The Heart of Island Thyme: A Story of Sanctuary

The Heart of Island Thyme: A Story of Sanctuary

For nearly 20 years, Island Thyme Soap Company has been a place of scent and serenity. But if you've been following my journey lately, you know that the last few years have tested every fiber of my being—and in the process, redefined what "comfort" truly means.

From Corporate to Coconut Milk

My journey began in 2006. After a life-changing diagnosis of MS, I left the high-pressure corporate world to find healing in the therapeutic rhythm of soapmaking. Inspired by a trip to the South Pacific and the "Old Florida" charm of Indian Rocks Beach, I dedicated myself to creating luxurious, natural coconut milk soaps and clean-burning candles that serve as a sanctuary for the skin and soul.

The Season of Caring

In 2020, life called me to a different kind of service. I became the sole caregiver for a dear friend diagnosed with Alzheimer's at just 58 years old. For more than five years, my kitchen island—once a place of production—became a place of vigilance and profound vulnerability.

I learned that dementia caregiving is a 24/7 journey through fear, repetition, and eventually, a sacred kind of love. It stripped away the non-essential and taught me that patience is a muscle that strengthens only when you think you've reached your absolute limit.

Finding Strength in the Flood

In the midst of caregiving, 2023 brought another trial: a midnight flood. A pipe burst under our home in Indian Rocks Beach, forcing us to leave our little slice of paradise and move five miles inland. It was a literal and figurative washing away of the familiar.

In November of 2025, my friend finally found peace. While his passing was heartbreaking, I felt a quiet relief that he was no longer tortured by the demons in his mind. He was a gentle, kind man who faced a cruel disease with a grace that I will never forget.

Why This Matters for You

This season of caregiving and loss has changed my hands and my heart. You can read more about the journey in the blog posts "When Life Calls: A Season of Caring," "Coming Home," and "Hygge in the Hardest Moments."

I no longer just make "products" — I craft tools for survival. I understand what it's like to need a moment of peace when your world is in chaos. I know the power of a familiar scent to calm an agitated mind. I've discovered a strength I never knew I possessed, and I want to share that resilience with you.

Melt into the Moment. Recharge. Stay Fierce.

Coming Home

In the summer of 2026, after the caregiving chapter quietly closed and the last Florida box was unpacked, I pointed north. I grew up in northern Ohio, and something in me knew it was time to return — not as a retreat, but as a homecoming.

Island Thyme Soap Company made the move with me, domesticated into Ohio and rooted in new soil — same name, same heart, same handmade commitment. The sourdough starter survived the two-day drive without complaint. And within the first two weeks, a young buck with velvet antlers appeared on the deer path just beyond my patio door and looked at me the way wild things do — without alarm, without agenda — as if to say: you're supposed to be here.

Lake Erie is less than half a mile away. I can feel it in the air before I ever see it. The seasons I grew up with — the amber October light, the hush of a snowy morning, the particular freshness of a lake breeze in July — are back. And with them, a clarity I hadn't realized I was missing.

This is what Island Thyme has always been about: finding your sanctuary, wherever life leads you. For the women who are moving mountains — who are caregiving, grieving, rebuilding, or simply looking for one quiet moment in a loud day — this community is for you. The candles still burn. The soap still lathers. And the Daily Hygge Gratitude Journal is still here to help you anchor yourself in the storm.

"Patience is a muscle that strengthens only when you think you've reached your absolute limit."

Thank you for being part of this journey. Thank you for your patience while I tended to what mattered most.

Welcome home to Island Thyme Soap Co. — and welcome home to me.

Beryl Anne Coder