The Best Natural Soap Guide 2024

Maia James
The Best Natural Soap Guide 2024
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Best Bar Soaps

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1. Tandi’s Naturals /

2. Farmaesthetics /

3. Christina Maser /

4. Dr. Bronner’s /

5. Poofy Organics /

6. Soapwalla /

7. Attitude /

8. Little Seed Farm /

9. Pure Haven /

10. Canary /

11. FatCo /

12. Chagrin Valley

When it comes bar soap, the good news is that there are tons of safe options for organic soap. The bad news is that many of these soaps are difficult to find, as they are produced by small manufacturers and not sold in most drug or grocery stores.

Thank goodness for Dr. Bronner’s (see review below), which you can find almost anywhere.

Bar soaps were much easier for me to review than shampoos and other products; unless a soap really dries out my skin or smells offensive, I feel that it’s done its job! So the main criteria for evaluating the best natural soap really comes down to the quality of the ingredients.

What’s Wrong With Conventional Bar Soap?

Depending on the brand, conventional bar soaps might contain any number ingredients we’d prefer you avoid. Look out for the usual Bad Stuff like BHT and PEG chemicals. As always, we give extra points to brands that use organic ingredients.

That said, the biggest concern with most soap is the way it is scented. Here is what to look for.

  • Fragrance. Unless the label specifies that it’s scented with essential oils, you should avoid bar soap that has “fragrance” or “parfum” listed in the ingredients. IT probably contains synthetic fragrance, which means it contains phthalates.
  • Certain essential oils. There are some essential oils that are of mild to moderate concern. Citrus oils, such as those from orange and lemon peels, are linked to skin irritation, allergies, and even immunotoxicity. These include geraniol, limonene, and linalool. You’ll find most of the brands with these oils listed under Okay Stuff, below.

What Is the Best Natural Soap?

Below, we recommend 14 brands of soap that we consider among the best natural soaps. My personal favorite bar soaps are those made by Tandi’s Naturals. They are affordable, produced with local organic ingredients, and produce the creamiest lather.

Good Stuff

Best Natural Soap

Aspen Kay Natural Soap

A bunch of you asked about this brand, and I’m pleased to find that it’s Good Stuff. Aspen Kay soaps are made with only organic ingredients, all of which are 100% natural.

Ingredients: Organic RSPO Sustainable Palm Oil, Organic Unrefined Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Calendula Extract, Organic Chamomile Extract, Organic Turmeric Root Extract, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Castor Oil, Organic Aloe Vera, Kaolin Clay, Essential Oil Blend, Sodium Hydroxide (key element to making soap, none remains in finished product).

Cost per ounce: $2.10

Buy from Amazon
Aspen Kay Natural Soap

Attitude Leaves Bar

Attitude is one of those brands that is great across the board, and their bar soap is no exception. It’s EWG-verified, vegan, and more environmentally friendly than body washes or shower gels because it lacks any plastic components.

Ingredients: Sodium cocoate, propanediol, aqua/water/eau, sodium stearate, glycerin, sodium avocadate, sucrose, sodium cocoyl isethionate, sodium shea butterate, sodium chloride, nasturtium officinale (watercress / cresson) extract, tropaeolum majus (Indian cress / capucine) extract, gamma-decalactone, ethyl hexanoate, ethyl 2-methylbutyrate, hexyl salicylate, raspberry ketone, triethyl citrate, fragrance (parfum) from essential oils

Cost per ounce: $2.17

Buy from Amazon
Attitude Leaves Bar

Canary Clean Bar Soap

We love Canary’s super simple ingredients list. If you want to be extra cautious, you can avoid the citrus blend as it has some of those essential oils that get higher scores from EWG. 

Ingredients: Saponified Oils (Olive Oil, Organic Palm Oil*, Organic Coconut Oil*, Organic Shea Butter*) *Fair Trade, Peppermint Essential Oil, Peppermint Leaves

Cost per ounce: $1.55

Buy from CANARY CLEAN
Canary Clean Bar Soap

Chagrin Valley Soap

All of their bars are made of natural ingredients, without any of the essential oils that can be of concern. 

Ingredients: Organic Coconut Oil*, Organic Canola Oil, Organic Palm Oil (Sustainable), Organic Sunflower Oil, Distilled Water, Sodium Hydroxide^, Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Organic Castor Bean Oil, Organic Virgin Shea Butter*, Organic Honey, Organic Turmeric, Organic Cornstarch, Organic Chamomile, Organic Calendula, Organic Chickweed, Organic Rosemary Oil Extract (ROE)

Cost per ounce: $1.95

Buy from Amazon Buy from CHAGRIN VALLEY
Chagrin Valley Soap

Christina Maser Handmade Goats Milk Soaps

This line of handmade soaps are crafted from food grade olive, palm, coconut, sweet almond and castor oils, natural clays, goat’s milk, honey, herbs, grains and natural pigments, and scented with only pure essential oils. They contain no synthetic ingredients, no phthalates, no chemicals of any kind. These soaps are hand poured in small batches, cut, and wrapped by hand.

