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For a hygiene essential that allegedly dates back to 2,800 BC — when instructions on how to make a primitive version of it first appeared in ancient Babylon, according to the American Cleaning Institute — soap has never looked more modern. In fact, this universal part of daily life, once considered boring, is seeing a resurgence of sorts: powered by luxury brands that are going all out by making bar soap offerings which could be mistaken for art objects.
It’s hard to put a finger on the pulse of what exactly brought on the recent bar soap market boom, but perhaps it has something to do with the pandemic. In the Covid-19 era, handwashing became all the more ritualized and bar soaps evolved to blend form and function (with a bigger emphasis on the former).
Maybe the beauty industry’s no-holds-barred push towards sustainable practices factored into this shift, too. After all, bar soap was for a time villainized (too germ-laden, too inconvenient), before people realized that it lasts longer than its liquid soap counterpart and gives more opportunities for the use of eco-friendly packaging. Whatever the catalyst may be, luxury soaps are here to stay… and they’ve never looked better.
Top Luxury Bar Soaps of 2024
Brands from Aesop to Glossier are joining Suds Central, so to speak, by putting their own spin on the quintessential bar of soap: playing around not only with its shape but also the ingredient makeup. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure shoppers are getting the best of the best for their skin while bypassing irritation, drying, and any other unwanted topical effects.
Tempted to snag a pretty-as-can-be porcelain soap dish and plenty of bar soaps to stock it with? Let your shopping decisions be guided by this list of top luxury bar soaps, which we hand-selected based on variables like ingredients, good-for-skin properties, fragrances, and similar bells and whistles. They make the ultimate holiday gift-slash-stocking stuffer, by the way, so make sure to order multiple for you and your people.
WWD Shop editors test the Hermès Eau des Merveilles Perfumed Soap in our New York City office. Captured with the Leica Q2 Camera.
WWD/ Adam Mansuroglu
Editor’s Choice: Top 3 Luxury Bar Soaps of 2024
Our editors scrubbed, lathered up, and rinsed our way through dozens of bar soaps to create this list. Along the way, we found ourselves reaching for certain slabs for their exfoliating power, scent, and hydrating properties. While we’d gladly spend for all 11 picks on our list, we’re spotlighting three options that wowed each tester. For gifting, you don’t need to look further than Flamingo Estate’s Exfoliating Peppermint Soap Brick — it’s oversized, features a head-clearing scent, and has some soft grit to slough away dead skin. Luxury soaps don’t have to break the bank, after all, which is why L’Occitane’s also has a spot in our winner’s circle. This Amazon beauty product is just $15 but delivered the skin-softening benefits of options that go for double the price. To exfoliate limbs and cleanse yourself in the process, go with Soft Services’ Green Banana Buffing Bar. It lasted our editors twice as long as a standard container of liquid body wash when used daily, proving its value.
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Editor’s choice
Flamingo Estate Exfoliating Peppermint Soap Brick
What if we told you a bar of soap can help you wake up in the morning? This is, in fact, the Exfoliating Peppermint Soap Brick’s very superpower. It’s made of energizing peppermint, impurity-fighting French blue clay, and sea salt sourced from the waters of Big Sur that removes dead skin cells through gentle exfoliation (poppy, which has similar exfoliating capabilities, is also present). Flamingo Estate prides itself in the fact that its communities of growers are fully traceable, so you can rest assured that your newest purchase is handmade with care rather than mass-produced.
Editor testing and review notes: “Soap can be stunning, according to Flamingo Estate. This oversized chunk of soap is satisfying to look at, but even more so to use. It has a slightly gritty texture that feels lovely on the skin and leaves it feeling soft as silk. The refreshing fragrance is just the cherry on top.” — Senior beauty and lifestyle commerce editor Claire Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $42
Editor’s choice
L’Occitane Shea Butter Extra-Gentle Soap
Calling all lovers of invigorating scents: This L’Occitane soap is infused with zesty verbena, though the real star of the show is the shea extract, which instantly kicks dryness to the curb. It’s crafted using centuries-old artisanal methods — something that will inspire you to put just as much care and attention to detail into your pampering routine. Use it at the basin or in the shower to reap full-body benefits.
Editor testing and review notes: “L’Occitane’s bar soap is a luxury choice that doesn’t break the bank. It leaves skin feeling soft and nourished (not stripped or overly tight, as many bar soaps tend to do). This one has a light fragrance to it that defies seasons.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $15
Editor’s choice
Soft Services Green Banana Buffing Bar
Some things are simply better in pairs — a theory skincare brand Soft Services surely subscribes to, given that their buffing bar comes in a set of two. This product smells like cracking open an almost-ripe banana, and if that’s not enough to convince you to snag the item ASAP, we don’t know what will. The makeup of each bar consists of a moisturizing base housing fine sanding crystals, which work to smooth out rough patches, hair follicle discoloration, areas plagued by ingrown hair, and beyond. All in all, you’ll walk away with healthier, smoother skin after every wash. You’re welcome.
Editor testing and review notes: “I regularly use self tanners to give myself a glow, but the key to making it look natural is starting with smooth skin. This bar soap has become an essential step in my skin prep routine — I use it in the shower to remove dead skin on my limbs. It works wonders on the elbows and knees.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $33
Hermès Eau des Merveilles Perfumed Soap
If you’re shopping for a luxury bar soap to share as a hostess gift or a gift for her, you don’t need to overcomplicate things: Just go with this wow-worthy option from Hermès. It’s packaged in a box that features the brand’s signature orange hue, while the scent itself — a classic since 2004 — is pleasantly woody with notes of orange, amber, and pepper.
