These Chic Hand Soaps Will Make Your Bathroom Feel Like a Boutique Hotel

There are a lot of things that we collect on our travels. Some have a penchant for fridge magnets, while others find joy in miniature shot glasses. For me, however, whenever I visit somewhere new, I’ve taken to collecting hand soaps. Be it a far-flung destination or somewhere on home soil, I consider no trip to be complete until I’ve found a soap to take home with me to serve as a sensory reminder of where I’ve been. Honestly, I can’t remember how or when my collection started, but over the years, soaps have become something of a passion of mine—one that intensified after enrolling in soap-making classes back in 2017.

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(Image credit: @emmahoareau)

However, while much of my collection comes from market stalls and independent shops that are difficult to trace back, my love of soaps has turned into a personal mission to uncover the best soaps out there. Along with candles, fancy hand soaps have become a default whenever I fancy treating myself to something I wouldn’t ordinarily buy, which I then use on rotation depending on the time of year, or a particular scent I’m pining for. Friends and family have also commented that they anticipate seeing which soap—be it a liquid or a bar—I’ll have sitting on my sink when they next visit. Over time, I’ve tried just about every soap out there, and of course, I have my favourites. So whether you’re a fellow soap aficionado or you simply want to elevate your bathroom, scroll below to see the best soaps I recommend buying.

BROWSE MY EDIT OF THE BEST SOAPS OUT THERE

Next: 12 Beauty Insiders Just Gave Me a Tour of Their Bathroom Cupboards

Opening Image: @hannahcrosskey

Maxine Eggenberger
Deputy Editor

Maxine Eggenberger is Who What Wear UK’s deputy editor and has over thirteen years of experience in fashion journalism. She been creating engaging and elevated style content specifically for Who What Wear UK since 2018, covering runway reports, emerging trends, long-form features, self-styled shopping stories and columns, including her edit of the best new-in buys. She ensures the highest editorial standards are met across the site, leads the editorial team in their SEO strategy and keyword planning, works closely with the beauty team on content initiatives, represents the brand at industry events, and regularly contributes to social media, including her own Who What Wear UK TikTok franchise, French Style Fridays. Previously, Maxine appeared on ITV's This Morning in her own fashion segment and has interviewed countless celebrities—everyone from Victoria Beckham to Oscar winner Lupita Nyong’o.

Prior to Who What Wear UK, Maxine’s career began when, after completing her first-ever internship at Look magazine, she was offered a position on the brand's fashion desk. She accepted, leaving university a year early in the process. Her passion and natural talent for writing and styling meant she swiftly rose through the ranks to become the title's fashion news and commercial content editor, with a stint as InStyle.co.uk’s fashion and beauty writer along the way. She later served as Look’s acting Editor in Chief, overseeing both print and digital, before embarking on a successful freelance career, working with Grazia, The Pool, and Marie Claire amongst others.

Maxine is based remotely from her countryside home near Edinburgh where she spends her downtime renovating her house, walking her dogs, hosting friends and trying to master the art of making Old Fashioned cocktails.