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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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
HeyThereDelila · 14/06/2026 12:36

I love Pears, Palmolive (reminds me of late DGM), and Coal Tar Soap (reminds me of my other late DGM!)

YABU OP.

Sunnyyetnotsunny · 14/06/2026 12:31

HighHeelsRedLips · 14/06/2026 12:15

Is that a thing? I like the sound of that and am guessing it makes everything smell nice? Does it keep moths away too?

Yeah. It was for nice smell. We had them in every sock drawer etc. Like ever lasting airfreshener and when they stopped smelling they went by the sink for the original purpose.

Gettingbysomehow · 14/06/2026 12:27

liveforsummer · 14/06/2026 11:13

Soap is what gets you properly clean. Hand wash and shower gels are far less effective. I always use soap (proper not dove etc) on under arms, feet etc. imperial leather is fine.

Edited

I much prefer soap as everything else comes in tons of plastic packaging that will take hundreds of years to biodegrade. I get the organic ones in paper wrappers.
We have to stop this disposable culture.

TheyGrewUp · 14/06/2026 12:22

Hackedoffinoldage · 14/06/2026 12:16

Ahh the good old Imperial Leather family soap. Usually with one of your dad’s pubes stuck in it. Sometimes interchanged with Camay, Zest or Shield. The 80s was the best time for soap.

That made me laugh.

Hackedoffinoldage · 14/06/2026 12:16

Ahh the good old Imperial Leather family soap. Usually with one of your dad’s pubes stuck in it. Sometimes interchanged with Camay, Zest or Shield. The 80s was the best time for soap.

HighHeelsRedLips · 14/06/2026 12:15

Sunnyyetnotsunny · 13/06/2026 17:20

I still fondly remember bars of soap in drawers and wardrobes ❤️

Is that a thing? I like the sound of that and am guessing it makes everything smell nice? Does it keep moths away too?

CheekyRaven · 14/06/2026 11:57

I've always used imperial leather. It cuts through all grime and leaves my skin clean and smelling lovely. I use olay on my body and face. The old stuff is the best.

liveforsummer · 14/06/2026 11:50

CheerfulYank · 14/06/2026 11:35

Actually bar soap is massively “in” again thanks to ShowerTok on tiktok 😆 All the teenage girls are into scent layering and double cleansing etc and insist on using both bat soap and shower gel. According to the hygiene hobbyists on social media, soap gets you actually clean and shower gel is just for the smell and/or the moisturizing properties, if it’s the right one.

Who knew I was down wit the kids. I had no idea and this was just an assumption if come to on my own 😆

MrsShawnHatosy · 14/06/2026 11:48

CheerfulYank · 14/06/2026 11:35

Actually bar soap is massively “in” again thanks to ShowerTok on tiktok 😆 All the teenage girls are into scent layering and double cleansing etc and insist on using both bat soap and shower gel. According to the hygiene hobbyists on social media, soap gets you actually clean and shower gel is just for the smell and/or the moisturizing properties, if it’s the right one.

It really isn’t true that shower gel doesn’t get you “properly clean”. Just rampant hygiene paranoia.

SoapCollector · 14/06/2026 11:45

CheerfulYank · 14/06/2026 11:35

Actually bar soap is massively “in” again thanks to ShowerTok on tiktok 😆 All the teenage girls are into scent layering and double cleansing etc and insist on using both bat soap and shower gel. According to the hygiene hobbyists on social media, soap gets you actually clean and shower gel is just for the smell and/or the moisturizing properties, if it’s the right one.

"bat soap" now that's one I've not tried! 😁

Op - thanks for the thread. I do love a chat about soap! I think, looking at the Jo Malone soap ingredients you are mainly paying for the perfume and lovely packaging but if that makes you happy go for it!

CheerfulYank · 14/06/2026 11:35

likeafishneedsabike · 13/06/2026 13:17

I assumed that everybody had left their soap bars in the 80s and now used shower gel. And yet everyone here is behaving as if bars of soap are normal, not retro. Mind blown.

Edited

Actually bar soap is massively “in” again thanks to ShowerTok on tiktok 😆 All the teenage girls are into scent layering and double cleansing etc and insist on using both bat soap and shower gel. According to the hygiene hobbyists on social media, soap gets you actually clean and shower gel is just for the smell and/or the moisturizing properties, if it’s the right one.

loislovesstewie · 14/06/2026 11:31

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 14/06/2026 09:05

What's the soap you use for the person who has psoriasid ?
I was looking at the coal tar but wondering if that would be too drying ?
Is it an over the counter or prescription?

TIA

He uses Dercos shampoo and Vanicream conditioner and then Dr Bronner soap on the body. He finds it doesn't make him itch. They are both available on Amazon. The coal tar was a bit harsh.

