So it seemed a natural progression, about 20 years later, to make soap that "looked good enough to eat".
Ms Adams has always been keen on creative work and, after running the bakery in Palmerston North, she worked as a ceramic artist as well as "a few other creative pursuits".
The Dunedin woman has been making soap for the past few years and full time for the past three.
As well as wanting to produce high-quality soap, Ms Adams wanted it to be visually appealing. She wanted people to "stop and do a double take".
So, along with standard bars of soap, she has created large round "cakes" which were cut into wedges, and cup cakes.
When selling at markets, she used white tablecloths and cake stands "so it looks absolutely delicious".
As far as creating her artworks, there was a very short time frame in which to do it. The soap hardened in about 15 minutes so she had to work quickly and it was an intense period.
"I tell my family, 'no talking to me ... I need to create'," she said, laughing.
Ms Adams kept the price of her soap reasonably low as her underlying philosophy was that she wanted everyone to be able to treat themselves "to a little luxury".
She also made various skin-care products and was looking to expand her body-care range.
Every Saturday, she and her partner, Graeme Greenan, have stalls at the arts and crafts market at Earnslaw Park in Queenstown, which she described as a "fabulous" market.
Mr Greenan recycled glass bottles and, using heat and pressure, flattened them to make clocks.
He also sold them through various breweries and also did barometers and tide clocks, as well as art pieces.
"We live in a house surrounded by many bottles," Ms Adams said, laughing.
It was often word of mouth that led to him receiving bottles and many people dropped them off.
Some interesting bottles turned up.
While it was a huge effort travelling to and from Queenstown year round, it was something the couple enjoyed.
They enjoyed the contact with people and seeing happy customers, and the view out the "office" window, looking across at the Remarkables mountain range, was also "pretty good".
While it was a lifestyle choice, which had "its pluses and minuses", Ms Adams said she got a thrill from being self-employed and creating her own product.
