Over the years I've managed to buy some extremely un-soapy soaps. Such things often appear at Christmas time with fancy makers names, fancy labels, and in fancy bottles. The unwary pay top prices for such things and hand them out to all and sundry as 'extra special presents'. I suspect we all have some of those at the back of the bathroom cupboard.
Personally I don't like BARS of soap, although I have a friend who always asks me to buy her several bars of 'Lifeboy Soap' before returning to France. She claims that the smell reminds her of small boys being washed! (I didn't ask)
.jpg)
Soap, as we all know, performs its magic by reducing the surface tension of water, making both the water and the soap perform as desired.
I have been known to re-fill old soap dispensers with good quality, lemon scented, Fairy Liquid washing-up liquid, but Lady M calls me an old skinflint. She, herself, would never buy anything but the best; by which she probably means the most expensive. But, whatever floats your boat! (N.B. I should mention here that Jean Shrimpton once told me that she used Fairy Liquid to wash her hair)
So, which soap is the soapiest? Without question it is the pukka liquid Savon de Marseille. Not those cheap imitations, but the real thing. I have three different liquid soaps on the go at present in our bathroom, and there is no question that the one above is by far the best. It is actually a PLEASURE to use.
Marseille soaps are traditionally made by combining Olive Oil with Mediterranean Sea water and a plant-based alkaline ash. The resulting soap was traditionally formed into large (attractive looking) 4 inch cubes, stamped with the makers names. Personally, I find these big solid lumps of soap unwieldy and annoying, so I stick to the liquid.
Life is too short to buy 'Macron et de Gaulle' savvon du Marsay (made in Taiwan); always go for the best, 'Made in Marseille'.
I buy a liquid soap for it's fancy container and then re- fill it with cheap shower gel which I buy in litre containers. No one notices the difference though if Mr No one catches on I'll be in trouble.
ReplyDeleteSo far the soapiness is satisfactory and smells appealing.
That's what I used to do, but my wife kept putting it away.
Delete"Soap never cleans the stain of sin. Only the blood of the blameless Lamb, the Lord Jesus Christ can wash the stain of sin to be made as white as snow." Needless to say I tea-leafed this ridiculous quote from somebody else.
ReplyDeleteThank goodness. I thought for a moment that you'd flipped!
DeleteI don't see how anyone can believe that washing in blood can make anything white as snow.
DeleteWe have had bars of soap for several years now.....I am saving the world single handedly by not increasing the use of plastic bottles for liquid soap!!
ReplyDeleteI suppose you do have a point, but we do recycle everything.
DeleteAh, yes, Cro, that old chestnut: "We do recycle everything." Don't bite my head off, recycling does take resources or did you think it would magic itself away by putting it into recycling? Ever read of how much "recycling" ends up in landfill? It a shocker.. And yes, I am as guilty as the next user of liquid whatever but at least I don't gloss over my failings, instead hanging my head in shame.
DeleteU
I am still using up all those little bars of soap from various hotel bathrooms.
ReplyDeleteI occasionally have a clear-out of my 'wash-bag', and all those little soaps get chucked.
DeleteWe use Marseilles liquid soap ..... most others pale into insignificance. As teenagers, most of us used to wash our hair in Fairy Liquid ! Not really the best for your hair !!! XXXX
ReplyDeleteFairy does the job, I've used it myself!
DeleteI used Molten Brown beside basin and sink - then refilled it with Marseilles when living in France. Good substitute. Back now with MB and my shower and shampoo, Dove, is decanted into the smooth action MB containers.
ReplyDeleteI haven't seen Molton Brown for a while, it used to be the byword for quality soaps.
DeleteMy gran, with whom my sister and I lived for a few years, was a lover of Lifeboy and flannel on us. When I say flannel, I don't mean the soft, towelling sort most of us know, I mean squares of cut up Welsh flannel. She believed in being thorough!
ReplyDeleteI expect this is what my friend had been doing to the small boys who needed a good cleaning.
DeleteIt is a long time since I have bought anything on the internet. Maybe I should buy this Marseille soap. Damn, I have just bought half a dozen bars of Cussons Imperial.
ReplyDeleteI expect it's available in good local shops. They sell all over the world these days.
DeleteMy god daughter bought me super liquid soap for my birthday - best I have had and delicious scent. Shall stick with it.
ReplyDeleteI haven't used a BAR of soap for decades.
DeleteI'll look for your soap and give it a go.
ReplyDeleteMake sure it's the real thing, it's beautifully smooth and silky.
DeleteGood soap is well worth the cost
ReplyDeleteI use a bar of soap in the shower, but hand soap is always liquid. I buy any cheap antibacterial soap that happens to be on sale. I'm fussier about that shower bar, though, and stick with just the one brand.
ReplyDeleteIf you try some real Savon de Marseille in liquid form, you might change your habits.
DeleteI haven't used a bar of soap in years, and here's something else I'll try to find online.
ReplyDeleteNor have I. Bars of soap are almost a thing of the past.
DeleteI would find a four inch cube unwieldy too and would be cutting it in half or thirds. I still buy bars of soap because I can get a pack of eight for only $4.50 (rose scented too) while the bottles of liquid soap are far more expensive. I recently read about a bodywash that smells like vanilla birthday cake and would love to try it, but the brand name already tells me it is too expensive for my budget.
ReplyDeleteImperial Leather soap bars, even though it's not quite as strong smelling as I remember it but it is in daily usese. The label is a steadying device when the soap is placed label down apparently
ReplyDelete