Give them 150 year old soap | The strategist

Photo-Illustration: The strategist; Photos: Retailers

Bar soap has a rich and alluring history: the first recorded recipe was found on a tablet from ancient Babylon, dating to 2200 BC, which consisted of three basic ingredients: water, alkali ( also called lye) and Cassia oil. From there it spread to ancient Rome and throughout Europe, although bathing was not as popular in the UK until the emergence of soap makers in the 12th century. With the advent of the railroad, this heavily taxed product became an industry in its own right in the 19th century.

Since then, bar soap has not only become an everyday essential item, but it has also seen something of a renaissance in recent times. Loewe, Soft Services, Topicals, and Glossier have all released bars of soap recently, and some people are turning to eBay to purchase bars of soap that are no longer in production. But you don’t have to bid on old soaps on eBay to get some from brands that have been around for centuries. Full of very Older companies, like Santa Maria Novella and Roger & Gallet, still make their classic formulas — and they make great gifts, too. Sure, a good body wash is convenient, but there’s just something more appealing and rewarding about gifting a bar of soap with a decades-old history.

And might I suggest: Give them a 150-year-old bar of soap this holiday season. From the smell to the ingredients to the foam factor, it’s a particularly satisfying gift. Here I’ve rounded up some of the best, many of which have been around for over a century (at least).

Photo: Retailer

Present in illustrious houses across Europe since the 19th century – Catherine de Medici offered her oldest perfume as a wedding gift to her future husband, Henri II de Valois – the Santa Maria Novella brand describes its solid soaps as “ little pieces of extraordinary know-how. » It’s not wrong: the soaps themselves are beautifully shaped with the fragrance name elegantly engraved on the bar, and they work well for sensitive skin. Offering 25 different types of soap, the Florentine soap maker is known for making bars that last a long time, both in and out of the shower. You might even consider leaving a bar of her Melograno soap in your lingerie drawer to keep underwear fresh.

Originating from Porto, Portugal, the Claus Porto soap brand has been in business since 1887. It offers 30 different soaps, which you can purchase in selected boxes with soaps with scents inspired by the Portuguese landscape. Each soap is made with natural oils that create a luxurious lather, and some soaps come on strings (pictured above), making them easier to hold or hang after use. They make particularly eye-catching gifts – like this three-piece set with a soap dish – thanks to their colorful and eclectic packaging.

Genovese soap maker Valobra has been around since 1903 and mixes a combination of three simple ingredients – soda, coconut oil and tallow – using an ancient technique called “levata da lisciva” to ensure the soap is free of impurities. To make the “best” soap in the world, it is then refined for two months before being sold to customers. The ergonomic shape is “intentionally designed to fit perfectly in the palm of the hand, allowing a pleasant grip that releases a dense, fragrant foam,” according to CO Bigelow, the West Village apothecary founded in 1838, where you can find Valobra soaps.

Photo: Retailer

Since 1840, Klar Seifen has been producing vegan soap using a blend of modern manufacturing techniques and artisan craftsmanship using molds that are almost 100 years old. The brand’s thick, dense soaps are packaged in beautiful floral paper and are also available as shampoo and conditioner bars. They even have this clove-flavored Christmas special that would make a particularly festive gift.

Photo: Retailer

According to Roger & Gallet, a brand that launched its first soap in 1879, this soap is made in a cauldron (!). This one in particular has a scent of candied ginger with notes of berries and pomegranate. Overall, it’s warm and sensual – and it comes in a beautiful little box. You can also find this one at CO Bigelow.

Caswell-Massey existed long before the founding of the United States. Its triple-milled herbal soaps produce an “ultra rich” lather and come in old-fashioned (but very pleasant!) scents like lavender and sandalwood. The soaps are sold individually and in boxes. According to the brand, Caswell-Massey’s signature perfume, Number Six, is the longest continuously produced American perfume.

Cella Milano has been selling its cream shaving soap since 1899 and was awarded the gold medal at the Milan International Exhibition in 1906 and the Grand Cross of Industrial Merit in 1908. Its “surprisingly gentle” shaving soap has a lovely almond scent and can be lathered to create a creamy, soft, firm lather that helps a blade glide over skin to ensure an irritation-free shave and fresh skin.

Photo: Retailer

Founded in 1760, Creed offers hand-milled soaps infused with the brand’s best-selling scents, including Aventus and Green Irish Tweed. Creed actually has several royal connections – in an 1860 article in the Army and Navy Gazetteit was noted that James Henry Creed, the founder of the brand, was given a special appointment to Queen Victoria and the principal courts of Europe. Additionally, he also worked at D’Antin in Paris, for MM tailors. Harris & Co., where he reportedly created clothing for European royalty. Additionally, Creed created a riding outfit for Queen Victoria in 1885 which is housed in the Kyoto Museum, which inspired the brand’s campaign for its best-selling women’s fragrance, Aventus for Her. All this to say: give this very old soap to the Anglophile on your list.

The strategist is designed to present helpful, expert recommendations on what to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Each product is independently selected by our team of editors, which you can view here. We update links when possible, but note that deals may expire and all prices are subject to change.