We had the good fortune of connecting with Scarlette Guerrero and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Scarlette, why did you pursue a creative career?
Art has always been a part of my life. My mother has been a Fine Arts educator since before I was born and I grew up with access to all sorts of craft mediums from watercolor paint, to seed beads, to cement even. I’ve always thrived in chaos and mess, so it’s no surprise to me that my love for soapmaking derived from a more turbulent period in my life – suddenly living with no income during the COVID “Stay Home” era.

There is a common equation that sums up a person’s ikigai, or life purpose, which is the balance between core values, skillset, and genuine service to others. Soapmaking allows me to apply my creativity to produce nature-forward, wholesome goods that any body can use for good hygiene and health. That is why I believe I’ll continue to pursue soapmaking lifelong.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I often get recommendations from customers for scents they’d like to have in soap, so I’m always researching and on the hunt for unique specialty oils and fragrances for them. Physically making a batch of soap doesn’t take too much time, but it does need to cure for at least thirty days. This is when I say I’m actually doing most of the work for my soap shop. I specially design each soap label and print, cut, and prepare them for wrapping bars myself. I’m also taking photographs for social media, collecting snippets of footage for reels, editing videos, and sometimes I get opportunities like this to be interviewed or write and share about Bird of Paradise Soap!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
There’s so much to do in San Diego, but first – coffee! I recommend BetterBuzz in Pacific Beach for a hip spot close to the water. You can easily walk to the pier and then take a short drive to Kate Sessions Park to enjoy the views from there as well. Historical Old Town would be one of my first refuel spots with visitors as you can get a taste of culture at Cafe Coyote – a superb Mexican restaurant – and then shop for souvenirs at all the unique bodegas. A local farmer’s market is always a fun idea and there are several that take place any given day of the week.

If you need a little wake and bacon, Hash House A Go Go is a must! That gets you close to a big SD travel destination, the infamous Balboa Park. I’d personally aim to visit on a Tuesday in order to take advantage of free admission for residents to rotating museums and centers, but it’s also free to marvel at the architecture and landscapes here any given day. The SD Museum of Art is perfect for lovers of fine art and it often hosts special exhibits. (Once, I even unexpectedly stumbled across an unadvertised painting by Vincent van Gogh!) I’d also recommend recharging with some hearty grub at Phil’s BBQ or better yet, enjoying it by a bonfire.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shoutout to Tacos el Gordo and Jochi’s Resto Grill in the South Bay where you can get the best street tacos and local Filipino food. If you’re down there, you can satisfy any sweet tooth cravings with a trip to Hans & Harry’s Bakery in Bonita. I also highly recommend SD Boba & Tea, where they have the best boba in San Diego, hands down! If you’re not in a food coma by then, perhaps a night out in SD’s renowned Gaslamp District for sights, sounds, and sips.

When I have visitors from out of town, I usually take them to explore the bayfront from Waterfront Park to Seaport Village to the SD Convention Center or if we prefer to get away from the bustling city, we hit the trail up Cowles or Iron Mountain. Sightseeing at La Jolla Cove and Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial Park is always amazing, and so is enjoying crab legs (and lobster if it’s Thursday) at 100s Seafood Buffet in Mission Valley. Lastly but not least, I always make it a point to visit Coronado Island at night because there’s no way I’d let a guest visit America’s Finest City without checking out the iconic Hotel del Coronado and blessing them with a front row seat to the picture-perfect, luminous skyline.

Website: www.birdofparadisesoap.com

Instagram: @birdofparadisesoap

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