Natural Body Wash: Eco-Friendly Shower Gels & Soap Bars

The Science: Why Bar Soap Is Better Than Liquid

This is not an opinion. A lifecycle assessment published in the International Journal of Life Cycle Assessment compared solid and liquid soap across production, transport, use, and disposal. Key findings:

• Liquid soap requires 5 times more energy to produce than bar soap
• Liquid soap generates 20 times more packaging waste per wash
• Consumers use 6–7 times more product per wash with liquid soap than bar soap, mostly because the pump dispenses more than needed and because liquid flows away before it lathers

That last point is significant. The excess is not just a waste of product; it means more surfactants go down the drain per wash, increasing the load on water treatment systems. Bar soap, used correctly, delivers a controlled amount per use by definition.

The water issue is also real. Conventional shower gel is approximately 70–80% water by weight. You are paying for the carbon cost of transport to move water from a factory to your shower, where you will add more water to it. The bar soap format eliminates this logic entirely: it is concentrated from the start, contains minimal water, and no water needs to be shipped.

None of this means liquid soap is harmful. It means bar soap is a more efficient format for resources, packaging, and your wallet over time.

Marcel’s Green Soap Featured scent: Argan & Oudh

Argan oil and oudh both derive from the same tree, the agar tree, also called “the tree of beauty.” Argan oil comes from the seeds; oudh is the resin the tree produces to protect itself, which has been used in perfumery for centuries. The result is a warm, rich, slightly nutty scent that is unisex and lingers just long enough to be noticed without announcing itself across the room. One of the few shower product scents that actually works as well at night as in the morning.

Shop Argan & Oudh Body Bar →

Also available: Vanilla & Cherry Blossom — softer, sweeter, spring-forward. The cherry blossom note provides freshness; the vanilla grounds it. Better for mornings; the Argan & Oudh is better for evenings. Both are the same formula, same performance, scent is the only variable.

Shop Vanilla & Cherry Blossom →

The Ingredients, Explained

Full INCI: Sodium Palmate; Sodium Palm Kernelate; Aqua; Glycerin; Parfum; Palm Kernel Acid; Sodium Chloride; Ci 77891; Tetrasodium Etidronate; Tetrasodium EDTA; Ci 12490; Disodium Methylene Dinaphthalenesulfonate; Ci 47005; Ci 77266

Sodium Palmate and Sodium Palm Kernelate are the saponified (soap-form) derivatives of palm oil and palm kernel oil. They are the structural cleaning ingredients, the result of mixing palm-derived fatty acids with sodium hydroxide (lye), which produces soap. This is how most solid soap is made. Marcel’s sources these from RSPO-certified suppliers, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, an independent certification body requiring responsible land management, no deforestation of high-conservation forests, and fair treatment of workers. This is the honest position: palm-derived ingredients have a legitimate environmental concern attached to them, RSPO certification reduces but does not eliminate that concern, and Marcel’s is transparent about using it rather than obscuring it behind “vegetable-derived” language.

Glycerin (plant-based) is the skin conditioning agent. It is a byproduct of the soap-making process, and Marcel’s adds extra vegetable glycerine to the formula above what is naturally produced. Glycerine attracts moisture to the skin surface, which is why this bar leaves skin soft rather than tight after rinsing, the known drawback of cheaper soaps that strip glycerine out during processing.

Tetrasodium Etidronate and Tetrasodium EDTA are chelating agents; they prevent mineral build-up from hard water, interfering with the soap’s lathering performance. The same function as the tetrasodium glutamate diacetate in the all-purpose cleaner, just an older compound class. They are present at low concentrations and are stable under normal use conditions.

Ci 77891, Ci 12490, Ci 77266, Ci 47005 are the colourants giving the bar its visual appearance. All are approved under the EU cosmetic regulation.

What It Is Good At

Lathering thoroughly on any skin type, cleansing without stripping (the extra glycerine prevents that), leaving skin noticeably soft without a residue, and producing a genuine fragrance experience rather than the thin synthetic wash-off of most shower gels. Several reviewers with psoriasis and sensitive skin-related conditions specifically note this bar as one of the few that doesn’t aggravate their skin. The glycerine-rich formula avoids the alkaline pH spikes that irritate reactive skin.

It also works as a hand soap. You can leave it next to the sink and use it in both contexts. Marcel’s says so directly on the packaging.

How to Use It and Make It Last

Rub the bar briefly over wet skin, a loofah (see our body sponge page), or a flannel. Work into a lather, wash, and rinse. Do not press the bar directly against skin for extended periods. You use significantly less product by creating lather first.

Between uses, store the bar dry. A soap dish with drainage ridges is the most important accessory for a soap bar. Bars sitting in pooled water dissolve much faster than bars that dry fully between uses. The cardboard box it comes in can double as a travel case. At home, invest in a soap dish.

