4 (International) Liquid Hand Soaps I Use at Home
If you have have been following my Instagram for a while now, then you’d know I’m all about a good scent. It started out with essential oils due to my insufferable migraines and I’ve now deep-dived into the realm of wellness, and you’d be surprised just how hand washes, yes hand washes can contribute to a lifestyle of wellness. With that, I am pleased to share the 4 liquid hand soaps that I’ve so delightfully incorporated into the little nooks of my home.
(Disclaimer: This article is purely a labour of love with the intention of sharing some of my favourite items, and so I will not be receiving any commission from the below-mentioned brands)
Because I seem to travel quite a bit these days, I’m able to experiment with fragrances and hand soaps from various parts of the world. I am a Lemongrass lady through and through, and I’m convinced that no matter how deep I go down this rabbit hole of scents, that will not change. Its lemony scent is not only soothing for the body making it effective against headaches, migraines, and muscle aches – the three things I desperately need rescuing from on a daily basis, but Lemongrass oil also has anti-microbial, astringent, and anti-spasmodic properties making it an effective deodorizer which I love to incorporate into my cleaning products and room diffusers. This brings me to my favourite hand soap of all sitting at the top of my list, the:
- Siamese Lemongrass by Karma Kamet – Bangkok
If you’ve ever tried out a Thai Massage you’d instantly be transported back with a whiff of the Siamese Lemongrass moisturising hand wash by Karma Kamet. They are a product of Thailand with roots from my very own home – Malaysia. During one of our weekend trips to Bangkok, E and I walked by the Sukhumvit MRT station and came across the most beautiful store which I can only describe as ‘a zen awakening’ …and if you know me at all, you’d know that a) I truly do judge a book by its cover, or in this case a store by its exterior, and b) that is enough to pull me in.
The entire store smelled of Lemongrass and with my longstanding love story with the plant, it was love at first sight scent. I loved it too much and even brought home a matching diffuser. They both now sit in our guest room and is such a hit among our closest family and friends whenever they visit. A little background, Karma Kamet was inspired by founder, Natthorn Rakchana’s family business, from when his grandparents used to run a small shop selling herbs and incense sticks. Natthorn then committed to reviving his family business. Call it Kismet connection, or not, I love how I’m now able to share their family story in the form of scents with my very on family.
Beyond the physicalities of a product – how its looks, or smells, or even how it makes me feel – at this era of my life, what makes me truly fall in love with a brand is their story and whether they share the same mission, or calling as I do, and Karma Kamet surely does. As Rakchana says, and I quote:
“ We believe that it is essential for everyone to spend time alone learning to understand oneself, to clear one’s mind, and to keep peace and recharge yourself. In so doing, you can prompt yourself to do things you would like to do in life and be able to share your energy with others. For this reason, we have devoted ourselves in making your peaceful time the most precious time. ”
Natthorn Rakchana, founder of Karma Kamet
I am such a believer in quiet time alone not only to recharge but also to understand ones self, and I cannot emphasise on how much the right scents have helped me get into that space, mentally and spiritually. Once we are at peace with ourselves, we truly are able to harvest good energy within our souls and in turn share that good energy with others. (Perhaps we sense an incoming blogpost about my journey into the realm of spiritual wellness? Let me know!)
For those of you who are interested in purchasing from the brand, the odds do happen to be ever in your favour as they do provide international shipping, and let me be the fairy godmother while we’re at it – I’ve linked the Siamese Lemongrass hand wash & diffuser here.
2. Frangipani & Rose Bouquet by KIMIRICA – India
While I do admit my biases towards Lemongrass being the queen of all fragrances in my eyes, Frangipani does have to be the king. It brings out a different side, one that exudes elegance, sophistication, and pure richness, one that my past-corporate self would describe as the scent of a kick-ass female corporate CEO, bundled up with the grace of a lady from say, South Kensington. My first encounter with Frangipani was when I purchased a candle from Malaysian homegrown brand, Lilin+Co and fell in love instantly. (I’ll talk more in another edition of my favourite candles, maybe?)
Knowing my love for all things apothecary and Frangipani, my husband (then boyfriend) gifted me the Frangipani & Rose Bouquet scented hand soap by Kimirica upon his return from a work-trip to Mumbai last year. As if the words Frangipani alone wasn’t enough to entice me, the fragrance is a bouquet of freshly plucked Rose with the goodness of soothing Aloe Vera and nourishing Olive. Not to mention the packaging and bottle were the epitome of a premium grade handwash – hints of black, white and rose gold liquid oozing out.
