Essential Oil Blends in Our Soap: What Is in Every Scent

Every scent in our shop is an essential oil blend, or a single oil, or no oil at all. No mystery fragrance, ever. Here is what goes into each of our essential oil blends, which ones we reach for in summer, and which ones we save for a slow evening.

An essential oil is the smell of a plant, pressed or steamed out of its peel, leaves or flowers. A blend is a few of them together. In most of ours, one oil leads and one or two others shape it, the way a singer has backup.

We make scent for one reason: to make soap and lotion smell good. When a product is meant only to make you smell good, the FDA treats it as a cosmetic ¹. So we talk about scent as a mood, never as medicine.

That rule is handy for scent. On any of our labels, the oil listed first is the one you will smell most.

When it is hot out, we want soap that smells like a cold glass of lemonade. Citrus is our brightest blend: sweet orange leads, with lemongrass and grapefruit oils. You will find it in our citrus bar soap, citrus liquid soap and citrus hand lotion.

Lemongrass is not a blend at all. Our lemongrass liquid soap and lemongrass hand lotion use lemongrass essential oil and nothing else, for a clean, green smell with a lemony edge.

Lavender is our calmest blend: lavender leads, softened with earthy patchouli and a little lemongrass. It is in our lavender bar soap, lavender liquid soap and lavender hand lotion. The lotion is the one we keep on the nightstand.

Lavender Spearmint is lavender, spearmint and patchouli. The spearmint makes it brighter, so it works in the morning too. It is in our lavender spearmint liquid soap, shampoo and conditioner.

Thinking about fall essential oil blends? Our seasonal Autumn Blend bar soap comes back when the leaves turn, and many people find the warm, earthy patchouli in our lavender blend feels right for cooler nights.

Tea Tree is tea tree oil cooled with peppermint. It smells clean and sharp, the scent we reach for in a morning shower. It is in our tea tree bar soap and tea tree liquid soap.

Naked is no essential oils at all. Coming from a plant does not make an oil gentle for everyone, and some people react to plant ingredients ¹. Naked is for them, and for anyone who wants soap that smells like nothing.

Not sure where to start? Pick by the time of day you will use it most: citrus or tea tree for mornings, lavender for evenings, Naked for anytime. Or pick by room. We like to keep a bright scent by the kitchen sink and a calm one in the bathroom, and switch them with the seasons. Because every blend is listed by name on its product page, you always know exactly what you are smelling.