ERthree · 14/06/2026 11:24

Why do you get to decide which soap your Husband uses, you are not his Mummy. You use what you like and do him the same.

liveforsummer · 14/06/2026 11:24

ToffeePennie · 14/06/2026 11:17

Maybe that’s what it is with me. Bar soap also brings me out in severe dermatitis too, so maybe it’s because my skin is naturally too dry.

I only use bar soap on the areas that need that bit more cleaning and then a moisturing wash on the dry pairs (legs, arms etc. doesn’t seem to affect the grubby parts the same

daisychicken · 14/06/2026 11:21

I love the smell of bar soap but it makes my skin really dry and tight plus trying to clean the soap scum off the basin/shower drives me nuts (hard water area so I assume that's why).

So

  1. What soap doesn't leave your skin feeling dry and tight?
  1. How do you keep the basin/shower/bath clear of soap scum?
CheerfulYank · 14/06/2026 11:18

MyballsareSandy2015 · 13/06/2026 12:36

I’ll never even consider giving DH a BJ unless he’s used imperial leather on his nethers … so I’m team DH. Sorry!

Are you the Imperial Leather CEO, by chance 😒

ToffeePennie · 14/06/2026 11:17

MrsShawnHatosy · 14/06/2026 11:06

shower gels/creams/oils or body washes are actually better for dry skin as they don’t strip oils. Soap is better for deep cleaning oily skin. I do use soap occasionally but only if it’s a brand that contains a high proportion of Shea butter, such as L’Occitane or the Royal Botanic Gardens ones which are also lovely.

Maybe that’s what it is with me. Bar soap also brings me out in severe dermatitis too, so maybe it’s because my skin is naturally too dry.

liveforsummer · 14/06/2026 11:13

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. 🤢

Soap is what gets you properly clean. Hand wash and shower gels are far less effective. I always use soap (proper not dove etc) on under arms, feet etc. imperial leather is fine.

Anarchy99 · 14/06/2026 11:13

If you want to spend an obscene amount of money on a soap just because it’s a designer name then go ahead.

Perhaps he doesn’t want to contribute to this madness and I don’t blame him. You have your overpriced crap soap and he can have his.

Charlize43 · 14/06/2026 11:09

TheBot · 13/06/2026 13:00

Another tk maxx soap fan. Although some of those bars never seem to wear out, I dread to think what they're made from.

Someone gave me a Verbena soap bar from there and while it smelt nice, it was hard, lime yellow and plasticy and didn't lather easily. Eventually it cracked into two.

I had a great 100% Olive Oil bar of soap that I picked up in a run of the mill supermarket in Athens for 0.60 euros - that was soft and left your skin feeling thoroughly moisturised. If I visit again, will definitely be buying and bring back more.

MrsShawnHatosy · 14/06/2026 11:06

ToffeePennie · 14/06/2026 10:41

All types of bar soap dry out my skin massively and make me really sore. So I refuse to have the stuff in the house and in the shower I use a cherry scented shower gel from Superdrug. Cheap but not as drying on the skin.

shower gels/creams/oils or body washes are actually better for dry skin as they don’t strip oils. Soap is better for deep cleaning oily skin. I do use soap occasionally but only if it’s a brand that contains a high proportion of Shea butter, such as L’Occitane or the Royal Botanic Gardens ones which are also lovely.

Gettingbysomehow · 14/06/2026 11:06

ColdAsAWitches · 13/06/2026 12:31

You buy yours and let him use his. Ffs.

This. At least you wont get hairs all over your soap.
Run imperial leather through the YUKA app. I'll bet its full of poisonous muck.

Bowies · 14/06/2026 10:57

Not all soaps are equal but these are both essentially the same base of palm oil.

Some French soaps are too, but not all.

Oliva soap, made in Crete but widely available in U.K. health food type shops (and H&B) is olive oil and sea salt, is much less drying.

Your soap OP is (ethically) better than DH in at least it is (more) sustainability sourced, imperial leather sourcing is dubious.

Jo Malone has added shea butter as an ingredient so slightly more moisturising than imperial leather plus you are paying premium for the brand and your choice of perfume.

No reason why each person can’t have their own choice of soap?!

Flamingcoming · 14/06/2026 10:57

Imperial leather was nice back in the day. Haven’t had any recently, but nice memories of it in my childhood home.

Jo malone is overpriced.

on the other hand, you could get 2 soap dishes and have both.

Bertiebiscuit · 14/06/2026 10:56

100% agree - i buy the best Italian handmade soap (but affordable in t k maxx!) it smells so amazing and my skin just seems to prefer it. I can't see the point of cheap soap.