Once dismissed as old-fashioned, the humble bar soap has returned to shower stalls and bathtub ledges once more – this time as a symbol of indulgence, design, and sustainability.
From the sculptural creations of Loewe to the skincare-driven bars of Aesop, Glossier, and MALIN+GOETZ, the humble cleanser has evolved into a luxury accessory for the bath and vanity. What was once the most utilitarian product in the bathroom has been reimagined as an artisanal object, blending sensorial pleasure with eco-conscious appeal.
And for beauty lovers, a bar of soap is no longer about thrift – it’s about ritual, aesthetics, and craftsmanship. According to Business of Fashion, Gen Z and millennial consumers especially are fuelling the trend, drawn to minimal packaging and a tactile experience that liquid body washes often lack. And that’s not all – luxury houses have taken notice, launching soaps as scented companions to their iconic fragrances.
If you’re looking to appoint your bathroom or kitchen sink with something a little chicer, these are the best and most luxurious bar soap brands to shop at…
1. ORRIS Paris
Founded in Paris, ORRIS is all about elevating the daily ritual of bathing (and their sets make perfect housewarming gifts).
2. Herb Remedy
Crafted by naturopaths in their herbal dispensary in Byron Bay, they utilise time-honoured traditional cold-process extraction methods to preserve the natural benefits of each ingredient.
3. LOEWE
Loewe’s soaps are unique for their unexpected botanical scents – from Tomato and Oregano to Mushroom and Liquorice. They come on a rope so you can hang them in your shower too.
4. Flamingo Estate
With botanical scents that permeate rooms even when not in use, Flamingo Estate’s large, handcrafted “Soap Bricks” are made with ingredients from their own gardens in California.
5. Aesop
For use while bathing or at the basin, Aesop’s gentle bar soaps are enriched with botanical oils renowned for their purifying properties, and are suited to most skin types.
6. Soft Services
Created by former Glossier veterans, the brand lives at the intersection of clinical-grade actives, modern design, and sensorial pleasure. They boast refill-ready designs, and collaborations with cult fragrance houses like D.S. & Durga.
7. Hermès
Each Hermès bar soap is hand-milled in France and infused with the Maison’s signature perfumes, turning a humble cleansing bar into a collector’s piece. These gift sets are particularly memorable and beautiful.
8. Typology Paris
True to the brand’s ethos of radical transparency, these bar soaps are minimalist, fragrance-free, and tailored to specific skin concerns.
9. BINU BINU
Inspired by the Korean ritual of daily bathing, Binu Binu’s soaps are made with a base of boricha (roasted barley tea) and traditional herbal infusions. Their sculptural forms and neutral tones make them as much objects of design as of self-care.
10. Nécessaire
Nécessaire’s body bar reflects the brand’s “clean meets clinical” philosophy, pairing dermatologist-approved formulations with recyclable packaging. Each bar is infused with essential oils and vitamins to make cleansing part of a skincare regimen.
11. Malin + Goetz
This cult New York label reimagines the bar soap as a dermatologist-formulated staple. Gentle yet effective, their bars feature signature apothecary-style packaging and are designed to slot seamlessly into a modern routine.
12. Santa Maria Novella
Dating back to 1221, this Florentine apothecary is one of the world’s oldest pharmacies. Its luxurious soaps are still hand-wrapped in paper with heritage motifs, carrying the weight of centuries of artisanal knowledge and Italian elegance.
13. Glossier
Glossier’s “Body Hero” cleansing bar blends millennial-cool branding with skin-friendly formulations. Sleek, pastel packaging and a soft fragrance make it as Instagrammable as it is functional.
14. Horace
A Parisian men’s grooming brand that’s redefining the essentials, Horace makes simple, effective soaps enriched with shea butter and charcoal.
15. The Naxos Apothecary
Rooted in Greek island botanicals, The Naxos Apothecary creates soaps infused with local herbs, olive oil, and resins. Each bar carries with it the sensory memory of the Aegean, making them both transportive and healing.
16. Corpus
Known for their plant-based deodorants, Corpus has extended their ethos into body bars that are fully vegan and naturally derived.
17. CHANEL
CHANEL transforms the humble hand soap into something luxurious: each bar infused with their legendary fragrances (think N°5 and Coco Mademoiselle).
18. Carrière Frères
Best known for botanical candles, Carrière Frères translates their dedication to plants into soaps enriched with natural essential oils. Their scents (rose, verbena, lavender) evoke gardens in bloom.
19. 1OAM apotheke
Berlin-based 1OAM apotheke brings an underground sensibility to the traditional soap bar with unusual blends like black spruce and cacao – best for those who want something offbeat.
20. Claus Porto
A Portuguese heritage brand since 1887, Claus Porto’s soaps are wrapped in gorgeous, archival prints inspired by Belle Époque packaging. Their ornate, giftable appeal makes them a sweet collector’s item.
21. Pan After x Cousu De Fil
This collaboration between Melbourne’s Pan After concept store and artisanal French label Cousu De Fil produces limited-edition soaps that double as design objects.
