Page 4 | DH and I disagree about Soap 😳

anotherdaytosmile · 2026-06-13T11:27:11+00:00

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?

Bluestar1971 · 14/06/2026 19:16

Just let him use whatever soap he wants. If you don't like it but your own Jo Malone

Tappings · 14/06/2026 19:15

OhThePotential · 14/06/2026 16:28

I’ve ordered some too, very curious as I used to see it advertised in magazines for getting rid of ‘old person smell’ - its apparently a thing from about forty and I’m 55 so I’m game.

I read a tip last night that behind the ears is one of the most important spots to use it on 🤷🏻‍♀️

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I might buy some for the in-laws, they have it terribly bad. Their personal hygiene isn't the best either, though I know the old person smell isn't about hygiene.

FatRosie · 14/06/2026 19:14

@bosqueverde ,Read the contents: "sodium palmate" -> palm oil, "sodium laureth" -> coco, "sodium olivate" -> olive.
The sodium laureth is wrong, it should read sodium cocoate.

Calciferloveseggs · 14/06/2026 19:12

Jo Malone is owned by Estee Lauder so is not cruelty free, unlike Imperial Leather which is owned by PZ Cuzzons who are cruelty free so I'm team hubbie on that one 😊

MakeMineALargeOneThanks · 14/06/2026 19:11

Ah I have found my people. I absolutely love a bar of soap. I have, in fact, had a Nesti Dante selection pack for Christmas and been utterly delighted with it.

I was going to suggest exactly as so many pp have - each should have own soap. We actually have multiple bars of soap on the go at once, as some are more suitable for morning waking-up showers, and other are more calming before-bed. All sinks and basins in our house have a soap on one of those magnetic holders (so no scummy dish).

Like a pp I also buy soaps when on holiday or visiting somewhere as I like to try a new one. Our latest favourite was a salt and honey one we picked up in Slovenia last summer. It was absolutely amazing.

bosqueverde · 14/06/2026 19:10

bosqueverde · 14/06/2026 18:56

Soap is made by mixing a fat together with an alkali

Most of the time today, the fat is palm oil, and the alkali sodium hydroxide (lye). Read the contents: "sodium palmate" -> palm oil, "sodium laureth" -> coco, "sodium olivate" -> olive. If it's a liquid soap, there's water first (sorry, aqua, looks so much better on the label).

In the 70's some soap was still made from animal fats and suchlike, so it made some sense to advertise soaps of vegetable oil as upmarket. But in 2026 few people wash with a boiled mix of beef tallow and potash, so you might like to know what oil your soap is made from.

I switched to olive oil soap (Aleppo, Castilia, Marseilles...) because I don't like what I hear about palm oil plantations. Olive oil soaps are also supposed to contain more glycerin which is a good moisturiser.

Imperial leather is sodium palmate (so palm oil) and glycerin is taken out in the industrial process, to sell in other moisturisers.

more science there: https://redandhoney.com/the-science-of-soap-why-all-bars-are-not-created-equal

Oops I read that sodium laureth sulfate is actually an industrial saponified oil, usually derived from petrol! Coconut oil gives sodium cocoate. Who'd have guessed.
I should just say teams Marseilles and not make a fool of myself trying to repeat science.

comoatoupeira · 14/06/2026 19:05

Both full of perfume and nasty stuff not good for our skin or our waterways!
get a savon de Marseille or a simple soap that just does the job

Pastapenguin · 14/06/2026 18:59

For everyone hating on bar soap:

It’s self sanitising and antibacterial
hand wash pumps are NOT
Far more likely to find bacteria on a hand wash pump than a bar of soap

bosqueverde · 14/06/2026 18:56

Soap is made by mixing a fat together with an alkali

Most of the time today, the fat is palm oil, and the alkali sodium hydroxide (lye). Read the contents: "sodium palmate" -> palm oil, "sodium laureth" -> coco, "sodium olivate" -> olive. If it's a liquid soap, there's water first (sorry, aqua, looks so much better on the label).

