Meet the Musee Bath Founder: Heartfelt Products from Mississippi

A Journey from Capitol Hill to Mississippi

Leisha Pickering’s journey from Capitol Hill to a Mississippi farm sparked the creation of a unique bath and body company — Musee Bath, rooted in community and second chances. Through her passion for handmade products and empowerment of vulnerable populations, Leisha has built a business and a movement that transforms lives one bath bomb at a time.

Background and Life Before Moving Back to Mississippi

Leisha grew up in the South, in the Memphis area, but most of her adult life was spent in Washington, D.C., right on Capitol Hill. She was married to a U.S. Congressman, and they were raising their family just a block from the Capitol. She also worked as a pastry chef, which eventually led to event planning because she loves bringing people together and weaving all the details — food, flowers, invitations — into something beautiful.

The community there was rich, but with five boys, the cost of living, and their families back home, Mississippi kept calling them back.

Returning to Mississippi

Returning to Mississippi was a big change — from city life to a farm in Madison County, which borders the Mississippi Delta. The contrast between abundance and need was striking. Her boys loved it (hunting, fishing, being outside), but for Leisha, it took time to find her place again.

People would stop by the farm looking for work, and she began wondering if she could create something handmade that would give someone more than just an odd job. She always believed we’re meant to invest in our communities and love the people who cross our path.

Turning the Idea into Musee Bath

Not long after, Leisha went through a painful season. Her marriage ended suddenly, and she was raising five little boys. It's hard to feel joy in survival mode, but she wanted to create again. She remembered seeing bath bombs in a London shop years earlier and thought, “I can make those, and even better.”

Using the best ingredients, she made them oversized, hid a little “treasure” inside for a bit of whimsy, and started selling them with a couple of helpers at the farmers’ market. She wasn’t trying to start a company — just something small — but it grew.

From Local Sales to National Reach

The farmers’ market was seasonal, so she decided (probably naively) to rent a booth at the International Gift Market in Atlanta. She’d never been before, but it was enormous — three city blocks, 18 floors, thousands of vendors from all over the world. No one else was selling bath bombs, so she told their story to store owners, and they started ordering right there.

She’ll never forget one woman telling her, “You’re so passionate about these bath bombs.” She laughed and said, “I think we have a really good product, but what I’m most passionate about is the hands that made them.” The heart of anything is the motivation behind it. For them, it’s always been about caring for their community.

What Musee Looks Like Now

Fourteen years later, they’ve worked with nearly 10,000 stores, been on Oprah’s Favorite Things three times, and been featured on the Today Show and Good Morning America. Microsoft and Amazon have both come to Mississippi to tell their story.

But the real success is their people; this has always been a team effort. Her little idea would have gone nowhere without the vision and hands of so many. Watching their employees flourish … that’s been the most beautiful part!

Empowering Women Who’ve Faced Trauma

Musee employs women who’ve faced trauma. Many of the women they hire are coming out of prison, a population often overlooked but really vulnerable. They’ve endured abuse, substance addiction, and generational incarceration. When they leave prison, there’s little support, and many face stigma that blocks job opportunities.

At Musee, they don’t judge by their past; they invest in their potential. Some of their leaders were once incarcerated themselves, and their stories of transformation inspire everything they do.

Working with People with Disabilities

They also work with people with disabilities and others with unique challenges. Leisha has a son on the autism spectrum, so she’s sensitive to the struggles people with disabilities face in finding meaningful work. They employ individuals with Down syndrome, autism, MS, and more. They adjust jobs to fit their needs, not the other way around.

For example, one man with MS who can only work part-time came to them looking for purpose, and now he’s a valued team member. They also have employees who have missed out on educational opportunities, which limits their job options. They help them pursue GEDs, nursing school, coding programs — whatever it takes to reach their goals.

Flexibility at Musee

Flexibility is key at Musee. One employee lost her car. Without public transit, that’s a crisis. She’d been stuck paying off a bad loan for years. They bought her a reliable used car and let her repay them interest-free. They’ve done this for several employees because reliable transportation is essential not just for them, but for them to keep a dependable team.

What Drives Leisha’s Work

Leisha believes out of brokenness comes beauty. Life’s hard, but joy is possible despite pain. She wants to leave this world having loved deeply and made a positive impact. When people use their products, she hopes they feel the care and intention behind every item — because that love is what really heals and connects them.

Advice for Women Juggling Business, Family, and Everything Else

Leisha has always worked. Even after having kids, she found ways to bring in extra income. But there’s so much pressure on women to juggle everything perfectly. What she’s learned is to give herself grace and be kind to herself.

Prioritize your children; time goes by so fast. She sometimes wishes she could relive those early years, even with all the chaos. Those moments are precious and can’t be reclaimed.

At the same time, don’t forget to care for yourself. She loves to travel because it inspires her. But even if you can’t get away, find small moments to nurture your soul — whether that’s a warm bath, a walk, a good book, or coffee with a friend.

When you nurture yourself, you have more to give your children and those around you. It’s not selfish; it’s necessary.

What Leisha Cannot Live Without

Besides faith, family, or friends, three things she cannot live without are her bathtub, a good nap, and fresh flowers. For her, a bath is essential; it quiets her soul and helps her sleep better. She believes in the power of a good nap and always reaches for her ChappyWrap blanket when she settles in. Fresh flowers are a simple way to make a home feel bright and happy.

Lightning Round

Early Bird or Night Owl? I’m an early bird! I love relishing a peaceful, quiet morning.

Last book or podcast that you read or listened to (and loved)? I just finished The Sacred Romance by John Eldridge with my small group, which I loved!

What’s a staple on your vanity? Organic, cold-pressed oils are super healing and moisturizing. It’s all I need for my skin to look and feel healthy.

One place people have to go when they visit Mississippi? The Mississippi Civil Rights Museum in Jackson.

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