Love Affair with Perfumed Soap

My first scented purchase—made when I was ten—was not perfume.  Rather, it was soap, in the shape and smell of a peach. The soap cost a dime and I was loathe to use it, since this luxurious object purchased at a church bazaar would be impossible to replace. I recall the weight of the soap in my hand and the globular shape that split in half to reveal a pit.  I adored the smooth texture of the soap and the delightful scent as I put the soap to my nose to smell the sweet, fruity aroma.

soap

The enjoyment of fragrant soap has not changed for me.  Finding a new soap that has rich, creamy lather and sublime fragrance is always a treat.  Often, the fragrance from soap is the only one I want to wear for the day, and this is especially true when I’m suffering from olfactory fatigue.  That’s when I reach for a lightly scented soap, perhaps one with a marine or fruity fragrance. I’ve always been thrilled when a favorite fragrance has a complementary soap (or shower gel) and there are occasions where the soap is the only form of a fragrance that works for me.

Soap in a dish is a perfect travelling companion, so much easier to tote around than bottles of shower gel.  Soap is also home fragrance, when it is a highly scented bar.  I keep Coco Mademoiselle soap in my bathrooms for its ability to waft patchouli and on my desk is a little cake of soap that smells of apples and spice.

Here are some of my favorite soaps.  This is a short version; the truth is I could probably expand it by another 20. These are the soaps I return to time and time again and that I give as gifts, and ones I will always want to have on hand.

Maria Evora Carob Mineral Soap

This black soap from Spain smells not of carob bean but of the sea, with a rich white lather and gentle trace of the scent lingering on the skin.  It’s a unisex scent that anyone can enjoy and I always keep a bar handy.

Eau d’Italie

The namesake fragrance of the Italian luxury hotel is also available in scented soap.  The scent of the soap has the same development as the perfume—citrus followed by creamy magnolia with hints of herbs, woods, and incense.  A set of three makes a great gift.

Claus Porto Ilyria

The Claus Porto line from Portugal is enormous, with four different lines of soap. I once spent a couple of hours trying to smell all of them.  My favorite is Ilyria, a honeysuckle soap that is the essence of a sweet spring.  Honeysuckle doesn’t interest me much as a perfume note, but the soap makes me swoon. They also make a stunning tuberose soap called Voga.

Floris Limes

Based on a traditional barbershop cologne scent, Limes smells of musky lily of the valley beneath the tart citrus opening.  It’s sweet enough to be feminine, is very refreshing, and it is one I reach for often in the summer.  Another unisex bar!

Tallba Pine

A heavy hitter from Sweden, Tallba Pine smells of what else but a Swedish pine forest, sweet and sappy.  The fragrance is strong enough that I use it when I don’t plan on wearing any other scent.  It’s clean and invigorating and not in the least like Irish Spring.

Agraria Bitter Orange

Green bitter leaves and sweet pulpy orange are mouthwateringly realistic in this soap based on the popular home fragrance line.  This soap is ideal for layering and works so well with many of my perfumes. Before the wide availability of this product through the Internet, I once spent a week trying to track it down and finally located it by phone at a hair salon in California.

Maja

The famous Spanish perfume also comes in this soap, which is highly scented with the same spicy, woodsy, Oriental tones. Maja was one of my first luxury soap purchases when I was a teenager; it seemed so chic and sophisticated!

L’Occitane Cleansing & Soothing Shower Oil with Almond Oil

Technically not soap, but a must-have for smooth and silky skin with a delicate soapy/sweet scent suitable for anyone to use.  Perfect for wintertime use and if you layer it with the body oil mist, there’s a delicate scent that lasts throughout the day.

Molton Brown Myrrh, Muske & Cypress Fine Liquid Hand Wash

My current favorite soap is more than just a hand wash. I use it as a shower gel. My brother uses it as a shampoo.  This liquid soap has the most amazing woody cypress scent cut through with myrrh, and when paired with the lotion lasts all day.

Harrod’s Scottish Lavender

Lavender soaps are fairly ubiquitous, but my favorite has the Harrod’s name embossed on it and it arrives in a little tin (which I use for paperclips when the soap is gone).  Wonderfully herbal, crisp, and slightly green, this lavender soap is a great pick-me-up for a slow morning.

