Happy Friday, gentlemen. It’s that time again for soap of the week, and today, I will review an old British classic, the Pears Glycerin soap. This soap holds a dear place in my heart, as it was a staple in my household throughout my childhood. First produced in 1807 Oxford Street, London by Andrew Pears, it was the first ever translucent soap on the mass market. Interestingly, it was also the first commercial product to be endorsed by a celebrity, with actress Lillie Langry as the poster girl in 1882. 

This soap is still loved by many and has stood the test of time. The formulations have changed for better and worse over the years, and at one point, there was even a Facebook petition for the company to reinstate the original. 

How does it hold up today? Well, my soap-loving friends, here’s what I’ve found.

Price and where to buy

There are no excuses for not giving this one a try. It is, as we say in the UK, “as cheap as chips”, costing around £2.00 for a double pack, and you’ll find them in most of the larger grocery stores. 

I am unsure of its popularity in the US, but I know you can buy them there; perhaps someone could clarify this in the comments below. I have also seen different scent variations, including mint and lemon, and I have yet to try either. 

Presentation

The box has been modernised and is pretty standard, as you can see. The soap bar is faithful to the original and has the same warm glow as the one I remember. Having said that, I remember the colour being darker and less transparent than it is now.

Formulations

Let’s look at a couple of the recent changes in formulations.

2003 – The naming convention was changed slightly to include “gentle care”, with the texture of the soap being somewhat softer than its predecessor. However, the most notable change was the scent. The mild, herbal, spicy fragrance was altered to become a more robust and aromatic scent, which wasn’t well received.

2016 – The company that manufactures the soap (now Hindustan Unilever) appeared to have responded to the masses’ demands and re-launched the soap. The following announcement was made on their website: “The beloved British Icon Returns – Pears is re-launched in the UK.” 

As far as I can tell, this is the version I have been using for the last couple of weeks.

Ingredients

Here are the photos, guys.

Are the ingredients organic?

Well, as you can see from the box, it does state that it is made with natural oils and filtered for purity. It doesn’t look like it is 100%, as some synthetic ingredients are also thrown in there, it would seem. Check the ingredients on the box (picture provided) to see the complete list of ingredients.

What does it smell like?

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that the scent is close to the original, even perhaps a bit stronger than I remember. It brings back a flood of childhood memories and would do the same for others like me. It smells spicy and herbal with a warm, honey-like undertone.

I described it to my wife as smelling like walking into a Holland & Barrett store, to which she totally agreed. For those who don’t know, Holland and Barrett is a health and wellbeing shop selling many expensive natural skin care products, amongst other things. Needless to say, my wife likes them, and even I must admit, there is something to be said about the smell when you walk in. 

Want to try this fragrance on your skin?

If you’d prefer to sample it first, these are my two favourite
and most reliable places to get authentic decants:

Performance

The soap is still relatively mild but is balanced well enough to leave your skin and the bathroom smelling clean and fresh with that old, familiar signature scent. It lathers well and cleans your skin perfectly with no nasty dryness or tightening. Overall, there are no complaints in this area at all. I even washed my hair with it; why not?

The scent does wear off as the soap bar shrinks down, which is normal and will last about three weeks with daily use. Each bar is reasonably sized, weighing 100g.

Conclusion

This soap bar isn’t going to be everyone’s cup of tea, especially if you don’t enjoy herbal and oily-scented products. If you do, however, you’ll want to check this one out, and you can’t go wrong for the price. 

If not for yourself, it would be an excellent gift for someone who may have used it back in the day to experience a little nostalgia. Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.

This will likely be my last post this year, so I wish all my readers and subscribers a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I look forward to bringing you more fragrance and soap reviews in 2024.

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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It’s built for guys who want to smell sharp without overthinking it.