INTERVIEW: Dawn Watson On Hamptons Spa Sand, A New Artisanal Bath Salts Collection

If you live on the East End, chances are you personally know or have read one of Dawn Watson’s columns. The dynamic PR guru and award-winning journalist and photographer, who founded the popular blog www.hamptonspartygirl.com, has turned her focus to a fabulous new venture, Hamptons Spa Sand, premium artisanal bath salts made right here in the Hamptons.

We recently had the pleasure of speaking with Watson about the divine line of chic bath salts:

How long has this endeavor been in the works?

DW: Actually, it’s very funny. When I was writing for HC&G, I was doing their Made in the Hamptons series. One of the first ones I did was actually with Brittany Torres, who started Hamptons Handpoured. She is such a nice young woman and she was in the back of Calypso melting the wax with a hot pot. She was doing all these things on her own and I thought that is such a great idea. I wish I’d come up with it. I followed what she’s done and I thought I want to come up with something that’s obviously not competing with that – because she’s already got that market, but I want to do something like that. I just kind of followed her and watched her and seen where she is and what she’s doing. Not to steal from her thunder, but this is a great way to go and she’s been very successful.

That was always in my head and then I love to luxuriate. I started doing this for myself and then when I was furloughed at the end of April, I thought I’m doing it. Everybody keeps talking about having time to bake bread and write letters and I was working. My work never stopped. It was more, which I’m grateful for, but now I’m grateful to have this time to focus on me – because I haven’t been able to focus on me in a long time.

Why did you settle on bath salts?

DW: Well, I started making them for myself. It’s that easy. I thought that there are all these products that are out there. So, this is not a new market, but what I have is something a little bit different, and I think a little bit more refined and certainly coming from a place where everyone’s got some interest. I personally have worked on and selected the colors and the scents and I think that they match very well with our environment. I came up with the packaging and worked with Hamptons Signs to do some of the stuff for the branding and the labeling. This is just something that I kind of thought, hey, I can do it. I want to do it. This is my own little thing.

And it’s pretty affordable.

DW: It’s 2.5 ounces, which is really, in my opinion, one bath. You can make it last, but if you’re looking for the maximum color and smell… It’s an affordable luxury, which is something that I have always loved. I love the simple pleasures – whether it’s a fresh cut hydrangea from your garden or going to find the best farm to table food. It’s just real simple, elegant. Again, that’s kind of my thing, so that’s what I tried to do here.

It’s made exclusively in the Hamptons. Could you speak a bit about that?

DW: I am purchasing the sea salt, it’s natural sea salt, and then I am adding in the scent of triple milled and the colors and grinding it up and packaging it myself. I’m doing it in my kitchen. It’s great.

This will certainly keep you busy.

DW: I’m grateful and I hope that it’s really successful.

Once galas return, I think it’ll make a great addition to gift bags.

DW: Yeah, I think so too. And I also think coming from working for real estate for such a long time, it’s a great housewarming present. It’s great for people who are guests, and especially if you’re visiting or staying with someone, eventually when we get to do this again, if you’re staying with someone who doesn’t drink or has enough spirits. People always give wine, which I appreciate, especially, with “Hamptons Party Girl” and my love of rosé, but I have so much wine and this is something that I have actually gifted to people and they have really seemed to like and it’s different.

Tell us about the inaugural five scents.

DW: I have my very favorite, which is Rosé, of course. And then Beach, which is a turquoisey blue, and then Hydrangea, which is a blue/lavender mix – inspired by my own hydrangeas, actually. Then I have Sunrise and Sunset. Soon enough I’m going to be offering Sand and Privet. I’ll be adding as we go along.

Where can we find Hamptons Spa Sand?

DW: Well, I’m working with a couple of stores and I also am included in some subscription boxes. I have a Shopify account, I’ve got the Etsy account. You can buy it on Instagram, obviously, through my sites, and then there are several local shops that have expressed interest. So, there will be more ongoing with that shortly.

For more information about Hamptons Spa Sand, visit hamptonsspasand.com.