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Original poster

SOAP…..I miss the smell!!!

93 replies

Glittersmoke · 27/02/2025 10:19

Morning
I’m desperate to find either a very moisturising soap smelling soap, or a shower cream that smells like sosp
propper 80s camay kind of smell my mum used too use
no floral or citrus or summer rain on a hot cat
just soap!
Even Dove no longer smells soapy
i miss the clean simple smell soap.
Any recommendations?
Soap………

OP posts:
Evenstar · 27/02/2025 10:37

Have you tried baby soap? That smelt similar to me last time I had some. You could also try TK Maxx and go in and smell some as they always have a big selection.

Original poster
Glittersmoke · 27/02/2025 10:39

Yep the baby soaps also no longer smell soapy!

OP posts:
AddictedToBooks · 27/02/2025 10:39

I use Imperial Leather - not sure whether it's very moisuturising but it doesn't seem to dry my skin out and I'm 47 and used to be prone to dry skin,
I choose Imperial Leather because it smells like soap.

dudsville · 27/02/2025 10:48

Love your description "summer rain on a hot cat"!!!

buffyfaithspike · 27/02/2025 10:51

Imperial leather?
Dove deeply nourishing wash smells soapy to me

Poppins2016 · 27/02/2025 10:56

Another vote for Imperial Leather. It's my go to "soapy" soap. Pears soap is also nice, but might not meet your criteria (I do think it smells soapy, but it's sweeter in smell).

FadedRed · 27/02/2025 10:58

Have you got a TKMaxx locally, they have a wide range of (lovely) soaps, you might find one you like.

Christwosheds · 27/02/2025 10:58

This Italian brand has proper soapy smelling soaps. I love the smell.

SOAP…..I miss the smell!!!
Christwosheds · 27/02/2025 10:59

Images take time to show now, but it’s called Borotalco . You can get it on Amazon.

Blingismything · 27/02/2025 11:02

I agree with the suggestions for Imperial Leather, Bronnley is good as well. Have a browse at TK Maxx, they have lots of soap as others have said.

ChopolateSauce · 27/02/2025 11:02

I hate Imperial Leather since my mum described it as "Smells like a well-dressed old man waiting patiently at a bus stop".

Jesus Christ.

I love soapy soap with that lovely old fashioned, floral bathroom-y smell.
I use Lux and Pears for my fix.

MotherWol · 27/02/2025 11:10

One of the L'Occitane shea butter soaps? The shea butter and milk one has a really clean powdery scent. TK Maxx often have Petit Olivier Marseille soaps, and the shea butter or sweet almond ones might fit the bill.

YesImawitch · 27/02/2025 11:30

Nesti Dante
Particularly the Emotioni Toscana
Villages and Monestries
Smells so soapy and clean

nongnangning · 27/02/2025 11:34

The French soap brand Savon de Marseille

nongnangning · 27/02/2025 11:35

There was supposed to be a link in my PP - here it is again

LittleGreenDragons · 27/02/2025 11:42

I use Shield. It's a green bar and just smells clean. I also FEEL clean.

https://www.tesco.com/groceries/en-GB/products/268644910?srsltid=AfmBOopxfEDAzeas8CMo-KyIPPH54boFYl8q4hsd8GBgQ8oE5O-ieBMK

ShowAndGo · 27/02/2025 11:46

I've also gone back to Shield - since hitting the perimenopause, either my sense of smell has gone through the roof or I'm getting BO like a teenager again. Shield kills off the stinky bacteria, is vegan, and also smells reassuringly like soap.

ShowAndGo · 27/02/2025 11:47

ChopolateSauce · 27/02/2025 11:02

I hate Imperial Leather since my mum described it as "Smells like a well-dressed old man waiting patiently at a bus stop".

Jesus Christ.

I love soapy soap with that lovely old fashioned, floral bathroom-y smell.
I use Lux and Pears for my fix.

Funnily enough, Imperial Leather reminds me so much of my late DF that it's the one soap I can't use - too emotional!

Pears is another lovely old-fashioned smell.

Lucia573 · 27/02/2025 11:51

Chateau du Savon sell great value Marseilles soap, plastic free packaging.

Christwosheds · 27/02/2025 12:02

ShowAndGo · 27/02/2025 11:47

Funnily enough, Imperial Leather reminds me so much of my late DF that it's the one soap I can't use - too emotional!

Pears is another lovely old-fashioned smell.

Show quote history

Same here re Imperial Leather. Our lovely Dads.
I loved the smell of Pears but it has changed since the reformulation , both in scent and texture, so I don’t buy it any more.
I often buy Claus Porto or Nessa Dante soaps for the bath, or the Borotalco above that I use as a hand soap . I think the L’Occitane Shea butter mentioned above has a similar smell to the Borotalco , I like that too. 4711 cologne soap is v nice but a fresher, slightly lemony smell.

TheBewleySisters · 27/02/2025 12:20

I stopped using all the shower gels etc and went back to Imperial Leather, and sometimes Pear's. Both have traditional "soapy" smells and the Pear's in particular brings back memories of childhood.

Phunkychicken · 27/02/2025 12:23

YesImawitch · 27/02/2025 11:30

Nesti Dante
Particularly the Emotioni Toscana
Villages and Monestries
Smells so soapy and clean

I'm using the Toscana one and think it's my favourite smell ever. Just got a soap saver bag to try it with but the bar use so big it barely fits!

Santa Maria di Novella (Https://UK.smnovella.com/collections/solid-soaps) has brilliant soaps with'proper' smells but they are a bit pricey

BobbinThreadbare123 · 27/02/2025 12:36

Nesti Dante for the win. Love it in pretty much all of its scents.

AtomicBlondeRose · 27/02/2025 12:39

The Palmolive soap bars smell soapy - you get them in cheapo shops usually. If you pick the right cheap shop you might also find foreign Lux bars which have different scents and are proper old-fashioned soap.

BaronessBomburst · 27/02/2025 12:46

I'm also going to say Nesti Dante but Roma. It smells like my grandma's dressing table used to; sweet, soapy, and powdery.