Well, this is a blast from the past and a very nicely spent couple of quid if you fancy a nostalgia trip, although it’s not quite the Pears of old. In fact, in 2010, Pears had to abandon its new soap recipe because it was so universally loathed. My memory of Pears soap as a child is that it had a spicy, almost peppery smell that I didn’t quite like but didn’t not like if you see what I mean. The original bar soap didn’t contain SLS and in this hand wash, it’s the next ingredient after water. So, if you’re not happy using SLS you need to avoid.
However, olfactory remnants do remain – the spice, although not to it’s peppery, nose pinching origins – is still there but in a softer, more gentle version. This is a soap free hand wash, so not actually soap, but it does a decent job of acting like a soap and it didn’t strip my skin. The original Pears isn’t coming back ever – production processes have changed, as have the ingredients – but this liquid version did give me a little trace of memory of childhood bath times.
You can find it HERE for £1.99.
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All products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.
5 comments
A soap maker named Martin Suenson makes clear, dark amber-colored soaps that are more in keeping with the old Pears’ scent. His soap business is called Savonnerie de L’Alchimiste and the old school soap line that is Pears-ish is called Britannia. There is also a liquid soap version in his liquid soap section. It costs more the current Pears, but I’ve been told by diehard Pears fanatics that they’re very pleased with it. I never got to try the original Pears so I can’t compare them, but I certainly like the Britannia soap myself.
that’s so useful.. thank you!
I feel old seeing and hearing the name Pears Soap! What intrigued me was the glycerin clearness of the amber bar. Not much memory of the smell probably because for my youth it was Camay soap and the overpowering powdery smell of that one which lingered way too long.
A recent Guardian article (sorry, can’t find the link now) said that one of the things ordinary people can do for the environment that will make an impact is to stop using liquid soap in single use plastic pump dispensers.
With full respect to you Jane, I’ve been reading your blog from the very beginning and love it, so this suggestion is made with love, not negativity – I wonder if it is time to stop featuring products that are really super wasteful in their packaging?
Quite understood – I take your comment in the spirit that it is meant. It’s becoming increasingly obvious that the beauty industry is very guilty in adding to the over-packing and plastics issue. However, because it is so widespread it would be impossible to stop featuring guilty parties because they nearly all are! I’d have no blog. There are ways to highlight cutting down waste and one of the things I’m going to try and do is comment on box sizes which often could easily be much smaller – there is dead space in a lot of product boxes and that’s something very obvious and easy to flag up the worst offenders. I know you have been reading since the beginning and your thoughts and comments are always appreciated here – as is the fact that you still are here!