So, enough about tiaras, let’s talk about soaps. They do have something in common, though: both are old-fashioned concepts. Who buys a bar of soap these days, when one can have the much more practical liquid version? I do, and have made a study of hard soaps. I can, therefore, suggest soaps for any mood with a certain authority.

1. Old-fashioned soap. As we have already established, soap in its classic form is old-fashioned. So why not embrace it? Roger & Gallet soaps look like they were (and in fact probably were) designed for an uber-feminine 19th century dressing table and sometimes that’s just the thing. For full vintage vibe, go for the carnation or rose fragrance.

2. Minimalist soap. Then again, soaps occasionally do a good job of being modern. Byredo’s versions are stylishly understated: perfect white squares with sparse black lettering. Very Scandinavian, very tasteful. Gypsy Water is green and woody, Flowerhead a beautiful white floral, Bal d’Afrique smells sophisticated and fruity (yes, that’s possible).

3. Natural soap. Among body and beauty products, soap is one of the easiest to make, so there are a gazillion of artsy, ‘natural’ brands that invariably include rose petals or lavender blooms in their soaps and use quirky cardboard packaging. I tend to be suspicious of them, but I do like the Estonian brand Joik, especially the Refreshing Dewdrop soap.

4. Chic soap. One reason soaps are still popular is that they are entry level products for luxury brands. This might be a slightly embarrassing reason for buying a soap, but if you have a tendency to occasionally do it anyway, you might as well go for the best. And that, in my view, is Hermes. I love to give Hermes soaps as gifts, as the orange package is perfect, the quality is excellent and the scents – like Narcisse Bleu or Jardin sur le Nil – wonderful.

5. Exotic soap. It’s always good to have strange little soaps in your collections, it’s especially great if they are from far-away places and super cheap. I currently have a Seville orange blossom and Thai rice jasmine soap on stand-by.

6. Nostalgic soap. Claus Porto is an old Portuguese firm that sells a huge selection of soaps in the most exquisite packaging. There’s everything from Tobacco Blossom to Pear Sandalwood, my favourite being the fresh and unexpected Lettuce. One of these days, I’m going to acquire the whole range of their violet soaps. Their gift sets are amazing.

7. Austere soap. The handmade, hard, dark green Aleppo soaps from Syria are made using olive oil, lye and laurel oil. It’s believed that world’s first soaps were made in that region. This is not a fancy soap, but it’s somehow very satisfying. Because laurel oil is an effective antibiotic, anti-fungal, and anti-itching agent, Aleppo soap might be an option for those with skin issues.

8. Baroque soap. My current favourite soap is Jaboneria Marianella Violet Fields. They call it a rejuvenating bar for face and body, I call it a soap and use it as such – meaning not on my face. That said, it is very gentle and looks absolutely beautiful, a pale lilac bar with a sophisticated violet-bergamot smell. It’s decadent, but in a modern way. I must try their Desert Gardenia next.

9. Reasonable soap. If you do like good quality scented soaps, but are less keen on overspending, Marius Fabre products are an excellent choice. I bought their jasmine, violet and santal soaps after reading this article on Bois de Jasmin. Most of their soaps cost between 2 and 5 euros and are very nice.

10. Luxury soap. I must admit Diptyque soaps are the only ones on the list I haven’t tried: I use their shower gels, so haven’t felt the need for soaps as well. But if you want contemporary luxury that’s relatively widely available (as opposed to Jaboneria Marianella), this is it. I like Diptyque because when most brands focus on fruits and flowers, they make soap versions of their Tam Dao (sandalwood) and Philosykos (woody fig) fragrances. Based on my experience with other products from the brand, I’m pretty sure the soaps are lovely.

Cover picture, from the top: Joik Dewdrop, My Happy Soaps Santal (the brand offers soaps in wonderful colours, but I haven’t tried them yet), Jaboneira Marianella Violet Fields, Aleppo soap.
Picture below: Roger & Gallet soaps