Owner Audrey Ralston (with scissors) recently snipped the celebratory grand opening ribbon for the Chautauqua Soap Co. with help from local officials including Mayor Eddie Sundquist, Acting County Executive PJ Wendel, Katrina Fuller representing Congressman Tom Reed, Jamestown Community Chamber of Commerce Coordinator Joanna Dahlbeck, and numerous friends, family, and community members.

The Chautauqua Soap Company celebrated its grand opening recently with a ribbon cutting.

Located at 14 E. Third St., the business makes and sells a wide variety of all natural and organic soap, lip balm, candles, and more.

Audrey Ralston purchased the business in February from its founder, Frank Besse. She opened her physical storefront in June — a time when many businesses were closed due to the novel coronavirus.

“It was definitely a unique time in which to open a new business,” Ralston said. “Friends always like to highlight the fact that I opened a business during a worldwide pandemic, but I’ve been so busy creating and promoting my soaps these last many months, I haven’t actually had much time to reflect on that!”

One thing customers can expect from Ralston’s soaps and candles is diversity in their ingredients and scents. When she opened her Third Street location in mid-June, Ralston was selling bourbon scented candles for Father’s Day. For summer cocktail lovers, this summer saw Ralston created, produced, and distributed Mojito cocktail scented soap and candles. Responding to one customer’s request, Ralston developed an earthy-smelling soap for hunters for this deer season — and those eclectic scents only scratch the surface of the stock she’s offering and has waiting in the wings.

The Chautauqua Soap Co. is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays.