Is there anything more excruciating than finding the solution to a problem when it is too late to use it?
Arguably, yes, and if there’s not - then forcing yourself to take a shower on a hot day is a close second. So you can imagine my agony when I found out about TikTok’s favourite cooling soap AFTER this summer’s heatwaves.
Why did nobody tell me about Dr. Bronner’s peppermint soap sooner?
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“Scented with organic peppermint oil to cool skin, clear sinuses and sharpen mind,” the soap sounds like a dream come true. It’s got plenty of TikTok praise and glowing reviews that back up its incredible qualities.
One fan, @hazelluve even "had to put on three sets of pyjamas and get under a heated blanket" after taking a shower with the liquid version. She added that stepping out of the shower felt like entering “the North Pole” - much to her delight.
Another reviewer said: "It’s like being kissed by Jack Frost."
So, when I was gifted the bar version of the same soap, I was delighted, albeit a little dismayed not to have discovered it earlier. Still, I was excited, and a little scared, to try it out.
If my anticipation levels were already high when I stepped into the shower, they skyrocketed when I inspected the bar. Covered in messages, the brand uses its packaging to spread a message of "unity across religious and ethnic divides".
As the back of the bar explains, the company was founded in 1948 by Emmanuel Bronner, a third-generation master soapmaker from a German-Jewish family, who wanted to help make the world a better place. Talking of protecting the world - the bar also specifies which of its ingredients are certified Fair Trade.
I really wanted to like it. But, of course, the ultimate test of a product is its use. I’m glad to report that both times I’ve tried it - once at the gym and once at home - I left the shower feeling refreshed and invigorated. While the strong peppermint scent is lovely in the shower, it does not leave the room with you - which might be positive or negative depending on your persuasion.
Feeling minty fresh without the scent was a personal plus for me, as it made me feel squeaky clean, as if starting my day all over again.
It is for this reason I’m loath to say anything negative about the soap. But I never felt the sucker-punch kick of coolness other reviewers claimed to experience. I was left wondering: “Did I use the soap incorrectly? Is there a wrong way to use soap?”
You see, following my hot shower at the gym, I failed to notice any change in my temperature. And even after finishing with a splash of cold water when I tried to soap at home, there was no drastic difference to normal. Perhaps I felt a little cooler but I couldn’t tell if this was from the soap or the shower’s temperature. Maybe the cool temperature on both days was to blame.
So the soap did not deliver quite the wash I was expecting. Sharpened mind? Check. Clear sinuses? Check. Cool skin? It remains to be seen.
Hopefully, I will soon find out because I loved this product and I’m going to keep using it. I also plan to try out the different scents, as I think the entire range sounds delightful. With options like lavender, rose, and cherry blossom, to name a few, I reckon most shoppers must feel spoilt for choice. With the bar coming in at a respectable £5.49, its price and size, when accounting for the longevity of bar soaps, also mean it is good value for money. I’d rate it 4/5.
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