Editor testing and review notes: “Having tested a smattering of Hermès beauty products ranging from lip balms to perfumes, I’ve come to expect nothing short of excellence. This bar soap falls right in line with the other impressive offerings: There’s stunning packaging, skin-softening ingredients, and a fragrance that transports you someplace simply chic.” — Sullivan
Price upon publish date of this article: $29
Aesop Refresh Bar Soap
If you’ve invested in high-quality skin care, haircare, and fragrance products in the past, you’re likely familiar with the Aesop brand. Their line of offerings is truly a feast for the senses, and the Refresh Bar Soap is no exception. Lathering it on will pay dividends, thanks to the soap’s essential oil–powered purifying properties. As for its scent profile? Expect appearances by bergamot rind, the ylang ylang flower, and lime.
Price upon publish date of this article: $23
Glossier Body Hero Exfoliating Bar
Glossier received Gen Z’s stamp of approval after dropping their Balm Dotcom salve, among a roster of other Tiktok-viral hits. Here, their take on the traditional bar of soap enters the spotlight — in all of its ergonomically designed glory. Exfoliating scrub action is provided by bamboo powder, while moisture is secured vis-à-vis sunflowers seed oil and aloe leaf. Accents of pear, mandarin, and cypress also mingle in a blissful scent arrangement. As is the case with most Glossier products, this one is cruelty-free and vegan: making it just the self-care routine (and life) upgrade you were looking for.
Price upon publish date of this article: $18
Chanel N°5 The Bath Soap
When a brand as iconic as Chanel drops a bath soap, you run to grab it. The beauty of this bar lies in it minimalist design and brand recognition factor. If you didn’t guess this already, it’s fragranced by one and only one thing: the Chanel N°5 Eau de Parfum. In other words, you’ll soon find yourself enveloped in the classy embrace of rose and jasmine — an aroma combination that reviewers claim lasts all day.
Price upon publish date of this article: $35
Beekman 1802 Vanilla Absolute Goat Milk Soap
This luxury bar soap harnesses the goat milk’s 31 clinically proven nutrients and microbiome-friendly, prebiotic-packed nature: treating you to skin that’s never felt softer. Vanilla dominates the scent realm here, though you’ll also be able to enjoy notes of orange, patchouli, sandalwood, and more. For those who don’t vibe with vanilla, Beekman 1802 offers 15 (yes, 15!) other scent options where that came from.
Price upon publish date of this article: $16
Diptyque Eau Rose Scented Soap
If you already happen to own the best-selling Diptyque Eau Rose Eau de Parfum, the natural next step is saying “yes” to this Diptyque Eau Rose Scented Soap. A collaboration between damascena and centifolia roses — as well as sweet almond oil — it will leave you smelling, quite simply, irresistible. There is nothing harsh about the product’s ingredients or texture (it lathers into a delicate foam, after all), making it a must for skin types that lean towards sensitive.
Price upon publish date of this article: $45
Molton Brown Re-charge Black Pepper Bodyscrub Bar
Sometimes, all you need is some good ol’ fashioned scrubbing, and this bar is here to serve that purpose. You’ll feel like a new person after a single use, considering the fact that it’s not only an exfoliating agent but is also punctuated by black peppercorn oil, woody vetiver, and oakmoss. That’s a complex and confident blend of scents, but so are you.
Price upon publish date of this article: $25
Marlowe No. 102 Men’s Body Scrub Soap Bar
Though Marlowe’s No. 102 Body Scrub Soap Bar is marketed towards men, it’s really a gender-bending product — one sure to be appreciated by those who gravitate towards scents like agarwood, sandalwood, and musk. Packed with apricot seed powder and ground pumice, it gets high marks in the buffing category (without ever robbing your skin of natural moisture). Remember how we said bar soaps are more sustainable than liquid soap in most cases? Well, this one’s wrapper is made from 100-percent post-consumer recycled paper. Win after win after win.
Price upon publish date of this article: $9.99
How We Chose the Best Luxury Bar Soaps
Since 1910, WWD — often referred to as “the fashion bible” — has been the leading industry voice of authority for senior executives in the global women’s and men’s fashion, retail and beauty communities, while also informing the consumer media that cover the market. Today, WWD’s breaking news and trend coverage continues to be a trustworthy resource for both fashion insiders and consumers alike. Our shopping editors continue to uphold WWD’s editorial standards and values with quality, expert-backed product selections.
Finding the best luxury bar soaps was no easy feat. With so many brands having entered this niche yet über-popular market in recent years, we had to do our own meticulous testing of dozens of products — narrowing down on the best scents for every preference under the sun. Additionally, we made sure to include options for the hands and body that work overtime to exfoliate, moisturize, and address common concerns like dryness or bumps. Lastly, we supplemented our own first-person product trials with online reviews, making note of ratings and the rationales behind them. This is precisely how WWD’s definitive list of the best luxury bar soaps was born, and we hope it guides you to the right (and the most fragrant!) shopping decisions. Learn more about us here.
Meet the Author
Stacia Datskovska is a Senior Commerce Writer at WWD. Previously, she worked at ELLE DECOR as an assistant digital editor, covering all things luxury, culture, and lifestyle through a design lens. Her bylines over the past five years have appeared in USA Today, Baltimore Sun, Teen Vogue, Boston Globe, Food & Wine, and more. Prior to joining ELLE DECOR, Datskovska learned the ins and outs of e-commerce at Mashable, where she tested products, covered tentpole sales events, and curated gift guide roundups. She graduated from NYU with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and international relations.