Ingredients: Honey, Milk, & Oats, Lavender Milk, Signature, Almond Cream, Cinnamon Milk, Espresso Kitchen, Gardeners, Grapefruit, Lavender Eucalyptus, Lavender Oats, Lemon Wasabi, Citrus Basil, Patchouli, Patchouli Citrus, Rosemary Mint, Lavender Clay, Lavender Rosemary, Lavender Citrus, Sage, Tea Tree Citus, Spa Bar, Geranium Citrus, Fir Needle, Citrus Eucalyptus, Citrus Clay

Cost per ounce: $1.87

Christina Maser Handmade Goats Milk Soaps

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap

Dr. Bronner’s is a great go-to soap because of its wide availability. All the varieties score a 1 on Skin Deep. The yummy scents include almond, lavender, rose, peppermint, tea tree, citrus orange, and eucalyptus.

Ingredients: Saponified Organic Coconut, Organic Palm & Organic Olive Oils (W Retained Glycerin), Water, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Organic Peppermint Oil, Organic Mentha Arvensis, Salt, Citric Acid, Vitamin E.

Cost per ounce: $1.00

Buy from Amazon Buy from THRIVE MARKET
Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap

Farmaesthetics Bath & Beauty Bars

These bars are organic and handmade, which helps to explain the higher price point. I’m a sucker for the pretty packaging on these soaps, but more important is the short list of ingredients–they change their formulas seasonally, but I’ve never seen anything of concern in any of their soaps.

Ingredients: purified rain water, saponified oils of olive*, palm*, coconut*, essential oil, organically grown herbs* and/or flowers* for texture, color, and scent. *Certified Organic ingredient

Cost per ounce: $3.75

Farmaesthetics Bath & Beauty Bars

FATCO Fat Bars

These bars are made with grass-fed beef tallow, which makes them uniquely nourishing and among the most planet-friendly bars.

Ingredients: Grass-Fed Beef Tallow, Sodium Hydroxide (Lye), Colloidal Oats, Calendula*, Olive Oil*, Distilled Water, Sucrose, Sodium Lactate. *Denotes and Organic 

Cost per ounce: $2.25

FATCO Fat Bars

Little Seed Farm Milk Soap

These pretty natural bar soaps have the simplest ingredient list, and they seem to get all 5-star reviews. 

Ingredients: Saponified Virgin Organic Olive Oil* and Organic Coconut Oil*, Grassfed Goat’s Milk**, Activated Charcoal.

Cost per ounce: $2.10

Buy from Amazon Buy from LITTLE SEED FARM
Little Seed Farm Milk Soap

Moon Valley Herbal Soap Bar

Moon Valley uses organic ingredients in its simple bar soaps, which are also vegan .

Ingredients: Organic Safflower oil, Purified Water, Organic Coconut and Organic Sustainable Palm oils, Sodium Hydroxide*, Organic Vanilla flavoring, Organic Beeswax, Organic Castor oil, Organic Calendula, Organic Lavender, and Organic Patchouli essential oils.

Cost per ounce: $1.62

Buy from Amazon
Moon Valley Herbal Soap Bar

Poofy Organics Bar Soaps

Poofy’s line of vegan soaps include fun flavors like Creamsicle and Confetti Cake. The only ingredient that isn’t totally on the up and up is that vague “natural flavors.”

Ingredients: Saponified Organic Oils of Olive, Coconut, Sunflower & Palm, Organic Shea Butter, Vanilla Bean Powder, Organic Orange Essential Oil, Organic Brown Sugar Extract (organic cane alcohol, natural flavors)

Use code: MAIAJAMES for 10% off

Cost per ounce: $2.00

Buy from POOFY
Poofy Organics Bar Soaps

Pure Haven Cocoa Bar Soap

Pure Haven is one of those special brands where every single product is best-case in terms of zero toxicity. Their bar so is no exception, and each ingredient has been chosen with care.

Ingredients: sodium palmate*, sodium cocoate, water, glycerin (vegetable, non-gmo), persea gratissima (organic avocado) oil, theobroma cacao (organic cocoa) seed butter, ricinus communis (organic castor) seed oil, goat milk, allantoin, avena sativa (organic oat) kernel oil, sodium chloride, sodium citrate

Cost per ounce: $2.66

Buy from PURE HAVEN
Pure Haven Cocoa Bar Soap

Soapwalla Bar Soaps

Soapwalla soaps are formulated for the face, but which work beautifully for the body as well. These are hands down the best-smelling natural soaps I’ve found, and well worth higher price point.

