Natural Soap Bars

A good bar of soap keeps everyday cleansing refreshingly simple. Our natural soap bars include products for washing hands, bathing and showering, depending on the intended use of each bar. Shop Naturally’s carefully selected range features established brands including Dr Bronner’s, The Australian Natural Soap Company and Weleda.

Formulations vary across the category, with different plant oils, botanical ingredients, fragrances, bar sizes and packaging. Some customers enjoy an aromatic soap in the shower, while others prefer a simpler formula for everyday family use. A solid bar can also take up less bathroom space and reduce reliance on bottled cleansers, particularly when it comes in paper or cardboard packaging.

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Natural Soap Bars

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How to Choose a Natural Soap Bar

The right soap bar is the one that suits how you plan to use it, the ingredients and fragrance you prefer, and how your skin feels after washing. There isn’t one formula that works best for every household, so it helps to look beyond words such as “natural” or “pure” and consider the complete product.

Start with where you’ll use it

Soap bars may be made for hand washing, bathing, showering or more than one purpose. A generously sized body bar can be useful for the shower, while a smaller bar may suit a hand basin, guest bathroom or travel bag. Follow the stated intended use rather than assuming every body soap is also suitable for the face or hair.

If you prefer a pump bottle or need a shared product for a busy bathroom, natural body wash may be more convenient. For the kitchen or bathroom basin, you can also consider natural hand wash.

Understand how traditional soap is made

Traditional soap is produced through saponification. During this process, oils or fats react with an alkali to create soap and naturally occurring glycerine. Although an alkali such as lye is used to begin the process, properly formulated and finished soap doesn’t contain unreacted lye simply because lye was part of its manufacture.

Cold process and hot process are two traditional production methods. Cold process soap relies largely on the heat created by saponification and is usually given time to cure. Hot process soap receives additional heat during production, which speeds up the soap-making reaction. Neither method automatically makes a bar superior; the complete formulation and the maker’s process matter more.

Soap-free cleansing bars use different cleansing ingredients rather than traditional soap. They can be formulated to different pH levels and may feel different during use. Traditional soap is generally alkaline, but that doesn’t make either format universally preferable.

Look at the complete formulation

Plant oils and butters influence the lather, firmness and overall character of a bar. Olive oil is often used in traditional formulations for a smooth, conditioning skin feel, while coconut oil commonly contributes cleansing properties and lather. Shea butter and cocoa butter can affect how rich or creamy a bar feels.

Clays, botanical extracts and other plant ingredients may contribute colour or texture. Essential oils are often included for botanical fragrance, while some traditional formulations use ingredients such as goat’s milk. An individual ingredient doesn’t determine the performance of the finished soap on its own, so consider the formula as a whole.

Choose a fragrance you’ll enjoy using

Scent can make a simple shower feel a little more enjoyable, but stronger isn’t always better. Essential-oil fragranced bars, soaps scented by naturally aromatic ingredients and products without added fragrance can offer quite different experiences.

“Unscented” and “fragrance-free” don’t always mean exactly the same thing. An unscented product may contain ingredients used to neutralise its natural aroma, while fragrance-free generally means no fragrance has been added. If you have easily irritated skin or known sensitivities, a shorter ingredient list or fragrance-free formula may appeal, but natural ingredients and essential oils can still cause irritation for some people.

Consider organic wording, bar size and packaging

A soap may contain one or more organic ingredients without the finished product being certified organic. Where organic sourcing matters to you, look for clear information about which ingredients are organic and whether a recognised certification applies to the whole bar.

Bar weight can be useful when comparing value, especially for frequently used household soap. Larger isn’t automatically better, though: storage space, how often the bar will be used and whether you want it for travel or gifting can all affect your decision.

Packaging varies too. Paper or cardboard packaging can reduce the need for a plastic bottle, while an unpackaged bar uses even less material. This doesn’t mean every soap bar is plastic-free or environmentally preferable in every respect, but the format gives you a practical way to consider packaging alongside ingredients, scent and price.

Comparing Different Types of Soap Bars

With so many lovely soap bars to choose from, understanding the differences can help you find one that suits your preferences. Soap descriptions often overlap: a handmade cold process soap can also be plant-based and fragranced with essential oils. This comparison explains some common soap types and ingredients, helping you choose according to fragrance, formulation and how you like your soap to feel.

