Stone soap: what it is, how to use it and give it
Have you spotted a soap that looks like a smooth pebble from the beach and wondered what a stone soap actually is? Or are you after beautiful, unusual soaps to give as a present, something that does not look like every other bar? Here is what the name means, how to use and store a stone soap, what gold soap and charcoal soap are all about, and how to turn one into a gift.
What is a stone soap?
A stone soap is a solid soap shaped and marbled so that it looks like a polished stone. It is not made of stone. It is ordinary solid soap that lathers and cleans like any other. What makes it special is the look: because every bar is shaped and marbled by hand, each one has its own pattern. No two are the same.
Not to be confused with
- Cleaning stone: a cleaning paste in a tub for hobs, tiles or wheel rims. That is a household cleaner and not meant for skin.
- Alum stone: a mineral crystal used as a deodorant.
- Soapstone: a soft natural stone that soap dishes, among other things, are carved from.
Stone Soap Spa: a brand from Norway, made in Thailand
The stone soaps in our shop are by Stone Soap Spa. The brand is from Norway, and the soaps are handmade in Thailand. They are made there because that is where the ingredients grow: coconut, rice bran and sesame are processed fresh on site. Each bar weighs 120 g and is based on coconut, rice bran and sesame oils. Prices start at €13.
The varieties at a glance
- Charcoal Gold: a charcoal soap and gold soap in one, with coconut charcoal, 24 carat gold leaf, tea tree and peppermint. It smells fresh and has a cooling feel. Have a look at the Charcoal Gold.
- Rainbow: colourfully marbled, with lemongrass and lavender.
- Beetroot: beetroot gives it its rosy purple marbling, with mandarin and cedarwood.
- Brown Rice: a hair soap with brown rice and a cinnamon scent, for hair and scalp. It is not meant as a body soap. To learn how hair soap works, read our guide to hair soap and shampoo bars.
Stock is small and some varieties sell out from time to time. You can see what is available in our soaps & shampoos collection.
Gold soap and charcoal soap: what is behind them
A surprising number of people search for gold soap. Charcoal Gold contains real 24 carat gold leaf. It gives the soap its special look: golden veins shimmering on a deep black base. We do not promise any effect on the skin from it, the gold is there for the eyes.
The charcoal soap gets its black colour from coconut charcoal. It cleans thoroughly, and together with tea tree and peppermint it feels fresh as you wash.
How to use a stone soap
- Wet the soap briefly.
- Work up a lather between your hands or with a flannel.
- Spread the lather over your skin and rinse.
- Afterwards, do not leave the soap sitting in water. Put it somewhere it can dry.
That last point matters most. A soap left in a puddle goes soft underneath, gets slimy and wears down faster. With a marbled soap, the lovely surface smudges too.
How to store a stone soap
Unused soaps are best kept cool, dry and out of direct sunlight, for example in a cupboard or drawer. The soap you are using needs to dry between washes. A dish with standing water is the worst place for it.
Our suggestion is Soapi, a magnetic soap holder. You press a bottle cap halfway into the soap, the magnet holds it on the wall, and the soap hangs in the air. It dries all round and the sink stays clean. Soapi holds soaps up to 250 g, so a 120 g stone soap is no problem. It sticks to tiles, glass or mirrors with a waterproof adhesive pad, without drilling, but not to painted or wallpapered walls. Soapi costs €12.95 and comes in 10 colours.
Giving beautiful soaps
If you are looking for special soaps or a small luxury soap, you probably want something that is clearly a present and still gets used. A stone soap fits the bill: it looks like a find from a walk, it is one of a kind, and it eventually gets used up instead of gathering dust. Paired with a Soapi, it becomes a small set of soap and holder, so the recipient knows straight away where to put it.
For tips on wrapping solid soap nicely without it sweating in the paper, read Giving solid soap as a gift. And if you want something Nordic, there are more ideas in our Scandinavian gifts.
Mix & Match: several small presents
Need presents for several people? With Mix & Match you choose 5 products and pay €50, with free shipping within Germany. You can combine Soapis in all 10 colours, the key holder, solid soaps, shampoo bars and children's soaps. That works out at €10 per present.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the stone soap made?
In Thailand. Stone Soap Spa is a brand from Norway, and the soaps are handmade in Thailand, where coconut, rice bran and sesame grow.
How long does a stone soap last?
That depends on how often you use it. What helps most is letting it dry after each wash rather than leaving it in water.
In short
A stone soap is solid soap with the look of a polished stone, and each one is unique. See the current selection under soaps & shampoos, and for several presents at once, Mix & Match is worth a look.
