Meet The Maker: Bethany Fei

Bethany Fei is the maker behind Bet’s Bars, a line of handcrafted soaps, candles, body care products, and natural bug spray (that actually works). From the moment you meet her, her magnetic smile and warm energy make you feel like an old friend and I have proudly sold her products since the early days of Veer Collective. Since 2014, she has been creating her own recipes with a focus on products that smell incredible and feel good to use. A work-from-home mom and lifelong creative, Bets balances running her business with raising her young son, drawing inspiration from community, family, and a strong belief in taking action to support the causes she cares about. 

Are you a native Floridian? Where did you grow up? 

I’m from Dickson, Tennessee. I spent my childhood there and moved to Orlando when I was 13.

Tell us a little about yourself. What do you make?

I’m a work-from-home mom. I make cold process soap, botanical sprinkled soy candles, natural bug spray (that works!), whipped body butter, sugar scrubs, and lip balm. All the recipes are my own, and I’ve been at it since 2014!

What do you like most about creating your products?

I NEVER STINK.

There’s a local restaurant group that has my name in their system as the “Best Smelling Woman in Orlando” and I love that so much.

I’ll stink when I’m dead.

How many hours a week do you spend creating? How would you describe your work style?

At this point in my life as a mom, finding time to make products can be challenging. My little guy/boss is 2 and demands most of my time (I wouldn’t trade it for anything!) But we make it work. He often rides along with me to make deliveries to local shops. 

My work style is whatever is called for at the moment. I tend to make products as they’re needed. So if I notice I’m getting low on Grapefruit Rose bars, I’ll add them to the list to whip up next time I’m able to get a babysitter. If I get a custom order for wedding or baby shower favors, I’ll set up a time frame to work on those. Summer tends to be a slower time of year for Bet’s Bars. I usually avoid vendor markets because my products suffer in the Florida heat. Holiday season is when I ramp up production and rarely rest. Soaps and candles make great gifts!

What inspires you in your day to day?

Palestinian resistance, resilience, and their fight for liberation and return. Free Palestine!!

What other hobbies, interests or day jobs keep you busy when you’re not helping citizens smell good? Thank you for your service, btw.

I recently joined the Florida Palestine Network as a volunteer. So when I’m not whipping up products or wrangling my toddler, I’ve been spending time with them. They are an incredible group of people with moral clarity fighting for what’s right for Palestine and for all oppressed people everywhere.

Do you have a favorite product or scent?

If my products were just for me, they’d all contain a little patchouli. But I make ‘em for the people, and I find that most folks familiar with patchouli have strong feelings about it. You either love it or hate it. Some swear it smells like dirt, others are reminded of the 60s when hippies used it to mask body odors in lieu of showering. 

No matter what they say, I’ll always be a patchouli gal.

What have you learned about yourself from creating your brand?

Hmm maybe that I was destined to become a small business owner…. haha I don’t know if that’s true, but I come from a long line of them. In Dickson, My dad owned a successful moving company. The popularity of my aunt and uncle’s screen printing and sporting goods store spans many counties. My great grandpa had a furniture and appliance store that he passed down to my grandpa which furnished all of Dickson for decades. My cousins and I all grew up playing in the store. We’d turn refrigerator boxes into “clubhouses” and play hide and seek between couches and mattresses.   So I guess it makes sense that I’d grow up and start my own business one day!

How has your community in Orlando supported you or given you inspiration?

I remember vividly the morning of the Pulse shooting. I had this sinking feeling in my gut. It was so devastating for our community. I remember feeling inspired by the people lining up in droves to donate blood and knew I needed to help somehow too. So I decided to make LOTS of rainbow soaps and donate the proceeds to The One Orlando Fund for the victims and their families. I think that was the first time I learned firsthand that action is the antidote to despair and that when people come together to help each other, we all end up better.

Dogs or Cats?

Dogs. Mine’s name is Clementine.

Random fact about yourself?

I used to dislike cooking until I had my son. I became determined to feed him nutritious foods, so my husband got me some recipe books for littles. I learned how to make lots of sneaky healthy things like chicken nuggets with broccoli mixed in and yummy muffins that are full of spinach and carrots, but my kid has no idea he’s eating vegetables and gobbles them up. 

Now I’m kind of known among our parent friends as the toddler baker because all their little ones come after me for snacks!