While it has gone through many evolutions, soap is said to have been part of ablution practices as early as 2800 BC when its construction was reported in the ancient kingdoms of Sumer and Babylon.
It is thought that back then it was conceived as a by-product of cooking over fire, created using animal fats and ashes from plants and woods. The slippery residue lifted dirt off clothing (thought to be its original purpose) and subsequently skin. It wasn’t until centuries later that the idea of scenting and firm consistencies became the norm introduced to Europe by the Arabs around the 9th century.
Fast forward to the 1980s and 1990s and soap bars fell out of popularity. During these decades, liquid formulations reigned supreme, but that has seemed to change once again. Whether it’s on account of the push for more eco practices or the associated costs, bars of soap have seen a resurgence, especially the homemade type.
Mass-produced soaps still dominate the market but there has been a surge in interest in homemade soaps. Artisans tend to produce them in small-scale operations, paying close attention to their environmental impact.
They use less water to produce, reduce the carbon emissions involved in transport as they are typically UK-made and forgo the once prevalent single-use plastic packaging. Best of all, they still remain far more purse-friendly than liquid washes. Sometimes, the old ways really are the best.
Handmade soaps will typically harness the power of nature, opting for natural, organic and ethically sourced ingredients, benefitting the planet and our skin at the same time. Alongside beautifully scented essential oils are nourishing and conditioning ingredients like shea butter that turn the ‘drying’ stereotype of soap bars on its head.
So, which brands are the key to an aromatic ablution practice? We put the independent, lesser-known artisanal soap labels to the test. Here are the ones that leave your skin healthy while imparting a heady aroma.
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Carriere Freres Solid Body Soap - Silvae
French fragrance label Carrière Frères is likely best known for its handcrafted candles with a long history that dates back to 1884. The brand has applied the same artisanal craftsmanship to its collection of soaps, teaming up with Oppidum, a small-scale manufacturer based in the south of its home country.
The collection was made through a traditional cold saponification method that maintains the integrity and beneficial properties of the plants and produces vegetable glycerine to enhance the nourishment of the skin. The premium product is then left for a month before packaging to preserve the raw materials.
There are four aromas in the collection but our favourite is Silvae which takes its fragrance inspiration from the Tuscan landscape and the cypress trees that grow there. The aromatic, woody aroma has notes of rosemary, eucalyptus, lavender and mint and a base of pine needles.
Buy now £28.00, Beauty Habit
Faith In Nature Natural Coconut Hand Soap Bar
Far ahead of its time, Faith In Nature was founded in 1974 by aromatherapist Rivka Rose to bring plant-powered, sustainable products to market, cutting single-use plastic consumption and encouraging refills from the get-go. Its soap bars are housed in compostable cardboard without the inclusion of landfill-dominating plastic and there is no waste, less water and less carbon in the manufacturing process.
There are 12 scents in the collection, from the original lavender essential oil-infused option to the invigorating rosemary aroma, but our favourite is the tropical coconut to transport you to tropical climes each time you step into the shower.
Buy now £1.74, Amazon
Eco Warrior All Over Body Soap Bar
As part of Little Soap Company’s stellar line-up of sumptuous scents, the Eco Warrior collection was created with environmentally conscious practices from start to finish. There are bars for every step in your hygiene practices, from shampoo to cleansing, exfoliating to shaving, all without sacrificing a premium feel. The ingredients used are kind to those with sensitivities.
The All Over Body Soap Bar was created to lather from head to toe, nourishing with the inclusion of shea butter in the formula. This also sets the scent of the Relaxing & Calming iteration and is naturally derived - as is the citrus essential oil that also features. The combination is vegan and organic and encourages you to take a moment of calm in your before-bed shower.
Buy now £3.37, Amazon
Soapsmith Hackney Handmade Soap
Soapsmith creates its sumptuous scents and hand and body heroes in its London studio by hand and using the traditional cold process method. While infused with the delectable aroma of bergamot, rosemary, geranium and sandalwood (inspired by the Hackney Marshes), it is also enriched with skin-loving ingredients like natural shea and coconut butter to treat the skin with conditioning components. The exterior packaging takes its design cues from Halley's Comet and was designed by a local Hackney-born astronomer Edmond Halley.
Buy now £10.00, Victoria Health
_faace Filthy Face & Body Bar
This multitasking bar of soap can be used all over your face and body to streamline your shower routine. The handmade lathering staple is infused with sumptuous oils that feel like a treat from head to toe. These include olive, coconut, castor, sweet orange and bergamot oil as well as shea butter to leave the skin feeling nourished as well as squeaky clean. The ingredients are ethically sourced and organic while the bar is free from palm oil and is vegan.
Buy now, _faace
Clovelly Soap Co Natural Handmade Cedarwood & Lemongrass Soap Bar
Closely resembling the retro packaging that you’d find in boutique soap shops, The Clovelly Soap Co will make an attractive accoutrement to your sink product curation. But unfold the wrapper and the real goodness shines with its addictive aromas that include this citrusy and woody combination of cedarwood and lemongrass that is powered through essential oils. The soap is created by hand in Devon through a cold process method so that the moisturising properties are not lost through heating. It is vegan and biodegradable.
Buy now £6.99, Amazon
Santa Maria Novella Rosa Novella Liquid Soap
While not a traditional bar of soap, Santa Maria Novella’s gel body wash makes this list as it was created by hand in the brand’s legendary Florence-based workshop. It is part of the label’s 1221 Firenze Scent collection and is enriched with the Rosa Novella aroma that combines rose and white flowers with touches of citrus and green herbal aromas. The moisturising properties come from surfactants of vegetable origin, natural saponins and calendula extract, the latter of which leaves skin silky soft.
Buy now £50.00, Harrods
Lush Handmade Soap
Lush is known and loved for its packaging-free products that extend from shampoos to soap. For the latter, the high street favourite eschews the liquid variation in favour of solid alternatives that are far kinder to the planet. In order for this to be the case, there is no plastic or palm oil that can be damaging to the environment. Instead, the soap is made from quality natural ingredients selected to balance the microbiome and scented with every possible cocktail of notes - from fresh Sea Vegetable to Rhubarb & Custard.
Buy now £6.00, Lush
