Happy Friday, folks; the weekend is near. Here is a quick update on the soap bar I have been using this week, which is the Irish Spring Original soap bar.

Why this one? I hear you ask. Well, I was always curious as to what all the fuss was about and if it does smell like an Irish spring. Because who doesn’t love an Irish Spring?

A bit of history here: despite the name, the soap was initially launched in Germany and the US in the 1970s and appears to be owned by Colgate. The soaps started with just one scent, known internally as the “Ulster scent” before the company expanded its range with deodorants, shower gels and shaving products.  

It is a grocery store soap, and as we know, they are often stuffed with nasty chemicals unsuitable for sensitive skin. Some of them are OK, to be fair, but how does this one hold up? 

Let’s take a look!

Where to buy and price

You won’t find this American product in your local high street in the UK. But don’t worry; multiple people are still selling it on Amazon (where I purchased it), and the price is pretty cheap. I paid around £5 for 3 bars, which isn’t bad at all.

If you are in the US, you can buy it anywhere, so there are no issues there.

Presentation

It’s typical of what you can expect from a grocery store product: low quality and a bit generic looking. It has a nice picture of what appears to be the Irish countryside on the front, but that’s about it.

Ingredients

Rather than typing the ingredients onto this post, I will take a photo of the back of the box and upload it below. I am currently on a London train, and people are staring at me, probably wondering why that crazy guy is taking a photo of an empty box of soap, and maybe they have a point. Nevertheless, here you are, you lucky people.

Are the ingredients natural?

The packaging states that the soap has a 98% naturally derived formula, so you can make that what you want.

Special features?

It appears to be gluten-free (if that is considered a special feature) 

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What does it smell like?

It has a strong (and it is very strong) fresh laundry detergent-type smell. This surprised me, as I was expecting something more natural and earthy. It’s not a bad fragrance at all, but I don’t think it smells like an “Irish spring” or any other type of spring, for that matter.

Speaking of green natural and earthy type soaps, I recommend Horace’s Virginia Cedar & Sage Leaf Soap Bar if you want to dig a little deeper. This is a beautiful soap bar; you can read my review here. 

When it comes to Irish Spring, imagine hanging your freshly laundered clothes out to dry on a warm summer’s day. That’s what it smells like.

Is it manly?

Not really, no, there’s nothing distinctly masculine about the scent. Men and women often use it.

Performance

Now, this is a very strong-smelling soap indeed. As I sat in my lounge and conversed with my good lady wife last night, I could smell it (intensely) on my bookshelf, around 3-4 metres away.

I’ve heard people have all sorts of uses for this soap, such as placing them in drawers and wardrobes to make their clothes smell nice. You could even put it somewhere discreet in your house and use it as an air freshener.

I have also heard of people using it as an insect repellent to deter bed bugs and other such things. I have yet to test this, so I want to know if it works. If this has worked for you, let me know in the comments.

As for the actual job of cleaning you, it does a pretty good job. It lathers well and doesn’t leave the skin feeling tight and dry. The flaxseed oil used is excellent for keeping the skin hydrated and moisturised. 

How long does it last

Typically around 3-4 weeks. It’s average in size, weighing in at 3.7 ounces. Considering the price, I don’t have any complaints here. 

Should you buy it?

There you have it, a nice little bit of kit with what would seem multiple uses. It’s not quite as handy as Dr Bronner’s All-One Soap (which can even be used to wash your dishes), but the scent is much more powerful. 

I recommend it, even if you want to keep it on standby for freshening up a room, bag or suitcase. Let me know your thoughts.

READY TO GRAB THIS FRAGRANCE?

If you’re ready to add this to your collection, here are two reliable places to check:

  • FragranceX – usually the best prices, discount codes, and a wide selection. They also ship worldwide.
  • Amazon – great if you prefer Prime delivery speed, just make sure to buy from a trusted seller.

👉 Pick the option that works best for you.

No matter where you’re reading from, smell good, spend smart.

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