Noor Azlina, who has a passion for natural and organic products, works hard to build her brand, Themuq, after realising a scarcity of locally produced handmade organic soaps and shampoo bars.
Woman finds true calling in organic soap business
Noor Azlina Ahmad Tajudin vividly remembers her early years and how her grandmother would grow a variety of plants, including turmeric, coconut, and others. She said that the aim of the gardening endeavour was to create homemade natural products for the family’s use.
“I’ve always watched her make her own ‘bedak sejuk’ (cooling powder) using natural ingredients gathered from the jungle and her garden since I was a child. My grandmother would pick coconuts and process them to make coconut oil,” she said, adding that her grandmother’s passion for organic produce motivated her to pursue the practise.
As she got older, she developed a greater interest in natural products.
“I enjoy going camping. When I’m in the forest, the guides will tell me everything I need to know about the natural resources, such as which plants offer which benefits. That is where I get the idea of how to turn it into something useful,” she said.
Azlina now encourages her children to choose organic products over commercial products. The soap maker revealed that the practise has resulted in naturally healthy and beautiful skin.
The birth of Themuq
Her products, which include handmade soaps, hair masks, and shampoo bars, are branded as ‘Themuq’ and are the result of a mother’s love and dedication. Azlina said that she started creating natural products when her youngest child was suffering from eczema.
“I then began developing my own organic alternative product to help alleviate her eczema. I didn’t want her to use steroid creams on a regular basis. This was the time when I experimented and conducted research and development to make my first product, neem soap,” said the mother of four.
Azlina, who left a career in computer science to become a full-time mother, homemaker, and homemade soap entrepreneur, chose to pursue her business selling organic soaps a year after her first experiment in 2017.
“I started making my own handmade soaps for my daughter because there aren’t many organic products around. If there is, there is usually fragrance inside, which is still a risk for eczema patients.
“When I make my soaps, I know I didn’t include any unnecessary ingredients, and I can attest to the benefits they provide. From soothing skin to alleviating eczema flares, these were the driving forces behind my decision to pursue Themuq in 2018,” said the entrepreneur.
According to the 44-year-old, her products include no synthetic fragrance, colours, or ingredients.
“Everything comes from the real plant, blended into powder before being made into soaps,” Azlina said, adding that she had learned how to make soaps through a series of workshops in which she had attended.
The challenges
Though Azlina feels that organic and natural products can help with a variety of issues without causing harm to the body, she admits that not everyone believes in the benefits they provide. Among the many challenges that she faces when selling her handmade goods, getting customers to buy from her booth is difficult.
“I have encountered many people who are not keen about purchasing organic goods. Regardless, I will always attempt to spread the word about the benefits of these products. It can be challenging, especially for people who have never used one before.”
Azlina hopes that by using a range of Sarawak plants such as turmeric (to whiten the armpits), lemongrass (to get rid of body odour), neem (to relieve itchiness), and others, she would be able to promote the local resources and their benefits.
“After learning how to make soap, I would experiment with various ingredients to create an organic soap with beneficial properties. Before selling them, I would try them on myself to check how well they work,” she said.
With Themuq making the rounds at exhibitions throughout Sarawak, Azlina aims to have a physical shop where she could display her handmade products.
“I’d love to open a shop that carries not only Themuq but also other local brands selling handmade natural products.”
Those interested in learning more about Themuq can follow them on Instagram at @themuqnaturalsoap or on Facebook at ‘ThemuQ’.
