The Cool Chimp Story

Hi, I'm David, and as you might have guessed I'm the founder of Cool Chimp Soap.

Thinking back to the beginning of my soaping journey, I’m reminded of the patience, the small wins, and the heavy, difficult moments that have shaped this path. I think back on everything that went wrong, but also everything that had to go right to bring me here. Both were essential in this journey. Above all else, my wife has been my strongest pillar throughout this journey. She never let me quit and always believed in me—even when I didn’t believe in myself. She’s been patient, encouraging, and persistent.

But, let's backtrack a bit. Cool Chimp Soap didn't actually start with soap—it started with coffee.

Back in early 2022, I caught the entrepreneurial bug (for some reason) and became determined to build something of my own. Like a lot of first-time entrepreneurs, I spent hours researching business ideas, trying to figure out where to begin. That's when I discovered something called drop shipping.

As a coffee lover, coffee seemed like the obvious choice, even though I knew it was an incredibly crowded market.

Around that same time while researching business ideas, I came across a picture of a chimp wearing sunglasses. It looked effortlessly cool, and the image stuck with me. Okay fine, I also thought that it was hilarious. I've always been fascinated by chimpanzees and remembered reading about Jane Goodall's work studying and protecting them. That's when the name "Cool Chimp Coffee" popped into my head.

I hired an artist to bring the logo to life, describing the vision I had for the brand. They came back with a logo that was exactly what I had imagined—and that logo became the foundation of what would eventually become Cool Chimp.

But as I started putting the business together, something didn't feel right. The plan was to sell coffee that someone else roasted and shipped. I'd be building a brand, which was fine, but I wouldn't actually be making the product myself. That bothered me.

I realized I wanted more than that. I wanted to create something with my own hands—something I could genuinely be proud of. 

So later that year, I walked away from the coffee idea.

Fast forward to the summer of 2023. While packing for a work trip to Charlotte, North Carolina, I threw in the usual essentials: clothes, grooming products, and toiletries. A few days earlier, I had picked up a bar of natural soap made specifically for men.

After settling into my hotel, I unpacked, hopped in the shower, and gave it a try. The scent was incredible. The lather was rich, my skin felt smooth, and unlike the chemical-laden soaps I had always used, it didn't leave my skin feeling dry or irritated.

It was, without question, the best bar of soap I'd ever used.

A few days after I got home, I saw a Facebook ad from the same company. I clicked through to their website, remembered how much I had loved that bar of soap, and a thought hit me:

I could do this.

I could create a natural soap for men. I could make something that elevated an everyday shower into something people actually looked forward to. I could build a product, share it with others, and create a brand that I genuinely believed in.

For the first time, I wasn't just thinking about starting a business. I had found something I could pour my heart and soul into—something I could create with my own hands and that someone else could use, enjoy, and make part of their daily routine.

Fast forward to November 2023. I ordered my ingredients and made my very first batch of soap.

Sweet Orange.

It was a disaster.

When I tried to cut the loaf, it crumbled and flaked apart.

So, naturally, I made a second batch.

Coffee-scented.

Also a disaster (I'm starting to see a pattern here). It overheated, seized, and was beyond saving.

After two spectacular failures, I decided soap-making wasn't for me. I packed everything away and didn't touch it again for nearly a year.

In December 2024, something inside me stirred. After months of research, studying, and watching countless YouTube tutorials, I dusted off the stick blender, ordered a fresh set of ingredients, and gave soap-making one more shot.

Batch three.

Success.

To this day, I can't fully describe the mix of excitement, relief, pride, and pure joy I felt as I sliced through that first successful loaf. It had worked.

I had made soap.

Not just any soap—my soap. Something I had created with my own hands. And, if I'm being honest, I thought it was beautiful.

You didn't think the story ended there, did you?

My friends, that was just the beginning.

There was packaging to design, a website to build, social media to figure out, insurance to purchase, regulations to understand, and a growing list of expenses that seemed to get longer by the day.

I even had two false-start launch dates—August 1 and September 1, 2025. Both came and went because I didn't believe the product was ready.

That wasn't an easy decision. After all the time, money, and effort I'd already invested, launching would've been the easier option.

But I had made a promise to myself: I would never sell something I wouldn't use myself.

If it wasn't good enough for me, it wasn't good enough for you.

The day before I finally launched my labor of love, I remembered and reflected on something that I had read sometime back: “You will never truly be ready. You just have to start and adjust the course along the way.” Whether I fail or succeed, I know this: it will not be for lack of effort. The journey has been frustrating, yes—but also fun. I hope this product leaves a positive mark on those who use it.

I founded Cool Chimp Soap with a few things in mind. In one way, I wanted this brand to challenge outdated ideas of masculinity and encourage a broader definition of what it means to be a man. Our brand voice is one that wants to rewrite the rules of masculinity – one shower at a time. We poke fun at the old “real men don’t have feelings” mindset while promoting a healthier, more modern version of masculinity. We believe confidence means being yourself, taking care of your well-being, talking about your feelings and asking for help when you need it—preferably while smelling fantastic. Many products/brands are either overly generic or built around outdated stereotypes. Our soap is marketed to men in a funny, informative, modern and educational way. I also saw and wanted to fill a still large and underserved gap in the men's personal care market. 

Above all, I wanted to create something that goes beyond function—something that becomes a personal extension of identity. Just as Steve Jobs saw the computer and smartphone as extensions of the self, I view Cool Chimp Soap the same way. It’s not just soap—it’s a personal expression. From the scent you choose to the bar you prefer, it becomes part of how you present yourself to the world, just like your clothes, music, or phone.

As I’ve gone through this journey, I struggled to define my story—what was my brand’s story? Little did I know, I had been writing it all along. Ultimately my brand, my story, is one of persistence, resilience, and the unbreakable spirit of those who push through even the hardest times. May my bars and my brand always serve as a reminder of that.

Lather accordingly.

David