The Best Natural Soap Guide 2025

Maia James
The Best Natural Soap Guide 2025
112 comments

Finding the Best Natural Soap

I admit that I love a body wash (specifically, this one), but bar soap is a much more planet-friendly choice (it's almost always plastic-free!). Bar soap is also one of the easiest products to get right when it comes to clean, safe ingredients. Unlike other categories we investigate here--like laundry detergent or shampoo--you don’t need complex formulations to make an effective cleanser. The best non-toxic bar soap is really just just saponified oils with maybe some clay or essential oil for scent.

But because this category is so simple, we hold it to an even higher standard. Our guide goes further than most: to help you identify the the best non-toxic bar soap — the ones that really do everything right.

In this guide, you’ll see how we separate soaps into Best, Good, Okay, Bad, and Sneaky Stuff. Only the bars with the cleanest ingredients, responsible sourcing, and zero unnecessary additives make it into our “Best Stuff” category.

In terms of performance, bar soaps were much easier to review than something like deodorant; unless a soap really dries out my skin or smells offensive, I feel that it’s done its job! The main criteria for evaluating the best natural soap really comes down to the quality of the ingredients and manufacturing processes. Let's get into it. 

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Best Bar Soaps

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1. Aspen Kay

2. Christina Maser

3. Canary

4. Chagrin Valley

5. Crunchi Body Bar

6. Dr. Bronner’s

7. Earthley 3 in 1 soap

8. Little Seed Farm

9. Moon Valley

10. Poofy Organics

11. Pure Haven

12. Soapwalla

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.

Most drugstore “bar soaps” aren’t actually soap at all—they’re detergent bars made with harsh synthetic surfactants, chemical preservatives, and artificial fragrance. These ingredients can dry or irritate skin and introduce hormone-disrupting phthalates.

The biggest concern with most soap is the way it is scented. Unless the label specifies that it contains only essential oils, you should avoid bar soap that has “fragrance” or “parfum” listed in the ingredients.

What Is the Best Natural Soap?

Not all “natural” bar soaps are created equal, which is why we rank them in three tiers. Here’s what sets the best non-toxic bar soap apart:

  • Best Stuff – The very best natural soaps are made with mostly organic oils, clays, and herbs. They’re free from synthetic fragrance, dyes, and preservatives, making them the safest choice for both your skin and for the planet.
  • Good Stuff – These bars are still safe and soap-based, but may use non-organic oils, heavy essential oil blends, or mild eco-friendly synthetics. These bars are far better than mainstream soaps, but not as pure as our Best Stuff.
  • Okay Stuff – These brands are cleaner than drugstore detergent bars, but may contain more conventional oils, phthalate-free synthetic scents, or extra additives. I am still comfortable using the bar soaps in this category, but they are not my top pick.

I hope that the information that follows helps you choose the best non-toxic bar soap more easily. (My personal favorite bars come from Tandi's.)

Best Stuff

Aspen Kay Natural Soap

  • A bunch of you asked about this brand, and I’m pleased to find that it’s Good Stuff.
  • 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: $2.19

Buy from Amazon
Aspen Kay Natural Soap

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 (use code: GIMMETHEGOODSTUF25)

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: $2.27

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Chagrin Valley 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: $3.33

Buy from CRUNCHI
Crunchi Body Bar

Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap

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

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Dr. Bronner’s Pure Castile Bar Soap

Little Seed Farm Milk Soap

  • Simplest ingredient list
  • 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
Little Seed Farm Milk Soap

Moon Valley Herbal Soap Bar

  • Organic ingredients
  • 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: $1.92

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Moon Valley Herbal Soap Bar

Poofy Organics Bar Soaps

  • Vegan soaps include fun flavors like Creamsicle and Confetti Cake.
  • 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: $2.50

Buy from POOFY
Poofy Organics Bar Soaps

Pure Haven Cocoa Bar Soap

  • 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: $2.26

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: $6.00

Buy from Amazon
Soapwalla Bar Soaps

Earthley 3 in 1 Soap

  • For body, face & hair
  • Made with only organic ingredients

Ingredients: Saponified Organic Apricot Oil, Saponified Organic Avocado Oil, Saponified Organic Coconut Oil, Saponified Organic Pumpkin Seed Oil, Saponified Organic Castor Oil, Saponified Kokum Butter, Saponified Organic Jojoba Oil

Cost per ounce: $0.40

Buy from Earthley
Earthley 3 in 1 Soap

Good 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

Attitude Leaves Bar

  • Attitude is one of those brands that is great across the board
  • IEWG-verified
  • Vegan
  • 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: $1.74

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Attitude Leaves Bar

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.
  • Contain no synthetic ingredients, no phthalates, no chemicals of any kind.
  • 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: $2.28

Christina Maser Handmade Goats Milk Soaps

FATCO Fat Bars

  • Made with grass-fed beef tallow
  • 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

MamaSuds Scented Castile Bar Soap

  • Made from saponified olive oil
  • Contains no fillers, additives, or synthetic ingredients
  • All-purpose bar ideal for body, hair, shaving, laundry, and even gentle household cleaning
  • Naturally biodegradable and completely free of palm and coconut oils

Cost per ounce: $2.80

Ingredients: Sodium olivate (saponified olive oil), pure essential oils of clove bud, organic cinnamon leaf, lemon, eucalyptus radiata, and rosemary.

