Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

DH and I disagree about Soap 😳

630 replies

anotherdaytosmile · 13/06/2026 12:27

DH has put a fresh bar of soap out today, his trusty Imperial Leather. He thinks it’s a classy soap based on his childhood perspective in the late 1970s. I think it’s one step up from carbolic. I want Jo Malone soap 😢

AIBU - imperial leather is pure luxury
AINBU - what next, waxy toilet paper?

OP posts:
Thread gallery
14
Greenandyellowday · 13/06/2026 19:52

GinToBegin · 13/06/2026 14:29

£200 per kilo. Grin

For that price, I’d want it to apply itself, rinse me off, towel me dry, and fix me a stonking great gin and tonic afterwards.

Show quote history

🤣🤣🤣

AnonUser75 · 13/06/2026 19:51

gamerchick · 13/06/2026 12:31

Why can't you have both?

Husband loves IL but we won't buy it as the cat goes mad licking the bath after his shower. Doesn't happen with any other soap.

Best thing I’ve read today. Thank you making me smile!

Greenandyellowday · 13/06/2026 19:51

ShrimpBoil · 13/06/2026 15:11

Water softener! No scum, no limescale, no Viakal. We've had ours 30 years and it moved house with us.

Show quote history

Now THAT'S what I'd call a long-lasting soap!

CareBearClaire · 13/06/2026 19:47

We didn’t have much money growing up. My best pal always had Imperial Leather - I remember asking my DM to get some and she said it was too dear. I started buying it as an adult as soon as I had my own house as it was luxury to me 🥰

OhThePotential · 13/06/2026 19:44

I love expensive scented soaps that cost a fortune but I tried Tesco basic unscented this week (39p) and its very nice. I also like Dettol soap for my underarms after reading about it on here.

When DH is away I use my stash of Chanel CoCo soap and perfume, he really hates the smell of sandalwood.

Greenandyellowday · 13/06/2026 19:42

HoskinsChoice · 13/06/2026 12:44

You're both unreasonable. Who uses bars of soap in the 21st century!?! Makes me feel a bit nauseous. 🤢

I know, right? Swarfega is the way to go.

Marycontrarygarden · 13/06/2026 19:42

Dragonscaledaisy · 13/06/2026 15:44

Doesn't everyone have their own bathroom in your house?

Show quote history

Actually....

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/06/2026 19:33

Gatekeeper · 13/06/2026 19:31

You daft chod...loads of people use bar soap. It is much better for the environment, lasts longer and gets your hands and body much cleaner

Show quote history

Chod! Never heard that before - I like it!

Gatekeeper · 13/06/2026 19:31

HoskinsChoice · 13/06/2026 12:44

You're both unreasonable. Who uses bars of soap in the 21st century!?! Makes me feel a bit nauseous. 🤢

You daft chod...loads of people use bar soap. It is much better for the environment, lasts longer and gets your hands and body much cleaner

OhThePotential · 13/06/2026 19:31

Gonnagetgoingreturnsagain · 13/06/2026 13:33

Err? Don’t know but can recall it?

Show quote history

Was it this?

DH and I disagree about Soap 😳
Unexpectedlysinglemum · 13/06/2026 19:26

You need his and hers soap dishes
I have a lovely nostalgia about imperial leather as it’s what my grandparents had at their house

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/06/2026 19:24

Linencat · 13/06/2026 18:15

Yeah whats the likelihood that men rub it on their arse crack and bits of pubes get stuck in it
No thanks

Show quote history

Yuk! Not in my house because we know how to use soap properly.

CaptainMyCaptain · 13/06/2026 19:19

Cyclistmumgrandma · 13/06/2026 17:28

We do. Both bar soap and bar shampoo. It's far more environmentally friendly, is much cheaper and works just as well. Next question?

Show quote history

I've tried bar shampoo. It's ok but I haven't found a bar conditioner that doesn't leave my hair like straw.

Sgtmajormummy · 13/06/2026 19:16

DH went to India and brought back the legendary “My sore sandal soap” which left a ring of scum on the bathroom basin. That soon went in the bin.

He doesn’t want to smell “like a lady” so we have Lidl’s version of Palmolive soap in the shower and I use my lovely Freesia scented Perlier bar soap which also comes in hand cream, shower gel and liquid soap.
Mothers’ Day usually sets me up for the year.

JonathanGirl · 13/06/2026 19:15

I love bar soap.
DH and I both have our own soap dishes, and choose our own soaps - everyone knows we appreciate a lovely soap as a gift, so DC often get them for us for birthdays etc, and we keep them in with our clothes to scent them until ready to use.

DH has a stout (as in the drink) scented one at the moment that he got for his birthday - it actually smells incredible.

AMurderofMurderingCrows · 13/06/2026 19:03

OhThePotential · 13/06/2026 18:46

You know it doesn’t have any coal tar in it any more though, its just coal tar scented now 😐

Show quote history

I did not know that, thank you. I must go and look at the ingredients.

teaandtoastwithmarmite · 13/06/2026 19:00

gamerchick · 13/06/2026 12:31

Why can't you have both?

Husband loves IL but we won't buy it as the cat goes mad licking the bath after his shower. Doesn't happen with any other soap.

🤣

AndWorseAFemale · 13/06/2026 18:57

Linencat · 13/06/2026 18:15

Yeah whats the likelihood that men rub it on their arse crack and bits of pubes get stuck in it
No thanks

Show quote history

If you live with men who do that you've got bigger problems my friend

AndWorseAFemale · 13/06/2026 18:55

Nothing else lasts as long as Imperial Leather, it's very economical in that respect.

Just have two soaps. I won't call you frivolous for that.

OhThePotential · 13/06/2026 18:55

25mini7 · 13/06/2026 13:19

What was the soap in an irredesent box called? I loved that stuff in the 80's

Cussons Pearl? There’s a forty-odd year old one on ebay. I think they still make it but it comes in a blue packet with a picture of a pearl.

Widow90210 · 13/06/2026 18:48

dementedpixie · 13/06/2026 12:30

Have a soap each. Dh has his coal tar stuff and I use whichever one I like

Ah wow! 😂 I love the smell of that stuff!!

OhThePotential · 13/06/2026 18:46

AMurderofMurderingCrows · 13/06/2026 13:07

Wright's coal tar soap all the way. It's the only soap that doesn't make my skin itchy. It smells amazing and gets you nice and clean 😊

You know it doesn’t have any coal tar in it any more though, its just coal tar scented now 😐

FatRosie · 13/06/2026 18:39

@Wonderlandpeony , could you provide some evidence that Imperial leather is banned in Europe due to it containing an ingredient that causes a severe allergic reaction, please?

I found this
"Imperial Leather soap remains legally available in Europe, and claims of a ban are unfounded. Its compliance with EU safety standards ensures it can be sold and used safely across European markets andwayhealthcare.com."

SockPlant · 13/06/2026 18:32

Wonderlandpeony · 13/06/2026 14:23

Imperial leather is banned in Europe due to it containing an ingredient that causes a severe allergic reaction. For some reason it isn't banned in the UK, which is strange really.

source? i just "googled" and it says no such thing

OhThePotential · 13/06/2026 18:26

queenMab99 · 13/06/2026 14:34

Ugh! Imperial leather smells like old men.

Persimmon soap apparently gets rid of the smell of ‘old person odour’. Before anyone comes for me its quite popular in Japan and here it is advertised in the back of magazines for getting rid of the smell of ‘nonenal ageing’.

I’m 55, I might have to try it.