SOAP
The (increased) number of entries for the soap category in 2023 is testament to how we are once again embracing this simplest, most minimally-packaged product in our increasingly eco-conscious lives. As awareness of packaging waste grow, there are good reasons to move to simple bar soaps, rather than hand washes. And for us, even now, there are few small pleasures comparable to opening a fresh bar of soap.
Last year, we had but three winners: this year, a magnificent seven, with a whisker between their scores, with the ‘victorious’ soaps spanning luxury to very affordable choices.
GOLD (JOINT) AWARD Officine Universelle Buly Savon Superfin Berkane Orange Blossom
Beautifully-boxed MEGA-luxury, here, from a fascinating ‘revamped heritage’ brand now owned by LVMH (who also have Louis Vuitton and Dior in their portfolio). Delivering a milky lather that promises not to dry out the skin, this is richly scented with orange blossom and orange leaves, neroli essence, bergamot, freesia and white musk. The bar gets its name from Berkane, in Eastern Morocco, the world capital of citruses, while the unusual geometric shape echoes a parterre-style garden. At this price, a soap for ‘best’ – definitely not to be left out for the kids to use.
£30 for 150g - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘This is on a totally different level to any other soap I have used, as it was so moisturising, lathered so easily and that scent that filled my bathroom and made me breathe it in deeply – it’s that intoxicating’ • ‘I will keep the box long after the soap is gone to keep on the side and put little trinkets in. It’s too beautiful the even recycle!’ • ‘Would I buy it again? YES, YES YES!!! This is the best soap I have ever used in my entire life! I love everything about it: the shape, the packaging, the scent, the texture, the lather. It’s simply stunning and for anyone who like soap, you can’t get better than this! Super long lasting as well; I've used it every day for weeks and it still holds its original shape’ • ‘Lasts very well and lasts well, too – doesn't go soft or crack, and is lovely to use’ • ‘The soap left my hands feeling soft, and not tight or stripped. I felt I didn't need to moisturise afterwards as it was very gentle and didn't “dry clean” your hands like a lot of hand soap’ • ‘A whole experience which heightened my senses and made my shower time something to look forward to, and feel like I was really treating myself. I always felt happier afterwards!’
£30 for 150g - click to buy
GOLD (JOINT) AWARD and BEAUTY STEAL (JOINT) Beauty Kin Hydrating Body Bar
This joint Gold winner is priced more for everyday use rather than ‘best’, we think. The oval shape is specifically designed to be ‘hand-friendly’ and the soap itself creates a rich lather, infused with skin-friendly emollients including moisturising squalene, tomato seed oil and jojoba. Scent-wise, it has the zesty floral-freshness of bergamot. Unusually, Beauty Kin recommend leaving the soap on for 60 seconds before rinsing, to create suppleness and banish dry patches. Even more unusually, they offer a 30-day money back guarantee on the soap if you don’t like it!
£9.95 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘10/10; I will definitely purchase this again. I usually use a shower gel but as I was so impressed with the quality – especially the scent and softness – I will now look to use soap instead’ • ‘Incredibly moisturising and soft; the most moisturising soap I have ever used. I bought several bars as Christmas presents’ • ‘I love this soap for several reasons: packaging that can be recycled and it can be used on sensitive skin. Gives a lovely cleansing foam and washes out easily from a shower puff, rather than clogging it up like a lot of shower products’ • ‘I've bought a shaving bar from the same brand for my husband as part of his birthday present, and an exfoliating bar for myself, because I really liked this shower soap bar’ • ‘Great size and shape and really nice scent that the whole family could use, if I was sharing it! ’ • ‘Absolutely would re-purchase; it's a really lovely soap. Quite often the fragrance will overpower, with soaps, but not this one’ • ‘I like the feeling of being completely clean once I've used it, and the feel of the actual soap. It doesn’t disintegrate in your hands’ • ‘It will be long lasting and I suspect good value. It’s nice to think the environmental impact is a positive one too.’
£9.95 - click to buy
SILVER (JOINT) AWARD Forest Essentials Ayurvedic Madurai Silk Soap Soundarya
We predict you’re going to be hearing much more about Forest Essentials, as Estée Lauder has invested in this authentically Indian Ayurvedic brand, and is helping them to expand worldwide – including via a flagship store in Covent Garden that is a total treat for the senses. Within the extensive range is this exquisitely-packaged soap. It’s infused with the brand’s age-defying Soyndarya serum, which blends 52 Ayurvedic herbs and cold-pressed oils, as well as 25k gold bhasma (colloidal gold), 100% pure silk and even Indian ghee, to ‘leave skin feeling touchably soft with enhanced radiance.’