A 150g bar lasts the equivalent of three 300ml shower gel bottles under normal use. Over a year, a single-person household that showers daily will get through roughly four bars, versus twelve bottles of shower gel. The plastic savings are not marginal.

Meet Marcel’s Green Soap

Already covered on our all-purpose cleaner page, but the short version: Marcel Belt spent years at Unilever watching good formulas get wrapped in unnecessary packaging. He founded Marcel’s Green Soap in 2016 in Haarlem with three promises: it smells good, it works well, and it’s better for the planet. The personal care range follows the same principles as the cleaning range: natural-origin ingredients, recycled or plastic-free packaging, and refill formats wherever liquid is preferred over solid.

What Real Customers Are Saying

“My new favourite body soaps. All their shower bars smell utterly amazing and even freshen up my small bathroom. Great fragrance, great lather and love the cardboard sleeve. Ideal gift.” — Miss S. R., Tunbridge Wells, Big Green Smile

“Leaves skin feeling cleansed and soft due to oil based ingredients. Gentle on sensitive skin.” — Verified buyer, Amazon

“I have struggled to find anything that works so well that doesn’t irritate my psoriasis, especially on my hands. It is also amazing for shaving.” — A. L., verified buyer

“Scent isn’t too overwhelming. My skin feels great after using this. I didn’t find it too drying at all.” — Verified buyer, Amazon

The Ingredients, Explained

The soap base (Sodium Stearate, Sodium Laurate, Sodium Oleate, Sodium Myristate) is formed by saponifying (reacting with lye) the fatty acids from coconut oil and shea butter, which are the two plant-based fat sources explicitly present in the formula. This is how soap is made without palm oil: you replace palm-derived fatty acids with coconut- and shea-derived ones. The resulting soap performs the same cleaning function with a supply chain that does not touch any of the deforestation-linked agricultural systems palm oil is associated with in Southeast Asia and West Africa.

Glycerin + Sorbitol are both humectants. They attract and retain moisture on the skin surface. Sorbitol is derived from glucose (usually corn or wheat starch) and provides additional hydration depth alongside the glycerine, giving this bar a more moisturising profile than a standard soap.

Cocos Nucifera Oil (Coconut Oil) contributes antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, as well as additional skin conditioning beyond what the saponified fatty acids provide.

Butyrospermum Parkii Butter (Shea Butter) is the skin softening agent, rich in fatty acids (oleic, stearic, linoleic) that condition the skin barrier and improve elasticity. It is also the source of the Sodium Stearate in the formula, closing the ingredient loop neatly.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a coconut-derived secondary surfactant, the same gentle, non-ionic compound used in baby care products. Its presence here is part of why this bar lathers well without the harshness of a purely saponified soap.

Tetrasodium Iminodisuccinate is a chelating agent, a biodegradable alternative to the Tetrasodium EDTA found in Marcel’s bar. It performs the same function (binding hard water minerals that would otherwise interfere with lather) with a more favourable environmental degradation profile.

Lavandula Angustifolia Flower Oil is pure lavender essential oil; no synthetic fragrance compounds, no undisclosed fragrance cocktail. The Linalool declaration is a single naturally occurring constituent of lavender oil flagged under EU fragrance allergen regulation, not an added synthetic.

How to Store It and a Product That Does That Job

The single biggest factor in how long any bar lasts is whether it dries fully between uses. A bar sitting in standing water dissolves from the bottom up, silently losing days of product after every shower. The fix is a soap dish with proper drainage, and Beewise makes one worth adding to your order.

It is a compact case made from recycled plastic with small drainage holes at the base and a removable drainage insert that lifts the bar off any pooled water and allows air to circulate through it. In the shower, it functions as a proper draining soap dish. For travel, it closes securely, fits bars up to 6.5 cm in diameter, and means you are not stuffing a wet bar loose into a wash bag.

The box ships plastic-free and is designed to last indefinitely. The irony of buying a plastic product to store your plastic-free soap bar is real and worth acknowledging; Beewise addresses it directly, noting that using recycled plastic for a long-lived, durable item is a more defensible choice than using virgin plastic for single-use packaging. The box replaces a disposable plastic bag for every trip it goes on.

Shop the Shower & Travel Box →

The Honest Trade-Offs

At 70g versus Marcel’s 150g, the Beewise bar is a smaller product at a higher price point per gram, roughly €0.10/g versus Marcel’s approximately €0.03/g, depending on current pricing. Whether it lasts proportionally depends on how it’s used and stored; the travel box above resolves the storage variable entirely.

The scent range is limited to one option: lavender. If lavender doesn’t work for you, this is not your bar. Beewise does not currently offer additional scent variants in the body soap format.

