Somewhere along the way, we all collectively seemed to hop off the bar soap train. Maybe a friend told you they were actually “dirty.” Or maybe you just got really into an amazing-smelling liquid soap.

If you’ve rejected the good old’ bar soap for any reason, we’re here to show you what you’re missing.

Besides coming in all kinds of appealing varieties, vegan bar soaps are the more environmentally friendly option. For those with skin sensitivities (we can relate!), it’s often easier to find a fragrance-free bar soap than a liquid one.

So, let’s talk soap! Stick around till the end for a list of our favorite vegan bar soaps, both aromatic and fragrance-free.

The Eco-Savvy Choice

When it comes to an environmental impact, bar soaps have liquid soaps beat. Most observably, bar soaps require much less packaging. You can go 100% plastic-free with bar soap, something considerably trickier to accomplish when trying to contain a liquid.

According to a 2009 study, it takes five times as much energy for the raw material production of liquid soap, and almost 20 times as much energy for the packaging production.

One caveat to note from this study is that vegan soap bars did have an increased impact on land use compared to liquid soap. Since vegan bar soaps usually contain ingredients derived from farmed crops, there is a larger agricultural factor at play.

Despite the effect of bar soap on land use, it's still the clear winner for a decreased carbon footprint. It has a lower impact on eco-toxicity, ozone depletion potential, and eutrophication potential.

One caveat to note from this study is that vegan bar soaps did have an increased impact on land use compared to liquid soap. Since vegan bar soaps usually contain ingredients derived from farmed crops, there is a larger agricultural factor at play.

Despite the effect of bar soap on land use, it’s still the clear winner for a decreased carbon footprint. It has a lower impact on ecotoxicity, ozone depletion potential, and eutrophication potential. 

The Benefits of Castile Soap

We can't truly discuss the topic of vegan soap bars without including a section on the wonders of Castile soap. If you haven't been introduced yet, it's definitely worth checking out.

Originally produced in the region of Castile, Spain, this non-toxic vegan bar soap is oil-based. Popular oil choices include olive, hemp, jojoba, and coconut. You can also find it with alternative oils such as walnut, sunflower seed, avocado, or almond.

Biodegradable and entirely vegan by nature, this environmentally friendly soap can be used for countless household purposes. The same gentle cleanser you use in your daily shower could also be used to wipe your counters or shampoo your dog.

Keep in mind that different Castile soap bar manufacturers may include their own preferred ingredients. Double-check the label before using it on, for example, your unsuspecting puppy. If the product includes a hefty dose of something like tea tree oil, you'll want to keep it far away from Fido.

Our Favorite Vegan Bar Soaps

Ready to bring bar soap back into your life? We selected our top picks for your convenience. While we love what these soaps have to offer, we’d also like to note that every individual can react uniquely to different products. Try a few to see what works best for you. All these bar soaps are 100% vegan and cruelty-free.

Opas Pure Olive Vegan Bar Soap

Price | $9.95

Amount | 4 oz.

Key Ingredients | Distilled Water, Saponified Extra Virgin Olive Oil.

You'd be hard-pressed to find a soap more natural and transparently produced than the Opas Pure Olive Soap. It contains only two ingredients, organic extra virgin olive oil and distilled water. The olive oil makes it an ideal moisturizing vegan soap bar for dry skin.

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Dr. Bronner’s Hemp Almond Pure Castile Bar Soap

Price | $4.99

Amount | 5 oz.

Key Ingredients | Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Olive Oil, Organic Hemp Seed Oil, Jojoba Seed Oil.

Our favorite thing about this Hemp Almond Pure Castile Bar Soap might have to be the mild, marzipan-type scent. The sweet-smelling lather does a thorough cleanse while leaving the skin feeling moisturized. It contains palm oil, but Dr. Bronner’s products use sustainably sourced oil.

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Kirk’s Soothing Aloe Vera Castile Bar Soap

Price | $2.19

Amount | 4 oz.

Key Ingredients | Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin, Aloe Vera Juice, Rosemary Leaf Extract.

If you’re a coconut oil enthusiast, consider trying this Soothing Aloe Vera Castile Bar Soap. With inherent anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties, this coconut oil-based soap is certified hypoallergenic.

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Ethique Invigorating Matcha, Lime & Lemongrass Soap Bar

Price | $6.00

Amount | 4.23 oz.

Key Ingredients | Sodium Olivate, Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin.

A refreshing bar to supercharge your mornings, Ethique's Matcha, Lime & Lemongrass soap is packed with antioxidants and skin-loving ingredients. Plus, you can store it in one of their plastic-free shower containers, their coconut soap trays, on a metal soap tray, or in a glass jar to keep it totally plastic free. This soap is palm-free, vegan, cruelty-free, saves 900mL of water, and plants one tree for every order! Try it today!

