Once the preferred cleansing agents of the hygiene-apathetic, bar soaps have recently become desirable for the head, face, and to body with their scent, sustainability and sensibilities.
Usage of the humble bar soap has been slowly replaced by liquids sold in plastic dispensers over the years and we have forgotten what it was about the block that has made it a perennial grooming item since its debut in 2,800 B.C. There is no chance of it spilling onto the shower floor (which in turn prevents wastage), it packs easily into whatever one places it into (as a bonus, it does not count as a liquid at TSA) and leaves a scent trail that lasts even longer than that of its liquid version.
However, we have recently noticed that some of the best ones can pull double duty as a cleanser for the body, face and hair.
The little scrubby bits in the Björk and Berries Scrub Soap makes for lightweight but efficient exfoliation.
It might seem counter-intuitive to use bar soaps in modern times when there are more modern and moisturising products, but their difference continues beyond their scent and sustainability. Bar soaps are commonly made from saponified animal fat and/or plant oils that are “recognised” by the skin.
On the other hand, liquid soaps are mostly petroleum-based and contain the nasties — sulphates, parabens and methylchloroisothiazolinone — that stabilise its formula, which potentially triggers or increases sensitivity.
The naysayers might add that bar soaps can be more drying or dirty than their fluid forms, but the fact of the matter is that their more modern counterparts now boast lower pH levels that mimic that of the skin. As for their perceived grubbiness, a study by soap supremo Dial Corporation shows that bacteria does not transfer from a used bar to the body.
The Christian Dior Paris Ambre Nuit Solid Soap has the exact same scent as its EDP, a more elegant way to keep its scent going.
Today, these bars pictured here attract the most rave reviews not only because of the ways they can be used — where their suds can be spread from head to toe if one decides to pack light or pare down (a patch test is always recommended) — or because of how they elegantly wear down to perfect wafer-thin discs in the shower.
Bar soaps are popular because they can be used in a way that defies what they were traditionally made for — leave them in cupboards or on shelves where they contribute to the scent spectre of one’s home for extended periods.
It is like lighting a candle in one’s house where the whole place smells great, including him.
Photography Jaya Khidir
Styling Manfred Lu
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