What are your favorite soaps, bar or liquid?  Has anyone tried the Nesti Dante line from Italy?  They have a soap named “Villages and Monasteries” that I would love to hear about!

Photography by Bois de Jasmin

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77 Comments

  • JoannElaine: The first thing I bought with my own money (pennies saved in a piggy bank) was a bar of peach scented soap too!

    The soap came in a small square box decorated with a drawing of Snoopy. I still remember the soft fruity smell!

    I adore Youth Dew soap but it is next to impossible to find.

    Claus Porto soaps are wonderful as are Roger & Gallet soaps. Their carnation is a delight – creamy and spicy with lots of lather. I want to try their Fleur d’Osmanthus line next.

    I also keep soaps in my dresser. Each time I open a drawer, the soap’s scent lightly perfumes the air. February 21, 2013 at 7:36am Reply

    • Suzanna: Keeping soap in a dresser is a great idea, so thanks for sharing it!

      Youth Dew soap sounds like something that needs to be brought back to the market. It might convince me to use YD, in that form. February 21, 2013 at 8:31am Reply

  • The Blue Squid: That was an excellent delurking cue!

    I bought some of the Nesti Dante “Villages and Monasteries” on Saturday just gone and I’m busting it out in the shower of a morning. To me, it is a lovely quiet greenish cool incense, well worth the price of admission.

    Thank you to everyone at Bois De Jasmin. It’s always a pleasure to read the elegant writing on this blog. I wave my royal blue tentacles in salute. February 21, 2013 at 7:37am Reply

  • Suzanna: Ah! Thank you for delurking and describing the Villages and Monasteries! You realize you have just enabled me (and who knows how many countless others). Also, thanks for the compliments on Victoria’s blog. Much appreciated, your Royal Squidness! February 21, 2013 at 8:32am Reply

  • Aubrey: I looooooove the Atelier Cologne Grand Neroli soap. The large bars scent the entire bathroom, last forever, aren’t very drying and smell lovely. They create abundant lather, too. February 21, 2013 at 9:13am Reply

    • Suzanna: The Atelier soaps are amazing. I’ve given the vanilla one as a gift on many occasions. February 21, 2013 at 9:36am Reply

  • Elizabeth: Scented soaps are my favorite moderately-priced indulgences. Last year I bought a linden soap in Germany. It was wonderful! I need to get more. I also love the rose soap from L’Occitane. February 21, 2013 at 9:55am Reply

    • Suzanna: L’Occitane does wonderful rose-scented bath items. Highly recommended!

      Linden soap sounds marvelous. February 21, 2013 at 2:36pm Reply

      • Andrea: Mistral made a Linden soap, it may have been called Linden Lettuce. It was quite nice, and the smell was amazing. I got it at a spa I used to frequent (Lake Austin Spa; try it if you are ever out this way!) but now I just have the travel candle. They have other scents which are wonderful as well… February 22, 2013 at 5:01am Reply

  • Absolute Scentualist: My first bar of soap was a lovely rose pink colored heart shaped Rosewater glycerin bar from Crabtree & Evelyn. It was a birthday gift from my mother and I loved how beautiful it was both in look and fragrance. Perfumed soaps are an item I enjoy but don’t use often, unfortunately, because we have pretty hard water for now… Though that’s soon to be remedied. I still like Crabtree & Evelyn’s soap, especially their Lavender and Rosewater fragrances. Natori’s soap is gorgeous and for something far less expensive, I love TBS’s Satsuma bar soap. It’s beautiful, highly scented and makes me feel instantly cheerful when I use it. I’m dying to try a Chanel No. 5 soap bar or the black bar from Cinq Mondes, and would very much appreciate any and all suggestions for an incense scented soap or shower gel while we’re on the topic. 🙂 February 21, 2013 at 10:01am Reply

    • Suzanna: All of the Chanel soaps are great, and No. 5 is perhaps the best.

