ORANGE FRESHNESS

Into a deep green block we set a proper slice of orange — almost like a real slice of citrus in a glass. A design soap scented with orange and bergamot — one of those bars that has you thinking, mid-shower, that breakfast can wait a little longer.

The scent is fresh and brightening: orange and bergamot pull in one direction, mint and eucalyptus add a cooling touch — all pure essential oils, no fragrance blends. Beneath the colours, the recipe rests on saponified coconut and olive oil, shea butter and sunflower oil: coconut takes care of a rich lather, shea butter of hardness and a supple feel after washing. A vegan recipe and — as with all our soaps — palm-oil-free.

How does a slice of orange get into a soap?

By hand and with no shortcuts. The slice is not a dried decoration — it is assembled from soap mass, a soap within a soap. The whole block is made by the cold process and we cut it with a wire — so every slice is a little different, just as with a real orange. The green area around it is deliberately calm, with no swirls: the slice is meant to stand out on its own. Both the green and the orange come from mineral pigments — mica and iron oxides; “natural green” on a label is more often marketing than chemistry, so we would rather say it straight. The soap then cures on the shelf for at least 30 days, and after curing we check and weigh every bar. Is it extra work? It is. What really goes into the price of a handmade soap is laid out, without romanticising, in our article why handmade soap costs more.

Between showers, let the soap dry out in a dry spot so it lasts as long as possible — a soggy soap is not a better soap.

You will find more pieces where craft plays with colour among our design soaps. For a longer life, treat this one to a soap dish. In its paper box it makes a fresh gift.