It’s the old Hollywood starlet of the beauty sphere, yet for decades the humble bar soap has been pushed aside. At the back of the shelf, denied for the likes of foaming face washes, creamy cleansers and ultra-decadent shower gels.
But in 2025, much like the minimal bag trends of present, beauty is stripping back.
Quiet luxury has hit our bathrooms, and the once-forgotten bar soap is having its moment. Minimal, effective and planet-friendly, they are suddenly the most covetable accessory in your bathroom cabinet.
Why Is Bar Soap Making A Comeback?
With a renewed emphasis on sustainability and ritual, beauty lovers are rethinking their daily wash ritual. For one thing, bar soaps cut down on plastic waste, they often last longer than their liquid counterparts, and come in elevated sensorial formulas that rival any high-end cleanser.
From artisanal brands to heritage houses, the latest soaps aren’t the flaky, skin-stripping blocks you may remember from your coastal grandmother’s bathroom, they’re creamy, hydrating and aesthetically pleasing for the eye.
Future Market Insights projects that, “the global bar soap market is projected to reach USD 54.08 billion by 2035. Driving this resurgence is a growing demand for eco-friendly, affordable, and skin-friendly formulations“. A trend that seems to be slowing down and prompting beauty consumers to purchase more thoughtfully.
The trend dovetails perfectly with the “clean girl” aesthetic dominating social feeds: pared back, natural and luxe in its restraint.
Picture a marble soap dish, a perfectly sculptural square bar of Byredo or Chanel, suddenly, your skins scape looks editorial. And with formulas enriched with shea butters, oils and botanicals, bar soaps are just as skin-loving as your fanciest body wash.
Why Did People Stop Using Bar Soap?
Like with all things, the humble simplicity of beauty has been out of of vogue for some time. The promise of maximalism has been a focal point for many beauty aficionado’s since the rise of TikTok and influencer beauty affiliated content.
People largely stopped using bar soap in favour of more “luxurious” alternatives, and then of course, there was the hygiene marketing pile on of yore. A myth that big name drugstore companies perpetuated to push the use of more luxurious and sophisticated liquid alternative.
What Is The Best Bar Soap?
With maximalist beauty now taking a backseat, the minimal beauty brands have treated us with a slew of wonderful options of late. From the most indulgent to the lusciously fragrant. These are a few that feel like a welcome addition to your vanity.
Le Chemin Soap Bar (Set of 4)
$63 at Byredo
Best For: The Ritualist
Turning your everyday shower into a five-star hotel ritual. Infused with Byredo’s cult-favourite Le Chemin fragrance, a fresh, floral blend with soft citrus and clean musk’s, this bar soap feels like slipping into crisp white sheets at a boutique hotel. Creamy, long-lasting, and impossibly chic on your bathroom counter, it’s luxury minimalism to it’s most refined form.
Rock The Myrrh Soap
$55 at Mecca
Best For: The Design Lover
The certified design-lover who wants their beauty routine to double as art. Dries Van Noten’s sculptural soap bars are as much about the object as the ritual. Wrapped in the brand’s signature bold prints and infused with sophisticated, layered fragrances. Each lather feels like stepping into a gallery, decadent, expressive and a little unexpected.
Aesop Polish Bar Soap
$33 at Aesop
Best For: The Minimalist
The minimalist who loves a touch of exfoliation. With finely milled pumice and fresh botanical oils, Aesop’s Polish Bar gently buffs while cleansing, leaving skin smooth, refreshed, and subtly scented. It’s utilitarian luxury, practical, architectural, and undeniably chic on the shower shelf.
Tom Ford Jasmin Rouge Soap
$58 at David Jones
Best For: The Sensualist
The sensualist who wants their daily ritual to feel decadent. Imbued with the bold, spicy floral notes of Tom Ford’s iconic Jasmin Rouge, this soap bar transforms an ordinary shower into a private fragrance ceremony. Opulent, and seductive, it lingers on the skin like silk.
Beauty of Joseon Low pH Rice Face and Body Cleansing Bar
$19 at Beauty of Joseon
Best For: Skincare Purists
This is the bar soap for those who care about balance. Crafted with precise pH to protect the skin’s natural barrier, the soap cleanses without stripping, leaving skin soft, calm and nourished. It’s affordable and understated luxury.
Chloè Atelier Des Fleurs Cedrus Bar
$60 at Myer
Best For: The Romantic
For the romantic who wants their bathroom to smell like a blooming garden. Each bar is infused with one of Chloè’s delicate Atelier des Fleurs fragrances, from airy roses to creamy magnolia, making every lather a soft, floral escape. Elegant, feminine and perfectly giftable.