Key West Artisan Makes Bath Products Her Medium

KEY WEST -- Fans of Crystal Ruffo's artistry don't just appreciate it on a visual level. Instead, they rub her creations into their skin, savor their tropical fragrances and even lather them into pets' fur.

That's because Ruffo's artwork doesn't consist of paintings, sketches or sculptures — it's a unique type of "mixed media" composed of natural ingredients, fragrant essential oils, botanicals and ground-up minerals blended into tropical hues.

Ruffo is the artisan and owner of Key West's Purely Paradise Natural Bath Products, an inviting emporium at 1108-A Duval St. that offers all-natural personal-care products handcrafted on site.

"Many artists work in the mediums of oils and watercolors; I work in the mediums of soaps and salts and bath products," said Ruffo, a longtime Key West resident who explored fiction writing and Web design before discovering her current creative passion.


Visitors to Purely Paradise will find a wide range of artisan wares including body and facial butters enriched with mango, scented shampoo with coconut oil and aloe vera, sea salt and sugar scrubs, revitalizing skin toner made with green tea, handcrafted sunburn relief products and deodorants.

"We can create personalized facial products based on your skin type and what you're looking for the product to do," said Ruffo. "I especially enjoy creating things for people with allergies — lotions and soaps that make their bodies feel good."

But it's not just people who benefit from her soothing proprietary formulas. Motivated by her dog Nicky's skin and coat problems, Ruffo designed a pet shampoo with goat's milk, shea butter and essential oils to calm skin irritations.

Many customers at Purely Paradise favor the fragrant multicolored soaps, all crafted in whimsical shapes that communicate the spirit of the Keys. Among them are palm trees, two-toned flip-flops, conch shells, cats recalling Ernest Hemingway's famed six-toed feline, pirates, dolphins and mermaids with flowing hair.

Ruffo takes particular satisfaction in creating and blending the unique colors that tint her soaps and lotions.

"None of our products are made with artificial coloring or dyes, so I create all of our colors by mixing ground-up minerals together — playing with the colors until I get the shade and hue I like," she explained. "I try to stay very tropical with aquas for our water, a light 'Key lime' green, pinks and corals."

Since its debut in 2010, Purely Paradise has become a gathering spot for locals and visitors drawn by its inviting tropical atmosphere, personalized all-natural offerings and the chance to watch artisan products being crafted on site.

"I've done many things throughout my life, and many of them were very satisfying," said "artist in residence" Ruffo. "But I think this is the most fun and the most self-satisfying adventure that I've ever undertaken."

Crystal mixes natural ingredients, fragrant essential oils, botanicals and ground-up minerals for her handcrafted lotions.

Crystal mixes natural ingredients, fragrant essential oils, botanicals and ground-up minerals for her handcrafted lotions.

The fragrant multicolored soaps, all crafted in whimsical shapes, communicate the spirit of the Keys.

The fragrant multicolored soaps, all crafted in whimsical shapes, communicate the spirit of the Keys.

Purely Paradise has become a gathering spot for locals and visitors drawn by its inviting tropical atmosphere.

Purely Paradise has become a gathering spot for locals and visitors drawn by its inviting tropical atmosphere.

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