We’re moving into a new office in a few weeks, one equipped with our very own bathroom—how glamorous! This means many things: the possibility for us to create a dream space something along the lines of these, maybe one day installing a tub (allowing us to bathe on the clock), and, perhaps the most exciting of them all: we no longer need to use communal-bathroom hand soap!
You know which I’m talking about—those wall-mounted pumps that smell vaguely like your pediatrician’s office. They’re not terrible, but there's definitely room for improvement. While it would be nice to have dishes of artisan-carved soap bars, when it comes to even semi-public restrooms, liquid soap is essential—it’s a bathroom, after all; you know exactly where those hands have been (TMI? Eh? Sorry…). So in preparation for our new digs, we’ve sought out the best of the liquid soaps the world has to offer:
If you want to be that weird person sniffing their hands for hours after they’re washed : try Jo Malone Lime Basil & Mandarin Body & Hand Wash or Molton Brown Lime & Patchouli Hand Wash. Both soaps lather quickly into a very fragrant—in a sophisticated/posh lady type of way—and sudsy wash. The aroma sticks around on your hands for a while, so long utensils are your best bet if you plan on eating a meal shortly after.
If perfumed hands aren't your thing : pick up Kiehl’s Coriander Liquid Hand Soap. With a very light and sweet scent, this wash will get your hands clean (and hydrated, thanks to the inclusion of aloe and vitamin E), without competing against the fragrance you’re already wearing.
For your powder room : turn to Philip B. Lavender Hand Wash. This aromatic and relaxing soap will leave you smelling of the pure Provençal lavender used as a natural antiseptic to keep your hands (so) fresh and (so) clean (clean).
If you’re looking for a bit of exfoliation while you cleanse : Aesop’s Reverence Aromatique Hand Wash is what you need. Using “finely milled pumice,” your hands will not only be clean, but will be baby-bottom soft après sink.
For those who count packaging as equally important to actual product : try Eau D’Italie Verbena & Sage Liquid Soap. Let’s all come out and admit it, sometimes it is all about the looks. When soap is taking up valuable sink space, shouldn’t it be pretty too? It’s merely an added benefit that your hands will smell like a combination of citrus, sage, and pine after your wash.
Did we miss anything? Let me know down below!
—Elizabeth Brockway