      Incense–I got a sample of a bath gel from England in the Barney’s GWP the other day. Noble Isle Fireside. Absolutely scrumptious, but not sold in the US yet. February 21, 2013 at 2:38pm Reply

      • susan: Rance soaps are glorious. Originally from France, and now made in Italy, they have superlative fragrance, and are exquisitely packaged. Almost too beautiful to use. February 21, 2013 at 3:09pm Reply

        • Suzanna: A friend of mine recommended Rance to me, too. Why have I not looked into this (hurrying away)… February 21, 2013 at 5:41pm Reply

  • Geneviève: What an interesting article! I have a very delicate and fragile skin and almost all the scented soap makes me scratch… Actually for the moment I found that Roger & Gallet was ok on my skin, but that’s all. I wanted to know if, one of you, have also a very sensitive skin and if so, can you recommend me a scented soap that works for you ? 🙂 February 21, 2013 at 10:05am Reply

    • Austenfan: You may want to try the rose or jasmin fragranced alep soaps. They are very soft on your skin.
      Also the Bonne Mère soaps by L’ Occitane are quite gentle as well. February 21, 2013 at 2:20pm Reply

      • Geneviève: Thank you very much!!! It really helps! February 21, 2013 at 3:34pm Reply

        • solanace: I really like the smell of Welleda baby soap. And it works on my sensitive face, so it might be worth trying. February 21, 2013 at 6:28pm Reply

          • Geneviève: Thank you, I never heard of that ! I”ll make my researches !!!! February 22, 2013 at 9:48am Reply

    • Suzanna: I would try the shower oil I recommend above, from L’Occitane. February 21, 2013 at 2:38pm Reply

      • Geneviève: Thank you Suzanna! I tend to see also that shower gel are more gentle on the skin, but perhaps it’s just an impression. Thank you, I wanted to try for a long time soaps or shower gels of l’Occitane, but I always take time to buy things when I’m not sure if my skin will like it! Thank you! February 21, 2013 at 3:36pm Reply

    • sylvie: I, too, have extremely sensitive skin and can’t use many fragrant soaps. My recommendations may be pedestrian, but they work for me . I simply adore Dr. Bronner’s bar soaps. All are fabulous, but my favorites are eucalyptus and peppermint. Another old fashioned favorite is Pear’s soap which has a wonderful rosemary fragrance. February 21, 2013 at 5:35pm Reply

      • Suzanna: Sylvie, thanks for letting us know what you use. And Pear’s is just such a classic staple.

        My BF loves Dr. Bronner’s peppermint. February 21, 2013 at 5:43pm Reply

  • DONNA M INLOW: Suzann – thank you for sharing your soap loves. Santa Maria Novella Melograno soaps are a luxurious splurge. I love many of the brands you mention, but SNM Melograno top my list. The pomegranate fragrance is the best. February 21, 2013 at 10:06am Reply

    • Suzanna: There is a lot of enabling going on here! Have not yet tried the SMN soaps, but will for sure. February 21, 2013 at 5:43pm Reply

  • Portia: I love the smell of Indian Sandalwood Soap and Tabac Original has a really mellow, homely, masculine scent too. ETRO does a good soap too, they were in our hotel in Venice and we loved them so much that I asked for a take home one. YUM.
    The Guerlain Eau Imperial mini soaps were a gift with purchase recently too and they are super special and highly scented.
    As you can see, you are not alone in your soap fetish.
    Portia xx February 21, 2013 at 11:16am Reply

    • nikki: Oh yes, Tabac Original, what a great idea, I have to get one! I love scented soaps and also keep them in my lingerie drawers and between bedlinens. I use Maja or Magno soaps for the kitchen, and I love Spellbound and Vetiver soaps in the shower.

      The vetiver soap by Frederick Malle is amazing, it is highly scented and the whole bathroom smells like it.

      Scented soaps are great! February 21, 2013 at 1:06pm Reply

      • solanace: Huuummm, this Malle soap must be amazing! February 21, 2013 at 6:31pm Reply

    • Suzanna: No one is ever alone on BdJ, no matter the fragrance topic, it seems!

