Soap is one of the great underrated gifts. Everyone uses it, nobody buys themselves the nice kind, and a good bar costs less than a fancy coffee drink and lasts a whole lot longer. It also fits in a stocking, a card envelope (almost) and the gap in your budget after you've bought everything else.
Here's our holiday gift guide, organized by the people on your list. Every bar is handmade in small batches in Massachusetts, so a few are in short supply. If you see one you love, don't wait too long.
For the hockey fan, groomsman or guy who has everything
Give Yer Balls a Scrub is a round, puck-shaped bar with bergamot, bourbon and burnt lumber. It's a groomsman gift, a locker room essential and a white elephant winner all at once. At $9 it's an easy add-on to anything else you're giving, and it gets a laugh every single time.
For the mother-in-law (or any mother, really)
Mother-In-Law's Favorite is layered black raspberry, vanilla and champagne, sweet and a little celebratory. Tuck it into a basket with a bottle of something nice and a good book. The name does half the work for you.
For the history buff or the proud New Englander
14th Amendment layers apple, pine and fresh water into a bar that smells like growing up in New England. With the country turning 250 this year, it's a fitting gift for anyone who gets misty about Lexington and Concord, or just likes a crisp, clean scent.
For the wine lover
Bueno Y Merlot brings black cherry merlot and a fizz of champagne, rich and fruity. It's a natural pairing with an actual bottle of red. This one is restocking now, so check back soon or sign up below to hear the moment it's back.
For the person who likes things simple
Our castile bars are made with 100% organic olive oil. The Peppermint & Rosemary is a cool, bright wake-up, and the Eucalyptus & Tea Tree smells like a spa without the spa prices. Both are on their way back. If you're shopping for someone who reads every label, we wrote about what makes castile soap different.
Stocking stuffers under $10
Every bar on our shelf is $11 or less, and most are under $10. A single bar makes a thoughtful stocking stuffer, teacher thank-you or hostess gift. Pair it with a wooden soap dish or a soap saver bag and you've got a proper little present for very little money.
Make it a set
Three bars in three different scents make a lovely gift box, and you can mix and match however you like. Pick one sweet, one fresh and one woodsy, or build the whole set around one person's taste. Spend $75 or more and US shipping is free, which works out to about eight bars. Keep a few for yourself. We won't tell.
Sending it as a gift
When you check out, tick the "This is a gift" box in your cart and add a personal message, and it'll come through with your order. It's an easy way to ship straight to someone you can't see in person this year.
And because we make everything in small batches, order a little earlier than you think you need to. Holiday mail is slow and our bars sell out.
A small soapmaker's request
Use the good soap. Don't let anyone you gift it to save it in a drawer for a special occasion. (There's a whole internet trend about this called the lavender soap theory, and we're firmly on its side.) A bar of soap is meant to be used, and the holidays are as good a time as any to start.
Browse the whole soap shelf, or start with our men's bars.