The Ultimate Guide to Affordable Luxury Hand Soaps
In a world where hygiene and aesthetics go hand in hand, it’s no wonder that we seek out hand soaps that are not only effective but also enhance the look of our bathrooms. While it can be tempting to fill up an empty designer soap bottle with cheaper alternatives, there are stylish and luxurious hand soaps available that don’t break the bank. This guide explores a range of hand washes that offer a blend of quality, design, and affordability.
Please can we all admit that on occasion, when we’ve been gifted and subsequently drained a posh-looking hand wash, we unscrew the luxury cap and pour in something from Asda? And that those of us privileged enough to have a downstairs loo that visitors see, routinely leave the posh soap there while the resident family rely on a bumper dispenser of Carex? Surely no one is above such behaviour.
An illicit bargain refill last autumn inspired a hunt for stylish-looking and luxury-feeling hand soaps that, while not weekly-shop cheap, feel at least like a justifiable luxury. I’ve rarely enjoyed my research more.
Let’s get the most expensive one out of the way, because it cannot be ignored: Beauty Pie’s Lemon Butter & Hemp Seed Hand Wash is £12.50 to members for a whopping half-litre of a glorious, creamy wash that leaves hands soft and fragrant. It is a rare combination of fresh (the lemony scent is a joy) and comforting (that’s the glycerin) and a little goes a long way – although the bottle is so large that one can be guiltlessly lavish. Try it and you’ll see that it’s comparable with washes at more than three times the price.
I love M&S’s Apothecary range for candles and personal fragrance, but I’d never before tried the hand washes. They look and smell as lovely as their stablemates – all brown glass medicine bottles, clean fonts, botanical fragrances and plant oils.
The Calm variety combines the scent of oily orange peel and mellow woods to provide a gratifying spa moment at the basin. It’s £6 for 250ml, but can be refilled from a 520ml pouch costing £9.50, making it more cost-effective.
Zara Home has added smart design to generic plastic bottles to make a stylish and affordable bit of bathroom decor. And what’s inside is pretty good, too. Light Cotton Hand & Body Wash (£5.99 for 250ml) is a gentle, slightly orangey, woody, clean musk fragrance suspended in a wash that suds up well without stripping moisture from the hands.
For £11.99, there’s a whopping 750ml of the same formula in Poetic Mind, with a zesty lemon and comforting magnolia scent, which smells and looks like something way more pricey.
If your soap is bought exclusively at the supermarket, I enthusiastically recommend Baylis & Harding’s Goodness Oud, Cedar & Amber Natural Hand Wash (£4). It can be refilled from the matching pouch, which is just £6.50 for a full litre and should last a good couple of months.
Conclusion
Choosing the right hand soap can elevate your bathroom’s aesthetic while also ensuring cleanliness. With options that merge quality and style, it’s easier than ever to indulge in small luxuries without overspending. From affordable supermarket options to chic designer brands, there’s a hand wash for every preference and budget. So go ahead, treat yourself to a soap that not only looks good but also makes handwashing a more enjoyable experience.