£12 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I wouldn't normally give soap as a gift, but I would make an exception as I think anyone would be delighted with this; it’s so beautifully packaged, wrapped in pleated tissue in a very sturdy and pretty box – you would almost expect it to contain some very fancy chocolates. The soap itself is long-lasting, deliciously and unusually fragranced, and produces a thick and creamy lather that doesn't dry the skin’ • ‘The soap didn't dry my skin and I didn't feel I needed a moisturiser or body butter, which I sometimes do’ • ‘My skin definitely didn't have that dry, stretched feeling you get with some soap. I always moisturise after a bath or shower, but I've also used this just to wash my hands, and it didn't make them feel dry (without hand cream’ • ‘Has kept its shape very well and seems to be lasting forever’ • ‘Keen gardeners will love this product; hard working, removes dirt without drying out the skin. Lasts well, too’ • ‘The good things about this soap are the scent – exotic and herby but not overbearing – and ingredients such as ghee and cold-pressed oils, which left my skin very moisturised. I often find that soaps are drying and leave my skin feeling tight, so was delighted that this did the opposite.’
£12 - click to buy
SILVER (JOINT) AWARD ishga Shampoo & Body Bar
Proudly Scottish brand Ishga’s signature is a unique seaweed extract, which is infused here into an organic, vegetable-based bar free from SLS but enriched with lashings of glycerine, for skin comfort and moisturisation. There’s a clean, aromatic scent to this soap bar, from aromatherapeutic oils of geranium (anti-inflammatory), lemongrass (skin-healing), juniper (purifying) and lavender (to speed up skin healing). Packaging, meanwhile, is FSC-certified, completely recyclable and plastic-free. It can double as a shampoo bar, but we trialled it in the soap category. Its lack of mushiness was MUCH commented on!
£13 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘Where has this product been all my life? I will definitely be switching over; the only thing I need now is a soap dish worthy of placing it in, instead of the shelf in my shower!’ • ‘Lasted ages without getting soggy or messy. Doesn't go all mushy underneath, unlike soaps I’m used to’ • ‘I’d definitely re-purchase as this soap is natural and is created with sustainability in mind – and also the smell is to die for!!!’ • ‘Love the fragrance – this soap smells amazing. It doesn’t get soggy after use, like so many other soaps do’ • ‘A pleasure to use and could replace multiple products on holiday. I tried it as a shampoo bar, since it does “double-duty” – it doesn’t perform quite as well, but still does a good enough job’ • ‘For scent alone I would recommend this soap, as it smells absolutely amazing and cleans very well. Perfect for holidays or short getaways as it can replace three products easily’ • ‘Doesn’t get soggy after use and retains the shape really well’ • ‘Oh, my goodness! I could smell the soap as soon as I opened my Beauty Bible package. Really fresh and invigorating and so fragrant. I just sniff, it sometimes!’ • ‘Lasts longer than a shower gel, smells great, works great, less waste – what’s not to like???’
£13 - click to buy
SILVER (JOINT) AWARD and BEAUTY STEAL (JOINT) WELEDA Ginger & Petitgrain Shower Bar
Well, we tried. With all the beauty buzz about ‘Waterless Products’ (with the idea of reducing carbon footprint by not transporting water all over the world), we created a new category for this in 2023’s Awards. This was the ONLY entry, for some reason (although we did find a winner in the skin category), and – erm – it’s essentially a soap. So we moved it here. Wrapped in recyclable, zero-plastic packaging, four 100% natural ‘mood-enhancing scents’ are on offer incuding sense-awakening citrus-spice blend. The formula is based around shea butter and plant glycerine, with 100% naturally derived ingredients. Just add water!
£5.95 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I was very happy with this shower bar; it smelt amazing, and made me feel very clean and fresh. I liked its eco-friendliness and I'd definitely switch away from shower gels to this type of cleansing bar’ • ‘The smell was gorgeous – the ginger really came through. But to me this looked like soap – didn't realise it was classed as a waterless product!’ • ‘I like that it is is made from 100% plant-based, biodegradable ingredients and totally plastic- free. The scent lasted throughout use, and the bar remained in one solid piece just decreased in size with use – even up to the end, it ever broke up in half’ • ‘Easy to use and great for travel. It lightly lathers and feels so nice to use. Scent is natural and noticeable; skin always felt comfortable as it is really gentle’ • ‘A nice, creamy texture without being too gooey like most bars go. Gave a lovely lather, even though we live in a very hard water area’ • ‘My husband used it with his shaving brush and thought it was great; didn't dry out his skin at all and lathered up really well, delivering a good shave. I had to take it off him so I could test it properly as a shower bar!’
