Make it stand out.
About Us
My name is Emily Brown, and together with my late husband, James "JB" Brown, we founded Cowboy Soap Company. JB and I met in 2009 in Jackson, Wyoming—he was a ski instructor, and I was on the path to becoming an ER doctor. We fell in love, moved to Reno, Nevada, got married in 2016, and welcomed our daughter in 2019.
JB was a Mountain Guide and part-owner of SWS Mountain Guides, based in Mt. Shasta, California. He was always dreaming—of the next adventure, the next business, the next chapter. A Texas native and Texas A&M graduate who called Wyoming home, JB had long dreamed of returning to agriculture. His ultimate goal was to earn his full AMGA (American Mountain Guide Association) certification, retire from full-time guiding, and settle on our small farm in Jackson, where he wanted to raise animals and use their milk to make soap.
When he shared this soap-making idea with me during the height of the COVID pandemic, I thought it was a little far-fetched—typical JB—but I was intrigued. Soap making combined chemistry and cooking, and it gave me a much-needed creative outlet away from the chaos of the ER. That winter, in 2021, we began teaching ourselves to make soap in the garage—bundled in puffies, huddled around space heaters. The first bar I made that he considered “pretty” came while JB was away on a training trip. It was blue, brown, and white, and scented with sandalwood. He had wanted me to recreate that bar.
In the spring of 2022, just days after I ordered more sandalwood fragrance to recreate that soap, JB died in a climbing accident. Our world shattered.
Not long after, I had a dream where JB told me to keep making soap. It felt like a sign—and a way forward.
Soap making became my solace. I now make each bar in the same space JB once filled, surrounded by his photos, our climbing gear, and his books. Continuing this work brings me peace. It’s how I honor his dream and carry it forward, even as I learn to live without him by my side.
About the soap
JB was a natural storyteller—someone who could turn even the simplest tale into something unforgettable. He had a gift for making people laugh and weaving humor into every narrative. My soaps are a blend of liquid artistry and evocative scents, each crafted to awaken memories and emotions. Many of them carry stories of their own, created in tribute to JB’s legacy and the magic he brought through his storytelling.
A note on sustainability:
When possible I source locally. Any soap made with Tallow, Lard or Goat Milk has been sourced locally. I recycle boxes and packing material for shipping. Anything shrink wrapped is done with biodegradable shrink wrap designed to decompose in landfills. Additionally I joined EcoSoapBank at the most recent conference in order to recycle my soap waste.
