Even Non-Soap Lovers Will Like This Organic NYC Soap

I’m not a big soap person. I don’t even use body wash. So when I was offered a few free samples of Caru Skincare organic soap, I wasn’t sure what I would think.

It seems like there is organic soap at every street fair and flea market. And we have all a few bars of shiny soap shaped like shells or rubber ducks we’ve gotten as gifts, that are collecting dust on a shelf. Would this soap suffer the same fate?

The Credentials

The first thing I noticed when I received my gift was the pretty paper and twine packaging that looked like it could go right into the compost bin after I unwrapped it. The second thing I noticed were the scents–they were lush and delicious, without being overpowering or sharp like typical scented soaps. I had activated charcoal + dead sea salt face soap (antibacterial and antiseptic for acneic skin), calendula + chamomile soap, peppermint soap, tea tree pumice hand soap and french green clay soap to try.

Caru is a brand new company founded this year in Queens with a focus on eco-friendly ingredients and materials. The packaging is indeed biodegrable when possible (the soap papers are imbedded with non-invasive wildflowers!) and recyclable when not. The soaps are handmade from sustainable and certified organic ingredients, gentle enough for dry and sensitive skin. If you want to check it out for yourself, you can dive into the ingredients section of the website, where everything is described in detail, including its source and purpose.

So: local, sustainable, organic and transparent. Sounds good!

Do They Work?

I soon got my chance to sample the soaps. One night I got home from a warehouse party that was held in what was basically a construction site. After hours of dancing and sweating, we emerged to find our feet covered in a peculiar scrim of concrete dust, beer and sweat. Yum. And since it was concrete dust, it would prove a challenge to get off.

But the tea trea pumice hand soap–with its gritty texture and antibacterial tea tree oil–proved up to the task, making sure I scrubbed the last of the grey grime off my toes, the bottom of my feet and my ankles.

When I got out of my steamy shower after using the calendula + chamomile soap (with fresh flowers pressed right into the side), the entire bathroom smelled wonderful, and comforting. I loved the way my boyfriend smelled after he used it–subtle but delicious. I wish Axe could smell this good!

Today I’m sharing this track because it’s upbeat, refreshing and has a rain theme, which I thought appropriate for pairing with this soap. 

I’m actually looking forward to working my way through the rest of these soaps, especially the face soap. I supposed you could put them in a guest bathroom–your guests would be soothed and comforted by the lovely scents–or give them as gifts. But more likely, you’ll want them for yourself!

The soaps are $7.95 apiece at Caru’s website, or you can try a sampler of 1 oz soaps for $5. Or pick them up at Tree House Brooklyn, Green in Bklyn, Owl & Thistle General Store, and Artifact in Brooklyn; Rena Reborn in Manhattan; and Site NYC in Queens.

It looks as though this soap line is just a start for Caru Skincare Co. I’m looking forward to seeing what the founder Ms. Dominique Caron comes up with next …