MamaSuds Scented Castile Bar Soap

Mater

  • Cold process soap
  • Handmade in NYC
  • No artificial ingredients, preservatives or fragrances

Cost per ounce: $3.20

Ingredients: Olive oil, water, coconut oil, lye, avocado oil, castor oil, sweet almond oil, basil and peppermint essential oils, french green clay and poppy seeds

Mater

Tandi’s Naturals Soaps

  • Tandi’s uses local ingredients–including beef tallow
  • Vegan options available
  • Contain no concerning ingredients
  • Scented with essential oils
  • 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: $2.12

Tandi’s Naturals Soaps

Tom's of Maine Fragrance Free Bar Soap

  • No synthetic fragrance, preservatives, or surfactants of concern
  • Note: scented versions don't always disclose which essential oils they use, but they do specify that they are free of artificial fragrances. 

Cost per ounce: $1.88

Ingredients: Sodium palmitate†, sodium cocoate or sodium palm kernelate, water, glycerin, sodium gluconate, sodium chloride, aloe barbadensis leaf*.

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Tom's of Maine Fragrance Free Bar Soap

Ora's Amazing Herbal Soap

  • Made with pure ingredients
  • Handcrafted in Pennsylvania

Cost per ounce: $1.70

Ingredients: Soothing Suds Oatmeal Soap: Saponified Oils of Olea europaea (Olive), Cocos nucifera (Coconut), Theobroma Cocoa (Cocoa), Butyrospermum parkii (Shea Butter, Fair Trade), and Ricinus communis (Castor) and, Dihydrogen monoxide (Water), Avena sativa (Oats). 

Ora's Amazing Herbal Soap

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.

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,
Author's Signature

Author's Signature

Maia, Founder & CEO

Tags:Bath & Body Guides

Leave a comment

112 comments

Maia James

Yes, Shea Moisture bar soaps are good stuff:).

Thomas Oger

My family has been using Aspen Kay , we really seem to like the goat milk with oatmeal. Just wondering what you though of the Aspen Kay brand bar soap? Thanks

Sue

Hi Mary,
Did you ever try the Kirks with aloe?

I seem to be having the same problem. We get a bad rash when we use Kirks or Dr Bonner’s. Have you ever heard of anyone else having this problem? Castile soaps are recommended for people with skin issues so it’s odd that I’d develop a skin issue when using one. I can use any other soap, including Dial, and have no problems.

Sue

I love your website!

Regarding Ivory – the sneaky stuff you list is fragrance. Clearly unnecessary and not ‘good stuff’ but here is my question – how bad is it? I am on a tight budget and can’t spend much. I need the fewest/safest ingredients for the cheapest price. Ivory seems to be a balance of cheap with ‘almost’ pure ingredients. The tallow part doesn’t bother me with regard to animal products. I tried Dr Bonners and Kirks and we seem to have a reaction to those both, though I am not sure why but we get rashes – similar to the poster above “Mary”. I’ve seen a few websites mention some people can’t tolerate coconut oil soap – all I know is we have rashes that come with the soap and oddly….go away wen we use Dial. My goal is to reduce our chemical exposure, it’s not imperative for us as it would be for those with skin issues, but for obvious reasons I’d rather not lather up with chemicals, or at least not very many chemicals – even though those chemical soaps seem to make the rash go away. We’ve used Ivory in the past when on sale and have no reaction to it (again, we don’t have sensitive skin…I used to just buy whatever soap was on sale, usually Dial). Any thoughts on the best balance of the fewest chemicals and the lowest price? I was thinking Ivory until I found your website, now I’m not sure but I can’t afford more than 45 cents per ounce on a bar soap.

Tiff .S

How about shea moisture bar is this a safe, effective bar soap to use ?

Tiff .S

How about shea moisture bar is this a safe, effective bar soap

Rebecca

I LOVE Alaffia’s Good Soap!!!!! Just took advantage of Whole Foods ! a bar on Alaffia"s Good Soap. I purchased a few varieties though and now I am left wondering what the best way to store them is. Thoughts?

Maia James

Yes, the Tom’s bar soaps are fine!

Jake C.

How about Tom’s of Maine Moisturizing Bar: Sensitive (or otherwise), is this a safe, effective bar soap to use?
Thanks, great article!

Maia James

I would consider this Good Stuff!

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