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Meow Meow Tweet Coconut Cacao Body Soap

Price | $10.00

Amount | 4.5 oz.

Key Ingredients | Cocoa Butter, Coconut Oil, Sunflower Seed Oil, Coconut Milk.

With the perfect sweet, soothing scent to wind down after a long day, Meow Meow Tweet's Coconut Cacao soap is perfect for self-care days. Plus, it's so moisturizing and gentle, that it can even be used for babies and easily irritated skin! Its non-toxic, vegan formula features just six ingredients: cocoa butter, coconut oil, sunflower seed oil, sodium hydroxide, coconut milk, and castor oil. Discover your new favorite scent!

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100% Pure Mango Butter Soap

Price | $15.00

Amount | 4.5 oz.

Key Ingredients | Saponified Virgin Coconut Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil, Shea Butter.

A triple-milled soap formulated with coconut oil, olive oil, rosehip seed oil, grapeseed oil, shea butter, and other natural ingredients, this product is truly 100% pure! Its creamy texture lathers smoothly onto your skin, leaving it supple and moisturized. You won't regret adding this lovely gentle soap to your skin care routine!

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The Earthling Co Body Wash Bar

Price | $13.99

Amount | 4.5 oz.

Key Ingredients | Sunflower Seed Oil, Coconut Oil, Shea Butter.

Use this concentrated body wash to cleanse and condition your skin, leaving it soft and supple for the rest of the day! Although their scented bars are totally free from artificial fragrances, they also offer an unscented Coconut Milk bar. This bar is ideal for sensitive skin, enriched with sunflower seed oil, coconut milk, and shea butter for extra protection and hydration!

Their scented bars also contain sunflower oil, safflower oil, coconut oil, and shea butter to help boost and lock in moisture. And best of all, they're all packaged in a 90%+ post-consumer recycled paper box you can compost at home. Try out this eco-friendly soap now!

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What About Fragrance-Free Soaps?

According to the National Eczema Association, 1-4% of the population suffers from fragrance sensitivity. Some products claim to be fragrance-free, but actually include fragrance components to hide an undesirable odor within the product.

Even people without a diagnosed allergy to these chemical compounds can still experience unpleasant sensitivities to different fragrances.

If you'd like to steer clear of fragrances or need a product that won't irritate your sensitive skin, here are our recommendations:

Sappo Hill Natural Fragrance-Free Soap

Price | $3.00

Amount | 3.5 oz.

Key Ingredients | RSPO Certified Palm Oil, Coconut Oil, Organic Cornmeal, Glycerin.

With an impressive history of over 40 years in soap production, Sappo Hill provides trustworthy fragrance-free vegan soap for sensitive skin. Every bar is cut by hand and created with simple, gentle ingredients. Try one of these luscious handmade soaps today!

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The Yellow Bird Unscented Shea Butter Bar Soap

Price | $9.99

Amount | 4.5 oz.

Key Ingredients | Organic RSPO Certified Palm Oil, Organic Sunflower Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Organic Shea Butter.

Here's another product created by hand and with great attention to detail. The unscented shea butter vegan soap bar is made without any synthetic lathering agents. With only the highest-grade natural and certified organic ingredients, this one is perfect for easily irritated skin.

Alder New York Cleansing Body Bar

Price | $12.99

Amount | 3.5 oz.

Key Ingredients | Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin, Glycolic Acid, Shea Butter.

Formulated with 1% glycolic acid, this beauty bar functions as both a vegan soap bar and an exfoliating skin care product in one! You can now banish dry skin with this unscented natural soap made for even the most sensitive skin. Leave your skin soft and truly refreshed, minus the animal-derived ingredients now!

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Our Pick: Hand in Hand Fragrance-Free Bar Soap

Price | $4.99

Amount | 5 oz.

Key Ingredients | Sodium Cocoate, Glycerin, Cocoa Butter.

In addition to offering a fragrance-free bar that is safe for sensitive skin, this Hand in Hand Bar Soap uses organic cocoa and shea butter to nurture and heal irritated skin. Their bars are plastic-free, made only with all-natural fragrances, and totally Leaping Bunny Certified. A no-brainer for eco-conscious consumers!

We're also big fans of Hand in Hand's “buy a bar, give a bar” policy. With the purchase of every bar, they donate one bar of vegan soap and one month of clean water to a child in need. Enjoy these gentle vegan soap bars and support Hand in Hand's mission now!

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There you have it–our top picks for vegan bar soaps. Have you tried one of these vegan soap bars before? If so, let us know what you think!

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