Soap type or description	What it means	Why you might choose it
Traditional plant oil-based soap	Made by combining plant oils with an alkali through a process called saponification, creating a finished soap.	A familiar everyday cleansing option, often made with oils such as olive or coconut.
Handmade cold process soap	Made using a traditional method where oils and an alkali react to form soap, with the finished bars allowed to cure before use.	A lovely choice if you enjoy traditionally made soaps featuring distinctive colours, textures or botanical ingredients.
Essential oil fragranced soap	Contains essential oils that contribute botanical aromas to the finished bar.	Perfect if you enjoy fragrant soaps that add a little something special to your daily shower or bathing routine.
Goat's milk soap	Contains goat's milk as part of the soap formulation, often combined with plant oils and other ingredients.	Worth exploring if you enjoy traditional milk-based soap formulations. Goat's milk soaps are not vegan.
Fragrance-free soap	Formulated without added fragrance ingredients, although the ingredients themselves may have a natural aroma.	A useful option if you prefer to avoid added fragrance or have particular fragrance ingredient preferences.
Unscented soap	Designed to have little or no noticeable scent. Some unscented formulations may contain ingredients that mask other odours.	Appealing if you prefer a soap without a noticeable fragrance. Check the ingredient list if you specifically want to avoid added fragrance.
Soap-free cleansing bar	A solid cleanser made with cleansing ingredients other than traditional soap, sometimes formulated to a different pH.	An alternative to traditional soap if you prefer the ingredients or skin feel of a particular soap-free formula, where available.

Is handmade soap better than other bar soap?

Not necessarily. Handmade soaps can offer beautiful ingredient combinations, traditional production methods and distinctive finishes, but the quality of a soap depends on its complete formulation and how it's made. Commercially produced soap bars can also be thoughtfully formulated and lovely to use. The best choice is one that suits your skin, fragrance preferences and everyday routine.

Should I choose a scented or fragrance-free soap bar?

That comes down to personal preference. Botanical fragrances can make everyday hand washing or showering feel like a little treat, while fragrance-free soaps are a great option if you prefer to avoid added scent. If you have known fragrance sensitivities, check the ingredient list rather than relying on terms such as unscented alone.

Is bar soap better than liquid body wash?

Both soap bars and liquid body washes can provide effective everyday cleansing. Soap bars are compact, convenient for travel and often available with minimal packaging, while liquid body wash is popular for its easy dispensing and familiar texture. Neither is automatically better; it comes down to the ingredients, fragrance and format you enjoy using.

Natural Soap Bar FAQs

What is natural soap made from?

Traditional natural soap is commonly made by reacting oils or fats with an alkali through saponification. Formulas may include olive oil, coconut oil, plant butters, clays, botanical extracts or essential oils. Ingredients vary considerably, so the word “natural” alone won’t tell you everything about a bar. The full ingredient list provides a clearer picture of its formulation.

Are all natural soap bars organic?

No. Natural and organic describe different characteristics. A soap may be made with natural ingredients, contain selected organic ingredients or hold a recognised whole-product organic certification. The presence of one organic oil or botanical doesn’t mean the complete soap is certified organic.

Are handmade soap bars better than commercially made soap?

Not necessarily. Handmade bars may feature small-batch methods, distinctive textures or carefully selected botanical ingredients, while commercially produced bars can provide consistency and practical everyday use. The better fit depends on the formulation, intended use, fragrance and the way the soap feels on your skin rather than the production scale alone.

Are natural soap bars suitable for sensitive skin?

Some customers with sensitive or easily irritated skin prefer simple or fragrance-free formulas, but “natural” doesn’t guarantee that a product will suit every person. Essential oils, fragrances and botanical ingredients can still cause irritation. Consider your known sensitivities, introduce a new bar cautiously and stop using it if irritation occurs. Persistent skin concerns are best discussed with an appropriate healthcare professional.

Can I use a natural soap bar on my face?

Only if the product is intended for facial use. Body soap isn’t automatically suitable for the face, where skin may feel more delicate or respond differently to an alkaline soap. A verified multipurpose or facial bar may be used as directed, but otherwise it’s best to keep body soap for its stated hand, bath or shower use.

Practical Tips for Using and Caring for Soap Bars

A few small habits can keep a soap bar pleasant to use and prevent it from softening sooner than necessary. These tips are useful at home and when travelling with a solid bar.

Build the lather, then put the bar down

Wet your hands or skin, pass the bar over them briefly and work up the lather with your hands. You don’t need to hold the soap under running water throughout the wash. This limits the time the whole bar is wet and can be particularly useful with softer, traditionally made soaps.

Give the bar somewhere to drain

A draining soap dish, slatted holder or raised soap rest allows air to circulate around the bar. Position it away from direct shower spray and pooled water, as a constantly wet base can turn soft and wear away more quickly. Soap residue can also block drainage grooves, so rinse the holder periodically and let it dry.

Dry soap before packing it for travel

Solid soap is easy to pack once it has dried properly. Let the surface dry before placing the bar in a travel case, and unpack it when you arrive so it isn’t left damp inside a closed container. A case with drainage or ventilation is useful when the bar needs to be packed between stops.

Notice how your skin responds

When trying a different formulation, use one new personal-care product at a time. This makes it easier to notice how your skin responds to the new soap. If skin feels dry after washing, you may prefer to follow with a natural hand cream or natural body moisturiser, depending on where you’ve used the bar.

Ingredients and directions differ between products and can change over time, so use the current packaging as your guide for intended use and any product-specific instructions.