The Difference Between Bar Soap and Liquid Soap

What’s the difference between bar soap and liquid soap? Is one type of soap better than another? Or is it just a personal preference? Let’s assume you have the choice of purchasing both these soaps from an artisan handcrafted soap maker. (Meaning, lets not compare handcrafted bar soap with a commercial liquid soap). I’ve made both bar soap and liquid soap, and I’m a fan of the bar.  Here’s why.

You don’t need plastic packaging for bar soap, it’s eco-friendly. I wrap mine with a small piece of paper. Some soap makers sell their bars naked or unwrapped. I’ve heard complaints that bars of soap can get mushy. Choose a good soap dish, one that allows the water to drain so the soap isn’t sitting in a puddle of water.  Bar soap is cost efficient too. When you buy a 4 ounce bar, you’re getting 4 ounces of soap, not a soap and water mixture. I’ve heard the stories that bar soap harbors bacteria, but according to the National Library of Medicine, it’s not an issue.

Fans of liquid soap say it’s convenient to use. And it doesn’t get mushy either. It seems cleaner, but that doesn’t mean that it is. I’m not a fan of the plastic container needed to package the soap. Or the fact that liquid soap is mostly water.

I’ll use a liquid soap from handcrafted artisan soap maker friends. It’s fun to change things up a bit. And I do love supporting my soap making friends. My preference though, is bar soap. I even enjoy the process of making bar over liquid. There’s something magical about pouring the soap batter into the mold and waiting to unwrap and cut it. And when you finally are able to slice through and cut the soap into bars, well, that’s just heaven.

Which do you use and prefer?

Yours in Gratitude,

Angela