You know the feeling: tight, itchy skin a few minutes after using a bar from the grocery store. Often that's because many "bars" aren't true soap at all. Here's what makes a gentler bar, and why the lavender in it is about more than a pleasant smell.
True soap vs. detergent bars
True soap is made the old-fashioned way, by combining plant oils or butters with lye. That reaction, called saponification, turns the oils into soap and naturally produces glycerin, which helps hold moisture in skin. According to the FDA, very few true soaps are on the market today, and most body cleansers, both bars and liquids, are synthetic detergent products, even when they are sold as "soap" (FDA: Frequently Asked Questions on Soap). Detergent bars can feel harsh on dry or sensitive skin.
What to look for in a good bar
- Plant oils or butters near the top of the ingredient list.
- Real lavender essential oil, not a vague "fragrance." Real lavender smells floral, herbal and a little earthy, never candy-sweet.
- Short, readable ingredients you recognize.
Why the lavender matters
Lavender is one of the most-studied scents for calm and sleep. A 2025 meta-analysis of randomized trials found lavender essential oil improved adults' sleep quality (source), and a review of 30 aromatherapy studies found lower stress and fatigue along with better sleep (source). An evening bath or shower with lavender is an easy way to bring that scent into your wind-down.
For little ones, a 2008 study found babies bathed with lavender-scented bath oil cried less and spent more time in deep sleep afterward, and stress hormone levels dropped in both babies and their mothers (source).
The lavender in that research is Lavandula angustifolia, English lavender, the species we grow on our family farm in Michigan, with our new home at Murray Lake in Lowell, Michigan, opening summer 2027.
Make it a ritual
- Warm, not hot: hot water strips your skin's natural oils.
- Breathe it in: take a few slow breaths of the lavender steam before you rinse.
- Moisturize while damp to hold the water in.
- Let your bar dry on a draining dish between uses so it lasts longer.
Our lavender soaps
Find our small-batch lavender soaps in the bath and body collection. Each product page lists its full ingredients.
Frequently asked questions
Is lavender soap good for sensitive skin?
Many people with sensitive skin prefer true soap with short ingredient lists. A small number of people react to lavender or other plant oils, so patch-test if your skin is very sensitive.
Can I use it on my face?
Many people do. If your facial skin is dry or reactive, follow with a moisturizer and patch-test first.
Can I use it on my baby?
Ask your pediatrician before using any scented product on a baby, especially a newborn.
How do I keep my bar from getting mushy?
Keep it on a dish that drains and out of the shower spray between uses.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Talk with your doctor about any health concerns.