      Etro–oh, dear. I must get a soap from them. February 21, 2013 at 2:39pm Reply

  • Irene: Hello! I´m also new to commenting on the site, which I´ve been avidly reading for a while! I´m also a soap lover and my latest discovery is an Italian brand called L´erbolario. I just came back from Italy with a beautiful dark green velvet round box containing to soap bars of Hedera, a wonderfully green citrusy ivy scent.
    I also keep my underwear in a drawer perfumed with soaps from Bvlgari Eau Perfumee au Thé Vert. I never found them in a shop, but en Ebay they are very easy to purchase. February 21, 2013 at 11:22am Reply

    • Suzanna: Welcome, Irene, and thanks for commenting! I can see you are going to be an enabler (yay!), since now I want that Italian soap. Thanks! February 21, 2013 at 2:40pm Reply

  • TheSnailsPajamas: I use the Nesti Dante fruit and vegetable soaps – my favorites are cucumber, fig, artichoke, and lettuce – all leave a soft lingering scent and the soaps lather beautifully and don’t go mushy. Other favorites are Claus Porto double (sweet) almond, R&G shiso, ginger, and green tea, Crabtree jojoba (love the bath oil too) and L’occitane lavender. I remember my first scented soap purchase too – a bar of Crabtree & Evelyn apricot kernal. I used to love looking at the Caswell-Massey scented soaps a a kid – they had fabulous boxes. February 21, 2013 at 11:56am Reply

    • Suzanna: All wonderful suggestions!

      I don’t dislike anything from Claus Porto. Lately some have made their way to TJ Maxx. February 21, 2013 at 2:41pm Reply

      • Daisy: I love it when that happens! If I see them, I look around to see if anyone noticed them too. Then I grab them all! February 22, 2013 at 2:03pm Reply

  • Daisy: Wonderful post, Suzanna! Alas, my overly sensitive skin tends to react poorly to bar soaps 🙁 However, I do love a good liquid hand soap and the Claus Porto ones are fabulous. Ilyria is beautiful. I am currently rocking the red poppy one in my bathroom. It smells like sandalwood to me.

    Come to think of it, I don’t think I could identify a red poppy smell. Do they even have a scent? February 21, 2013 at 12:56pm Reply

    • Suzanna: Glad you like the liquid Claus Porto soaps, Daisy! Voga is also grand.

      Red poppy doesn’t have a smell, I don’t think. V. would know! February 21, 2013 at 2:42pm Reply

  • Austenfan: I love scented soaps. I tend to buy mine whenever I am in France. I try to find a small (artisanal) soap maker and buy from them.
    The only more sophisticated soaps I own are a few Nicolaï ones that I got with perfume orders. I have a Cédrat and an Eau d’Eté one. They smell great and are fairly skin friendly.

    Lovely to see you mention the Maja soaps. My grandmother used those for as long as I can remember. She wasn’t interested in fine fragrance but she loved her Maja soaps. I got a bar the other day, to remind me of her. February 21, 2013 at 2:26pm Reply

    • Suzanna: How wonderful, Austenfan! What a nice scented memory! And that soap really is special.

      Love artisanal soaps, but I am a terrible impulse buyer and have to show, I think, some restraint. February 21, 2013 at 2:43pm Reply

      • Austenfan: Your post reminded me of a latent fear I have of my house being flooded. I live in the Netherlands after all.
        I think my place would start foaming quite alarmingly. I have lots of soaps. It might even hit the news. February 21, 2013 at 3:00pm Reply

        • Suzanna: :–) February 21, 2013 at 5:44pm Reply

        • solanace: 🙂 🙂
          A gigantic bathtub!

