Zen Seed ⋆ Lakeside Guide to Ajijic, Mexico

Inside the newly renovated Zen Seed shop on Colón Street in Ajijic.

Soap with rosemary.

Soap with oats.

Inside the Zen Seed factory in Ajijic, Delia O'Rourke (right), owner of Zen Seed, adds the lye-water mixture to the hot oil while one of her employees keeps the mixture in motion.

Measuring out incense powder to add to the oil. Zen Seed makes dozens of scents of soap and is constantly trying out new ones.

The aromatic additive, in this case incense, is added to the oil while one person maintains a constant stir and the other uses an immersion blender to evenly distribute the powder.

Measuring how much incense powder to add to the oil.

Delia and her daughter, Sofia, mix smaller batches of certain aromas which will be combined with other soap to create a multi-colored, multi-scented soap.

Stirring, stirring. The soap needs to be stirred until it lightens in color and develops a "trace." Before electric mixers, this could take hours, but today this happens within minutes.

Pouring the soap into wooden molds covered with plastic.

Pouring the soap into molds.

Delia adds a different colored and scented soap on top of this batch of soap.

Decorating the soap.

Adding another color and scent of soap on top.

Using a stick to make designs in the soap.

Soap so beautiful that you wanna eat it. But don't.

Molds are used to create small soaps in fun shapes.

Pressing the soap into the molds with a spatula.

Small molded soaps.

Stacking multiple layers of molds.

Using a stick to create designs on the surface of the soap.

Covering the soap so it cools down at the right speed. The soap needs at least 24 hours to cure to the right hardness.

Soap in storage at the Zen Seed factory.

Inside the Zen Seed shop.

Myrrh and incense soap: anti-wrinkle, moisturizes dry skin, removes blemishes and stretch marks. Excellent for damaged skin and acne marks. Coffee soap: eliminates toxins and fat, activates skin. Good for liquid retention and removing cellulite. Rosemary soap: natural anti-inflammatory, promotes circulation, toning and relaxes tired muscles. Good as a shampoo for hairloss. Chocolate soap: euphoric, stimulating, antioxidant, pleasurable. Firming and moisturizing.

Marbled soap.

Oil- and glycerin-based soaps. Bath scrubs and brushes.

Shampoo soap! Made from mint, nettle and parsley. Prevents and stops hair loss, promotes hair growth. Mint and eucalyptus soap is an expectorant, antiseptic, emotional releaser, energizer and helps release the airways.

Marbled soap.

Lemon candy: good for normal to dry skin, moisturizing and purifying. Delicious aroma that wakes you up.

Honey glycerin soap: natural healer, brightens your skin, antiseptic. Green tea glycerin soap: prevents premature aging of skin due to its antioxidant catechins.