hobby and blossomed into a thriving business. Discover the passion and dedication behind their handmade soaps and their commitment to environmental consciousness.Amidst the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, witness how Mount Royal Soaps adapted with purpose, venturing into producing hand sanitizers. Learn about the support they received from the Made in Baltimore program, and how their commitment to their community never wavered.Discover the heartwarming expressions of gratitude from Pat, the driving force behind Mount Royal Soaps, as they reflect on their ability to sustain their business during difficult times. Expect to hear about Pat's admiration for Baltimore's resilient spirit in the face of the pandemic's challenges.Join us for an engaging episode as Pat Illes, co-founder of Mount Royal Soaps, joins host Rob Lee to discuss their personal care product line business. Pat shares how they got started in soap making as a creative outlet during their recovery from addiction and mental health issues. They talk about the unique formula of their soaps that exclude palm oil and animal fats, and the importance of raising awareness about the environmental impact of palm oil farming. Pat also discusses their experience during the COVID-19 pandemic, where they pivoted to producing hand sanitizers and received support from the Made in Baltimore program. They express their gratitude for being able to sustain their business during these challenging times and their admiration for Baltimore's response to the pandemic.Mentioned in this episodeMount Royal Soaps🎧🌟 Don't forget to rate and review this episode to support the best in podcasting! 🌟🎧 Host: Rob LeeMusic: Original music by Daniel Alexis Music with additional music from Chipzard and TeTresSeis. Production:Produced by Rob Lee & Daniel AlexisEdited by Daniel AlexisShow Notes courtesy of Rob Lee and TransistorPhotos:Rob Lee photos by Vicente Martin for The Truth In This Art and Contrarian Aquarian Media.Guest photos courtesy of the guest, unless otherwise noted.Support the podcast The Truth In This Art Podcast Fractured Atlas (Fundraising): https://www.fracturedatlas.orgThe Truth In This Art Podcast Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/thetruthinthisart.bsky.socialThe Truth In This Art Podcast Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truthinthisart/?hl=enThe Truth In This Art Podcast Website: https://www.thetruthinthisart.com/The Truth In This Art Podcast Shop: Merch from Redbubble ★ Support this podcast ★