In the 70's some soap was still made from animal fats and suchlike, so it made some sense to advertise soaps of vegetable oil as upmarket. But in 2026 few people wash with a boiled mix of beef tallow and potash, so you might like to know what oil your soap is made from.

I switched to olive oil soap (Aleppo, Castilia, Marseilles...) because I don't like what I hear about palm oil plantations. Olive oil soaps are also supposed to contain more glycerin which is a good moisturiser.

Imperial leather is sodium palmate (so palm oil) and glycerin is taken out in the industrial process, to sell in other moisturisers.

more science there: https://redandhoney.com/the-science-of-soap-why-all-bars-are-not-created-equal

The Science of Soap: Why All Bars Are Not Created Equal

There are many different soap making methods. You can follow simple recipes for homemade natural soaps, but are all soaps created equal? Find out which soap might be best for you and who I recommend.

https://redandhoney.com/the-science-of-soap-why-all-bars-are-not-created-equal

ThistleTits · 14/06/2026 18:49

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.

😂😹

ArabellaScott · 14/06/2026 18:44

TotHappy · 13/06/2026 12:34

I like Pears. It turns you into a beautiful princess.

Things happen after a Badedas bath.

Julia001 · 14/06/2026 18:43

Can’t you have both ? My other half prefers shower gel , I prefer lifebuoy soap which is carbonic. Life and let live , it’s a bit controlling to want to ban a soap that he likes

Original poster

anotherdaytosmile · 14/06/2026 18:27

The poll is 50/50. This is not helpful MN

OP posts:

Mylastusernamewasbetter · 14/06/2026 18:23

thisoldcity · 14/06/2026 18:20

I love MN for the weird and lengthy discussions of things like this!

I was literally just thinking that very thought!

thisoldcity · 14/06/2026 18:20

I love MN for the weird and lengthy discussions of things like this!

BeddysMum · 14/06/2026 17:50

Ew stinky old man soap! My partner's grandad used it. It's a nice enough soap and he says it's good for shaving, but it's not for me!

Have your own individual soaps and products like we do! It's the only solution 😂

Allonthesametrain · 14/06/2026 17:40

I love dove, DH prefers shower gel.

Imperial leather is a good soap but you could get your own? Xx

OhThePotential · 14/06/2026 17:38

NoWordForFluffy · 14/06/2026 17:07

You can't smell behind your own ears, so who knows what they smell of!

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Everyone except me?

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 14/06/2026 17:18

NoWordForFluffy · 14/06/2026 17:07

You can't smell behind your own ears, so who knows what they smell of!

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Exactly - but I know the back of my neck gets sweaty . Combination of menopause , my hair making my neck hot at night , I wear a hat at work and I have earrings in which I don;t change as often as I might so they trap shampoo .
Maybe something I should add to my glow-up list . Change your bloomin' earrings
I have Waschie pads which are great for washing the back of my neck, face and behind my ears in the shower .

Anyway - soap will be tested out .

BIossomtoes · 14/06/2026 17:14

NoWordForFluffy · 14/06/2026 17:07

You can't smell behind your own ears, so who knows what they smell of!

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You can rub your finger behind your ear and see how it smells.

NoWordForFluffy · 14/06/2026 17:07

OhThePotential · 14/06/2026 16:55

I wasn’t suggesting otherwise. A thing exists, I want to try it. That’s all.

Edited

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You can't smell behind your own ears, so who knows what they smell of!

beigetriangle · 14/06/2026 17:01

imperial leather is fine. so is jo malone or handgrafted from a market stall.
I like to mix it up so I don't get used to one scent and can look forward to the next.

VikingLady · 14/06/2026 16:59

We have entirely separate toiletries. It’s just easier. Especially bubble bath.

OhThePotential · 14/06/2026 16:55

BIossomtoes · 14/06/2026 16:42

I’m 72 and the only smell behind my ears is perfume.

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I wasn’t suggesting otherwise. A thing exists, I want to try it. That’s all.

OhThePotential · 14/06/2026 16:54

MrsShawnHatosy · 14/06/2026 16:30

So you’re assuming you have this smell because of this advert? How do you know?

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Nope. This is a fun thread, go and snipe at someone else.