          My dearest aunt loved Maja soaps too. She, who let me wear her Joy, Jolie Madame, Anais Anais, Rumba… It really moved me to see Maja listed here! February 21, 2013 at 6:41pm Reply

          • Suzanna: Maja is quite a good classic, and is one of those bath products that can stand in for a perfume. I like that one certain days in the summer. February 22, 2013 at 9:46am Reply

    • Victoria: Such a beautiful memory to have the fragrance in your home. February 21, 2013 at 5:15pm Reply

      • Victoria E.: I am not the Victoria that owns this site. I am adding my middle initial to not confuse anyone. February 21, 2013 at 5:19pm Reply

  • Nicole: My favourite soap as a child was Knights Castile, in original and amber. Soft, soapy and powdery. Sadly they are no longer as the company was bought by Pentel, and they changed the mix. Sigh.
    My grandmother used to make us ‘swan soaps’ for Christmas, they would be a bar of lemon scented soap, tied with tulle in the shape of a swan. That lemon soap was the ‘lemoniest’ fragrance out.
    Nowadays, I like good quality rose and lavender soaps stored with my linen, amongst the sheets, pillowcases, towels and blankets, and to bathe with, anything that is triple milled. Savon d’Marseilles in Lime Blossom or Violet are my absolute favourites. I recently bought some L’Occitane soap but am yet to try, I’ve heard good things about them. I’d love to try the Floris Limes one, or the Carob Mineral soap…they sound amazing.
    When my nose is fatigued, sometimes I just like the smell of Dove soap. February 21, 2013 at 3:42pm Reply

    • Rose D: I also go for Dove soap when I need something familiar and comforting. It is one of the best beauty treats found at any supermarket aisle. February 21, 2013 at 4:19pm Reply

    • Suzanna: Floris Limes is so amazing. I am hooked on that smell.

      Maria Evora isn’t that well known, but it’s terrific. A black soap that smells of sea minerals. February 21, 2013 at 5:45pm Reply

  • Rose D: Maja! I am a huge fan of their scented soaps (shower gel is excellent as well).

    Apart from this, I also love L´Occitane Bonne Mere, and not only for the scent. The formula is very gentle to the skin, yet the cleansing is thorough.

    As far as shower gels, my absolute favourite is Molton Brown Warming Eucalyptus. Its natural scent works specially well during colder months: using it for a warm shower eases breathing. A plus? Even the travel size bottle lasts forever. February 21, 2013 at 4:14pm Reply

    • Suzanna: I think quite highly of the Molton Brown line in general, so it’s nice to hear of another enjoyable product. February 21, 2013 at 5:46pm Reply

      • Andrea: My last experience with Moulton Brown: I was recently staying at a hotel in CA and had a sore throat in the middle of the night. I got up and decided to gargle with the mouthwash the hotel provided; it was a bright blue wash. Only it wasn’t…as I tipped it into my mouth it didn’t flow so I squeezed it (being too tired to guess WHY!)… Half the bottle dumped into my mouth!. Molten Brown bath gel does not make a good mouthwash. (A new thread: bath gels I have tasted…) February 22, 2013 at 1:55pm Reply

        • Daisy: Oh no, Andrea! That sounds like a very un-tasty mix-up! I have a somewhat related story: I was really, really tired one night and decided that I was going to try out some body cream sample. Only it wasn’t body cream. I opened up one of the ketchup packets that came with my delivered dinner. Even worse, it took me a minute to figure out why the “body cream” was red! February 22, 2013 at 1:59pm Reply

          • Andrea: Oh, Daisy! That is way worse!. So funny!!! At the very least, I’ll bet ketchup has vitamin C and could act as a slight acid peel… Thanks for letting me know I am not alone in my mistake! February 22, 2013 at 2:36pm Reply

            • Daisy: Definitely not alone 🙂

              My mix-up was one of those moments when I was both thankful that no one else was around to witness it, and wishing that someone was there to laugh with me! February 22, 2013 at 2:58pm Reply

  • CM: I love a good scented shower gel or soap. Primal Elements makes glycerine soap in delightful fun scents with lots of throw.

    A while back, I did some mini reviews on shower gels and give L’Artisan shower gels a thumbs up for nice scent and lather and for being non-drying to skin. Mure et Musc is my favorite. February 21, 2013 at 6:35pm Reply

    • Suzanna: I haven’t explored the L’Artisan, but now that you mention it… February 21, 2013 at 9:57pm Reply

  • silverdust: What memories! I remember my first exposure to French-milled, scented soap — a 1970’s-era gift box of Rive Gauche my sister (then a student teacher) received from her mentor. The soap was to die for.