What you are paying for beyond the formula is provenance: handmade in the Netherlands, from a small Amsterdam brand with no palm supply chain to manage, no RSPO offset to calculate, and no ambiguity about where the fatty acids come from. For a product used daily on skin that then rinses into the drain, that simplicity is worth something.

The bottom line: if you want a palm-free, locally made, genuinely clean-ingredient bar and you are comfortable with lavender as a permanent scent, the Beewise bar is the stronger choice on ingredients. If you want a wider scent range, a larger bar, or a lower per-gram price, Marcel’s is the more practical option — with the RSPO palm caveat clearly understood.

Also from Beewise

If this bar has caught your attention, two other products from their range are worth adding to your order. Their natural loofah body sponge, featured on our body sponge page, is the most direct plastic-free replacement for the synthetic puff in your shower, sourced from Egyptian Luffa Aegyptiaca and fully compostable. And their beeswax food wraps, featured on our food storage page, are one of the easiest plastic cling film replacements available. Both are products we recommend without reservation, from a brand that ships everything plastic-free from Amsterdam.

The Scents & Refills

Mimosa & Blackcurrant — bright, fruity, sharp citrus top note with the depth of blackcurrant underneath. The most energising scent in the range. Good for morning showers and people who find floral scents too soft. Shop Shower Gel Mimosa & Blackcurrant →

Vanilla & Cherry Blossom — soft, warm, soothing. The most popular scent across both formats. Shop Shower Gel Vanilla & Cherry Blossom → | Refill 500ml →

Argan & Oudh — warm, nutty, slightly smoky. The most unisex and evening-appropriate option. Shop Shower Gel Argan & Oudh → | Refill 500ml →

All three come in a 300ml bottle and a 500ml refill bag. The formula is identical across scents; only the fragrance changes.

The Ingredients, Explained

Full INCI (Mimosa & Blackcurrant): Aqua, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Sodium Chloride, Glycerin, Cocamidopropyl Betaine, Parfum, Sodium Benzoate, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate, Hexyl Cinnamal, Limonene, Hydroxycitronellal, Sodium Hydroxide, Propylene Glycol

Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) is the primary surfactant. Marcel’s FAQ addresses this directly: SLES is significantly milder than SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulfate), less likely to cause skin irritation, and is used at a low concentration in this formula. It is not a “natural” ingredient, but it is not the same compound as the more aggressive SLS frequently flagged in ingredient discussions. Marcel’s states openly that replacing it entirely with a plant-derived alternative would require 8 times more raw material for the same performance — the sustainability trade-off they’ve chosen to be transparent about rather than hide.

Cocamidopropyl Betaine is a coconut-derived secondary surfactant — the same mild, non-ionic compound used in baby shampoos. It moderates foam, improves gentleness, and contributes to the formula’s low irritation profile.

Glycerin + Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice are the hydration duo. Glycerine attracts moisture to the skin surface; aloe vera provides anti-inflammatory support and additional moisture binding. Their presence in a shower gel — a rinse-off product — is meaningful because both have sufficient skin-contact time in a shower to deliver conditioning before rinsing.

Sodium Benzoate + Potassium Sorbate are the preservative system. Both are approved EU cosmetic preservatives, both are present at low concentrations, and both are considerably less problematic than older preservative classes (parabens, isothiazolinones). They’re the same approach used in Ben & Anna’s personal care range.

Citric Acid adjusts pH. Sodium Hydroxide did the same during formulation.

The Honest Position on the Packaging

The shower gel comes in a plastic bottle. It is made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic, meaning the raw material was already used plastic packaging, not new petroleum. The bottle is designed to be refilled rather than replaced: when it runs out, you buy a 500ml refill bag, pour it in, and continue. The refill bag uses significantly less material than a fresh 300ml bottle would.

This is not a plastic-free solution. It is a reduced-plastic solution. The refill pouch is still plastic. The bottle, however well-made, is still plastic. What the system does is reduce the number of plastic units per wash over time — a standard 300ml bottle replaced monthly becomes one bottle and eleven refill pouches a year rather than twelve fresh bottles.

If plastic elimination is your goal, the bar is the right choice. If liquid format is non-negotiable, the refill system is the most responsible version of it available in this category.

What Real Customers Are Saying

“All the scents are so great! And they clean so well.” — Verified buyer, Trustpilot

“Bewust schoonmaken zonder in te leveren op een fijne geur.” [Conscious cleaning without compromising on a good scent.] — Verified buyer, Trustpilot

One honest note from the reviews: a minority of customers report that the refill pouches occasionally leak during transit when ordering online. If this happens, Marcel’s customer service replaces the product. It is a packaging logistics issue on liquid pouches, not a formula problem — but worth knowing if you plan to order multiple refills at once.