Similar to Karma Kamet, Kimirica is also a family owned business started by two sisters in 2012 – Kimi & Rica who had a passion for creating vegan, ethical and premium products, hence giving birth to the name, Kimirica. I love a good story that I can relate to and as someone who grew up with three older sisters, we too have spoken countless times about starting our sister-owned business together. I am also all for supporting brands that advocate towards sustainability and mindfulness, and though I don’t by any means consider myself a vegetarian or vegan (yet), I truly do advocate for all the good it brings and am committed to SLOWLY tweaking parts of my life, in hopes to gradually build towards a non-toxic life.
We believe that luxury and sustainability go hand in hand. We use naturally-derived ingredients to consciously formulate 100% Vegan, Cruelty-free products that are never tested on animals. We don’t use parabens, phthalates, SLS & harmful ingredients and all our products are non-toxic, 100% safe to use.
– Kimirica –
This hand wash now sits elegantly on the marble countertops of our powder room and doubles as the perfect accessory, and is such a fav when my girlfriends come by to visit.
Unfortunately, the brand only ships within India for the time being, so if you are interested, do drop by their store if you are transiting in any of their international airports, or perhaps this calls for a trip to see the Taj Mahal?
3. Sabonete Real by Granado Pharmacias – Brazil
A story out of a children’s book, Granado is undoubtedly Brazil’s best kept secret. José Antonio Coxito Granado, a Portuguese pharmacist running his little farm in Rio de Janeiro opened his first store in 1870. Using local plants, herbs and flowers, he’s been blending his own remedies and medicines. They soon expanded and him and his brother developed even more formulas that are sold until today such as antiseptic talc or 100% vegetable-based glycerin soaps.
I hadn’t heard of this brand until four months ago when I ran into the prettiest store with stunning banana tree wallpapers on Regent’s Street as we were taking shelter from the rain that is London weather (eyeroll). Despite being new to the world, the brand was already legendary in Brazil. The perfumes smelled wonderful – bright and funky and tropical, just like the packaging of every bottle with a botanical illustration that exalts elements of the Brazilian fauna and flora, particularly the many variety of birds that Rio de Janeiro is famous for.
Being the aspiring apothecary connoisseur that I am, I had to bring home one of their hand soaps. We bought the Sabonete (Liquid Hand Wash) in the edition of Real from their Tropical Birds Collection and the smell should be a mix of mandarin, bergamot with floral hints. This one is still in wraps but I can’t wait to use it very soon.
Here are online stores that carry Granado Pharmacies and ship internationally (hopefully to Malaysia & Singapore too):
I’ve skimmed through the links and unfortunately my exact hand wash isn’t available, however you’d be able to try out their other products from the Tropical Birds Collection, and positive disclaimer – there’s too many to choose from!
4. Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash by Aesop – Australia
I had to save the best for last, and Yes, I know what you’re thinking – This is some bougie hand wash that I’m recommending and I will not deny, it indeed is such a splurge. You’ve probably seen it displayed in thousands of bathrooms all across social media and you might not understand the hype of it. Well, let me explain – the same reason you keep seeing Rimowa luggages everywhere (Rimowa user here), or Charlotte Tilbury’s flawless filter setting powder all over Instagram (guilty, too), its because they are not simply a hype. These brands and products have a good reason for achieving cult status, and that’s because they’re really just that good.
For starters, let’s talk about Aesop’s packaging – timeless, while capturing the essence of luxury minimalism at its best. You already know by know that I do judge a book by its cover and Aesop’s branding and aesthetics alone already make me feel like I’m living in a minimalistic loft in downtown New York with steel and wood interiors. It is the epitome of ‘less is more’ which is the perfect message to start my day with and the greatest sight to wake up to (aside from my husband, of course – if you’re reading this, ILY).
Now let’s dive into what really matters, the scent. Mine comes in the formulation of Mandarin Rind, Rosemary Leaf and Cedar Atlas and is the perfect concoction of a citrus and woody scent making it feel so refreshing and masculine at the same time, and the perfect hand wash for us ladies to share with our male roommate. Although Citrus does not rank high for me when it comes to my perfumes, I can appreciate their uplifting and energizing effects in my hand wash. Citrus has scientifically been proven to improve mood, increase alertness, and reduce feelings of fatigue, making them perfect for kick-starting your day or overcoming an afternoon slump, and that’s just what a whiff of this bottle does for me.
If you are looking to wake up to the smell of juicy oranges with a hint of rosemary, I’ve linked the product here. Otherwise, do share with me other scents that you’ve tried and maybe I’ll learn something new!
I hope you enjoyed this read and most of all, are able to explore some new liquid hand soap options for your own homes. If not, hopefully you’ve learned a thing (or four) about the different scents and how they can alter our moods.
Until next time,
xx alyia.