    I used to wear Beautiful but got overwhelmed with it. I still had two milled, scented soaps up until a few years ago. I gave one away and stashed the other in my lingerie drawer. Wonder what I could get for it on eBay? February 21, 2013 at 8:21pm Reply

    • Suzanna: I had that Rive Gauche soap, bought on eBay in a gift set, not all that long ago, so there is always hope for all vintage soaps, one hopes for less cash than perfumes. February 21, 2013 at 9:56pm Reply

  • Sherry: I used to love the Jojoba Seashell soaps from Crabtree & Evelyn. I used to work there, back in 1989-1990. I really loved all their soaps and shower gels. I don’t use bar soap anymore though, because I find it makes my skin really taut. I’m a big shower gel fanatic!! My favorite shower gel is by Lancome. It’s called Savon Fraichelle. I never tire of it. It smells fabulous!! February 21, 2013 at 11:31pm Reply

    • Suzanna: Oh, dear. I now have a list of 20 items and then I see this Lancome shower gel.

      This post has been so much fun, since everyone had different products to add. February 22, 2013 at 9:45am Reply

  • Nicole: OK, now I’m going to have to try and find some Maja soap…
    Lush soaps are another fave, unfortunately they don’t last long, BUT, if you store them in the cupboard with your hot water cylinder in it, they do last a bit longer. I can’t handle the Karma fragrance though, it’s just too ‘in your face’. February 22, 2013 at 12:38am Reply

    • Andrea: I think I saw the line at SteinMart in the US; at any rate it was a whole line from Spain and had powder, lotion, perfume, etc… I seem to recall that the bottles advertised it as a fragrance that had been around for many years. I hope that is the right one! February 22, 2013 at 5:07am Reply

      • Suzanna: Thanks for mentioning where you saw that line, Andrea. The last I noticed it in a store was in a boutique in Cocoa (not Cocoa Beach), FL. February 22, 2013 at 9:44am Reply

    • Suzanna: I can’t handle Karma either. It just doesn’t work for me. I used to give their bath bombs as gifts, though, although now I find them too strong (I developed bad allergies in FL). February 22, 2013 at 9:43am Reply

  • lupo: I’m lucky enough to live in Middle East, where olive oil soap is available everywhere: the brown Aleppo soap is particulalry lovely, very rich texture and while smelling neutral it has a sort of citronelle buttery smell and on my skin it turns into sort of bitter almonds. However, Prada Infusion d’Homme soap is wonderful, but how about Imperial Leather? 🙂 I just love to smell it… February 22, 2013 at 2:25am Reply

    • Suzanna: Haven’t smelled any of those, but they sound wonderful! Thanks for adding them! February 22, 2013 at 9:42am Reply

    • Nicole: OMG…we loove Imperial Leather soap. Excellent quality, fresh, clean smell, beautiful lather that just rinses off and extremely economical. February 22, 2013 at 7:19pm Reply

  • Andrea: Every time we go to a topic related to fragrance (rose lipgloss! Lotions! Dry oils!) I think “ohhh, this is my favorite subject, I love (fill in the blank)! Now I am doing it again, and I realize that I am an unrecovered product junkie…

    My all-time favorite body wash is Sonya Dakar Verbena Cypress. I get it automatically each month from Dermstore, and they also have a matching body oil that I like. The smell makes me happy! Plus, it is so gentle yet really cleanses well.

    I went on a trip and forgot my travel size of Verbena Cypress, so I purchased Kiehl’s body cleanser at Saks. It is the new “Aromatic Blends” line (according to SA) and the scents are Nashi Blossom and Pink Grapefruit (my choice), Vanilla and Cedarwood, Orange Flower and Lychee. Tempted yet? They had matching lotion, and also had sample packets of all. I also use Pacifica Persian Rose body wash (Whole Foods) when I want to layer with a rose fragrance that day. I have Crabtree and Evelyn rose, but it too drying for me.

    I introduced my husband and son to Badedas, and they use the bath gel/shampoo-in-one. I can smell it through the whole house when my son takes his bath! He even has kids at school smelling his hair, as it is quite fragrant.