£5.95 - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD and BEAUTY STEAL (JOINT) Tisserand Aromatherapy Lavender & Neroli Soothing Hand & Body Soap
We just love it when this happens. Tisserand submitted two soaps, which went to different groups. And guess what? The scores that came back from each tester panel were almost identical. Both these winners are enriched with coconut oil and shea butter, to nurture skin while you wash, and in this case, there’s a light floral aroma of geranium, neroli and peppermint (from 100% natural essential oils). Pioneering aromatherapy brand Tisserand’s cartons are made with 100% FSC-certified cardboard, are compostable and 100% recyclable.
£6.50 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I am trying to be more sustainable and have been trying to use soap rather that shower gel. This is by far the best one I have tried; it stayed firm right to the end and the scent remained all the way through, it smells beautifully – not too strong and overpowering’ • ‘Lathers up easily and I was amazed at how soft my skin was; it felt like there was a light oil on it afterwards, it was that velvety. I used a gradual tan moisturiser afterwards and it went on beautifully’ • ‘I absolutely loved this soap and it is definitely my new go-to. It lasted perfectly right to the end; it didn't go soggy underneath in the soap dish – I've honestly not seen a soap like this before’ • ‘A fabulous soap with a wonderful scent. The scent is fabulous. It’s a creamy lather and doesn’t get messy as some other soaps do. Even though there is a strong scent it didn’t upset my skin at all. I loved it and will use it again. An added bonus is that it stays firm and doesn't melt leaving a mess, like some other soap bars do. I know they do other fragrances and would buy this again in another fragrance. Yes, because it seemed gentle, long lasting and therefore good value.
£6.50 - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD and BEAUTY STEAL (JOINT) Tisserand Aromatherapy Mandarin & May Chang Uplifting Hand & Body Soap
Same formula as the Lavender & Neroli Soothing Hand & Body Soap, with which it ties in the rankings – but with a different scent. In the case of this soap, testers enjoyed the zesty notes of lime peel, May Chang, mandarin and black pepper oil. We like Tisserand’s usage instructions, which are to massage into damp skin to create a silky lather, then take time to inhale the fragrance. We’re strong believers that you need to stop and smell the roses – or in this case, the citrus – often.
£6.50 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘I have dry skin which can become tight and dry after showering. This lovely, rich-feeling soap left my skin soft and moisturised, and lathered well’ • ‘I loved the fact the soap came in a cardboard recyclable box. Reduces my carbon footprint which is important. Gave a gentle cleansing experience; my skin did not feel dry or tight; I loved the moisturising effect on my skin and I probably could have not applied a moisturiser the soap was so gentle’ • ‘I noticed that my downstairs loo smelt of the soap for a good hour after use which was a bonus’ • ‘This does not strip or dry out the skin. Delish scent – just like sherbet lemon sweets but not too sweet’ • ‘As we are much more conscious of washing our hands so often now, it is nice to use a product that actually feels as though it is doing your skin some good, rather than stripping it of its natural oils’ • ‘A couple of people asked me what the lovely smell in my bathroom was!’ • ‘Not being a soap user, I was sceptical about using this product, however I LOVED the fragrance of it – the citrus was just so clean and natural. Also, unlike other soaps I have used albeit years ago this do not go soggy and kept its shape.’
£6.50 - click to buy
BRONZE (JOINT) AWARD and BEAUTY STEAL (JOINT) L’OCCITANE Bonne Mère Extra Pur Soap
This is another repeat win for L’Occitane in this category, an accolade for one of their simplest products of all. In the classic style of Provençale soap, this is L'Occitane's reinterpretation of the famous savon de Marseille, chic in its simplicity and created via the same process that has been used for centuries in the area, which is famously the home base for the brand. Presented as a square cube of soap without any packaging at all, it can also be used for washing linens, leaving them fresh-scented.
£6.50 - click to buy
OUR TESTERS’ COMMENTS:
‘Quite often in our household we use liquid soap for convenience, but this is lovely to use and lasts so well – even for a busy family – and is much better for the planet and the pocket to use a bar soap’ • ‘After using this, I wouldn't go back to using the old harsh artificially-scented soaps (Cussons, etc); this feels lovely and old-fashioned with a luxurious feeling of being a bit of a treat to have in your bathroom, so I can envision using/purchasing it regularly’ • ‘I like the traditional feel of it. Skin felt fine, it didn't feel dry and tight like soap normally makes your skin feel. I didn't moisturise afterwards, but might need to once the heating is on etc. and skin is drying out more’ • ‘It has lasted well, still plenty left after a few months. It feels like a little luxury in every day’ • ‘This soap is good value for money and lasts ages and I think most people would be really happy about that, in these times!’ • ‘It created a smooth creamy lather, not bubbly which helped it to feel more moisturising It smelt creamy and clean, like a classic French soap It was very gentle and not at all drying on my skin. I did not feel the need to apply moisturiser afterwards.’
£6.50 - click to buy