Ingredients: (*: certified organic, +: food-grade) Distilled water, saponified oils (sunflower, palm kernel, rice bran, coconut)*, Shea Butter (Ghana); kosher vegetable glycerin*+, sorbitol*+, sodium cocoate, palm and coconut fatty acids, sodium chloride (kosher salt)+; Titanium Dioxide (non-nano); Cinnamomum Cassia (Cinnamon) Powder*+; essential oil blend, including: Cinnamomum Cassia (Cinnamon) Leaf Oil*, Citrus Aurantium Bergamia (Bergaptene-free Bergamot)*; Non-GMO Tocopherol (Vitamin E)*+.

Cost per ounce: $4.50

Buy from Amazon
Soapwalla Bar Soaps

Tandi’s Naturals Soaps

Tandi’s uses local ingredients–including beef tallow, although she does offer vegan options as well. Tandi’s soaps contain no concerning ingredients, are scented with essential oils, and come in delicious flavors like Minty Cocoa Swirl.

Ingredients: Lancaster County tallow, water, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, lye, castor oil, non-GMO Lancaster cornmeal, unrefined shea butter, raw sugar, essential oils of rosemary, basil, and lemon eucalyptus, sage, arrowroot powder

Cost per ounce: $1.64

Tandi’s Naturals Soaps

Okay Stuff

100% Pure Bar Soap

This beautiful bar has a pretty clean ingredient list with things like virgin coconut oils and shea butter. We are not especially worried about the essential oils found in this soap–geraniol, limonene, linalool–but we appreciate that some of you may want to avoid them.

Ingredients: Saponified Oils of Cocos Nucifera (Virgin Coconut), Olea Europaea Fruit (Extra Virgin Olive), Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Seed, Vitis Vinifera (Grapeseed) Seed, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea Butter), Persea Gratissima Oil (Avocado Butter), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Lavandula Augustifolia (Lavender) Essential Oil, Geraniol*, Limonene* and Linalool* *Component of Natural Essential Oil

Cost per ounce: $3.33

Buy from 100% PURE
100% Pure Bar Soap

Crunchi Body Bar

While I would personally feel totally fine using this soap, this is another case where the specific essential oils used–including tea tree–are slightly higher concern from EWG. 

Ingredients: Sodium Palmate (Organic Palm Oil & Sodium HydroxideΔ), Sodium Cocoate (Organic Coconut Oil & Sodium HydroxideΔ), Water (Aqua), Glycerin*, Citrus Aurantium Sinensis (Sweet Orange) Oil*, Charcoal Powder, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil*, Sodium Citrate, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Powder*, Melaleuca Alternifolia (Tea Tree) Leaf Oil*.

Cost per ounce: $3.66

Buy from CRUNCHI
Crunchi Body Bar

Wellnesse Body Bar

These are nice chunky bars and they smell great. I’m putting them in Okay Stuff because of those citrus oils.

Ingredients: Sodium Palm Kernelate, Aqua, Sodium Palmate, Potassium Palm Kernelate, Palm Kernel Acid, Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Glycerin, Potassium Palmate, Sodium Gluconate, Palm Acid, Sodium Chloride, Citrus Reticulata (Tangerine) Peel Oil, Camellia Sinensis Leaf, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Peel Oil, Linalool, Limonene

Cost per ounce: $1.60

Buy from WELLNESSE
Wellnesse Body Bar

Bad Stuff

Dial is perhaps not quite as bad as Lever, but does contain fragrance, and several other mildly concerning ingredients, such as PEG-12 and PEG-9.

Lever 2000 bar soap gets an 8 from Skin Deep because of fragrance, retinyl palmitate, and BHT.

Sneaky Stuff

Lots of you ask about Dove bars, because it seems a lot of dermatologists recommended it. While it’s better than most conventional soaps, it contains cocamidopropyl betaine, which is on my personal Never list.

Fresh soap is expensive and it smells nice, but it has a bunch of gross ingredients, including BHT.

Although Ivory claims its soap is”clean and simple, and free of unnecessary ingredients,” it contains fragrance and–in some cases–artificial dyes.

Mrs. Meyers bar soaps–like the rest of the the Mrs. Meyers line–contains synthetic fragrance, making it Sneaky Stuff.

Neutrogena is the brand most recommended by dermatologists, but contains fragrance, cocamide DEA, and triethanolamine.

Author's Signature

Maia, Founder & CEO

I hope this guide makes finding the best natural soap easier. You’ll be doing the planet a favor by using bar soap instead of body wash (in a plastic bottle!), too!

We are so appreciative of those of you who will support us by buying soap in our online store. If you’d prefer to shop on Amazon, you can find our curated picks of the best natural soap in our Amazon shop here. Thanks for supporting our work and helping us keep all of our content free!

Please comment below with bar soap brands you’d like us to review in the future.

Stay sane,

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