    Lastly, when I am doing PT in warm therapy pool, the chlorine is caustic so I shower there with Elemis Skin Nourishing Shower Cream. It smells like baby powder, but it is super pampering and soothing to my skin. Sorry this is so long, but I wanted to share some favorites for those who may be interested.:-) February 22, 2013 at 5:31am Reply

    • Suzanna: No apologies necessary, Andrea, these are all great suggestions! I know none of them, and from the first suggestion I was madly scribbling. Verbena cypress, you say?

      Badedas sometimes shows up in the discounters, I think, so will have to keep an eagle eye. February 22, 2013 at 9:41am Reply

      • Andrea: Suzanna, let me know what you think if you try the Dakar! I have used all of that line (Body by Dakar) and the Vita-Exfoliant scrub is also really great.

        I would love to find Badedas at a discounter… I hauled a few bottles back from an apothecary in Chicago; my suitcase smelled of it even though it never spilled! It has to be the most highly fragranced bath gel I have ever tried. My son says if he gets his hair wet the fragrance wafts everywhere; his fourth grade friends were all asking what he uses and smelling his head! February 22, 2013 at 1:41pm Reply

    • Nicole: Badedas…I adore this stuff. Sadly is no longer available in New Zealand, although we can purchase it online, but usually at a cost of around $50? February 22, 2013 at 7:21pm Reply

  • Andy: I’m a huge fan of fragrant soaps. Lately I’ve been enjoying the orange blossom scented soap from Compagnie de Provence, which is one of the soap bars up in Victoria’s photo above. They’ve been selling them at Marshalls lately, my favorite place to search for nicely scented soaps. They are not typically too expensive I don’t think, but I’ve never found this brand anywhere else. Anyway, it’s pure enjoyment in the shower! February 22, 2013 at 6:42am Reply

    • Suzanna: Andy, I’m with you on Marshalls (and Maxx) for soaps. Orange blossom note is one of my favorites, and since I wrote this post I have to add that Trader Joe’s Orange Blossom Honey French liquid soap is a stunner. They’ve only just opened a store here and it keeps selling out.

      You’d prob. love it! February 22, 2013 at 9:39am Reply

  • renee b: This is s fun article! I see lots of goodies I want to try….I love “fresh” soaps: Sugar Lychee, Mangosteen, Citron de Vigne. Big, lathery bars 🙂 They are awesome to store in the closet until you use them too! For body wash, Origins Ginger Burst is so invigorating and creamy in the winter, ummmm. And Origins salt rub soap and body wash are great in the summer, with the spearmint and sea salt, refreshing! Aveda’s oval soap has a distinctive “Aveda-ish” aroma, herbal and clean, , leaves your bathroom smelling clean when you use it, and is also nice in the summer. February 22, 2013 at 11:29am Reply

    • Suzanna: Oh, yes, Fresh soaps are a delight.

      And thanks for adding to the recs. We have quite a compendium going here. Love it! February 24, 2013 at 9:39am Reply

  • allgirlmafia: Auromere makes a Turmeric-Sandalwood bar that smells like India and vitality! Every time I smell it, it makes me swoon madly. Chandrika makes one similar with almost the same effect. I like ’em real bad. February 22, 2013 at 12:46pm Reply

    • Suzanna: Wonderful! I am googling right now. February 24, 2013 at 9:39am Reply

  • Annikky: Suzanna, I am so very late for this, but wanted to thank you for the post – scented candles and soap are both relatively new territory for me and I really appreciate the help. I have now spent the entire morning on Claus Porto web site and Voga definitely has my name on it…

    PS I have been surprisingly happy with Lady Gaga’s Fame soap. I bought it because of the colour, as my bathroom is mostly black and grey. But the scent actually works really well as a soap and the quality is good, in my opinion. February 23, 2013 at 4:52am Reply

    • Suzanna: I didn’t even know there was a Fame soap, but now that you mention it, I can see where it would work well in that format!

      Enjoy Claus Porto; I certainly do! February 24, 2013 at 9:38am Reply

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