How to Choose the Right Handmade Soap for You
With so many different soaps to choose from, how do you know which one to pick?
The good news is that there isn't really a “best” soap. It comes down to what you enjoy whether you prefer fragrance or fragrance-free, something smooth or exfoliating, fresh and herbal or warm and earthy.
Our handmade soaps are all quite different, so here's a simple guide to help you find yours.
Prefer Something Simple and Fragrance Free?
Start with Pure Fragrance Free.
It's our simplest soap, with no added fragrance or essential oils, making it a great choice if you simply prefer your soap unscented.
Sometimes simple is exactly what you're looking for.
Love a Bit of Exfoliation?
Several of our soaps contain botanicals that give the bar natural texture and gentle physical exfoliation.
Hemp & Walnut contains ground walnut shell, while Gardeners, Poppy Seed & Oatmeal uses poppy seeds and oatmeal to create its characteristic texture.
If you enjoy a soap that feels a little more scrubby than a traditional smooth bar, have a look at the ingredients and choose one containing the type of natural exfoliant you prefer.
Some are much more textured than others, so this is definitely one of those occasions when personal preference matters.
Love Floral Fragrances?
You might naturally gravitate towards English Lavender or Vintage Rose.
English Lavender has that instantly recognisable aromatic lavender fragrance traditional, fresh and unmistakably lavender.
Vintage Rose is a completely different floral experience, combining rose, lavender and palmarosa for something softer and more rounded.
So even within the floral family, two soaps can smell completely different.
Prefer Something Fresh and Herbal?
Try Herbal Mint or Tea Tree & Nettle.
Herbal Mint combines peppermint, spearmint and rosemary essential oils for a wonderfully fresh, invigorating fragrance.
Tea Tree & Nettle has a similarly fresh character but combines tea tree, eucalyptus and peppermint essential oils, together with nettle and botanical leaves which add texture and gentle exfoliation.
If you're somebody who generally walks straight past the florals, this is probably a good place to start.
Like Warm, Earthy Fragrances?
Patchouli & Oat Milk takes things in a completely different direction.
With patchouli, vetiver and ylang-ylang, it has a much warmer, earthier fragrance than our fresh herbal or floral soaps.
This is a lovely choice if you tend to prefer deeper fragrances rather than anything particularly sweet or floral.
Prefer a Deeply Cleansing Soap?
Then have a look at Activated Charcoal.
Its dramatic black colour comes from activated charcoal, which also gives the soap gentle exfoliation as part of a cleansing bar.
It's a completely different-looking soap from the rest of the collection and definitely not one you're likely to mistake for English Lavender in the bathroom!
Or Perhaps You Choose by Ingredients
Sometimes it's the ingredients that catch your eye first.
You might love the simplicity of oatmeal, the traditional character of lavender flowers or the texture of poppy seeds and ground walnut shell.
Our soaps contain all sorts of botanicals, oils and other ingredients, and each combination gives the finished bar its own fragrance, appearance and texture.
So if you're interested in what actually goes into your soap, have a look at the ingredient list as well as the name on the front.
What if You Have Sensitive Skin?
Everyone's skin is different, and a product that suits one person won't necessarily suit another.
If you know you're sensitive to particular fragrance materials, essential oils or other ingredients, always check the full ingredient information before use.
If you have a diagnosed skin condition or concerns about using a particular cosmetic product, it's sensible to seek appropriate professional advice.
And, as with any cosmetic product, discontinue use if irritation occurs.
Which One Would We Choose?
Now you're asking the impossible!
Some people choose soap entirely by fragrance. Others want plenty of texture, while some would much rather have a completely smooth bar. And there are customers who discover one favourite and apparently see absolutely no reason ever to buy another one.
That's exactly how it should be.
The best soap for you is the one whose fragrance, ingredients and feel you genuinely enjoy using.
And if you're still not sure?
Trying a few is probably the nicest way to find out.
