Which KLEEN Soap on a Rope Is Right for You? A Guide to All Six Scents

We've just started stocking KLEEN soaps on a rope at North Home, and I wanted to give them a proper introduction: who makes them, why the rope actually matters, and which of the six scents is likely to suit you.

Who makes KLEEN?

KLEEN was started by Jutta Klee, who moved from Germany to London at 21 to work as a beauty photographer. When she couldn't find a natural, plastic-free soap on a rope she was happy with, she put down the camera and started making her own.

Every bar is still handmade in small batches in Kent using the traditional cold-process method, with plant oils, butters, clays and pure essential oils. There's no palm oil, no parabens and no synthetic fragrance or colour, the soap is vegan, and even the labels are made from recycled coffee cups.

Why a rope?

It sounds like a small detail, but the rope is what makes these bars work so well. Hanging the soap lets it drain and dry properly between uses instead of sitting in a puddle and going soft, so a chunky 170g bar lasts around four weeks of daily use. It's also an easy plastic-free swap if you're trying to cut down on shower gel bottles, and the rope itself is recycled cotton.

Each bar also comes in a reusable cotton travel pouch, which makes them a really easy gift.

Which KLEEN soap is right for you?

My personal favourite was immediately Tall Dark & Handsome. I love its almost wintery, seasonal fragrance and the gentle exfoliation from the coffee grounds.

If you only read one bit of this post, make it this:

• Need waking up? Morning Glory
• Want something bright and cheerful? Good Vibrations
• Love woody, smoky scents? Blue Velvet
• After a scrub, or buying for a coffee lover? Tall Dark & Handsome
• Rough heels, elbows or gardener's hands? Back to Life
• Want a gentle bar for every day? Woodstock

Morning Glory

The wake-up call. Peppermint, tea tree and eucalyptus essential oils give it a cool, fresh scent, while oatmeal gently buffs the skin and spirulina and French green clay give it that earthy olive green colour. Best for: slow mornings and tired, dull-feeling skin.

Good Vibrations

Bright and zesty, with lemongrass, grapefruit and rosemary essential oils. French pink clay gently purifies, and shea butter and coconut oil keep the lather creamy. Best for: anyone who wants an uplifting, citrusy scent.

Blue Velvet

A deep-cleansing charcoal bar with kaolin clay and a smoky, grounding blend of cedarwood, bergamot, patchouli, clove and ajowan. It smells more like a good aftershave than a bar of soap. Best for: congested-feeling skin and lovers of woody scents.

Tall Dark & Handsome

Ground coffee gives a satisfying natural scrub, and ginger, sweet orange, patchouli and clove make the scent warm and spicy rather than straight coffee. It's been featured in The Times Magazine. Best for: rough skin, and the coffee lover in your life.

Back to Life

The proper scrub of the range. Volcanic pumice and mineral-rich Dead Sea mud buff away rough patches, with warming patchouli and clove to finish. Best for: heels, elbows and hard-working hands after gardening or DIY.

Woodstock

Earthy and grounding, with vetiver, cedarwood, patchouli and a soft touch of ylang-ylang. Oatmeal and French green clay give a gentle exfoliation that's soft enough for every day. Best for: everyday use, and anyone who loves outdoorsy, woody scents.

Getting the most from your bar

• Hang it to dry between uses, ideally out of the direct spray of the shower.
• Lather straight onto wet skin, then rinse well.
• Check the ingredients if you have sensitive skin. We list the full ingredients and allergens on every KLEEN product page, and it's always worth a patch test before using a new soap.

Come and find your scent

Soap is one of those things that's so much easier to choose when you can smell it, so all six of our KLEEN scents are in our Leeds showroom. If you can't make it in, you can shop the full KLEEN soap on a rope collection online, or browse our wider range of natural soaps and cleansers.