Fruu Lemon & Lavender. Volume+ Shampoo Bar.

Fine hair that goes flat by midday is a formulation problem, and most volumising shampoos solve it clumsily: strip everything out, leave the hair feeling dry and slightly brittle, call it volume. This volume+ shampoo bar from Fruu Cosmetics, handmade in London, takes a different approach. Rosemary, thyme, and lemongrass essential oils stimulate the scalp and control oil at the root; kaolin clay and oat kernel flour add body to the strand without weight; and lemon and lavender round the scent into something herbal and clean rather than medicinal. The result, in a 55g sulphate-free bar providing 45 or more washes, is hair that holds its lift because it is genuinely healthier rather than temporarily stripped.

Key Facts

• Scent: lemon, lavender, rosemary, thyme and lemongrass essential oils
• Volume-building ingredients: kaolin clay, oat kernel flour, seaweed powder
• Scalp-stimulating essential oils: rosemary, thyme, lemongrass
• Conditioning oils: coconut, argan, avocado, watermelon seed, squalane
• Sulphate-free syndet formulation
• 55g bar providing 45+ washes
• Handmade in London by Fruu Cosmetics
• 98% plant-derived, 100% natural fragrances
• Vegan, cruelty-free, PETA approved
• Plastic-free, FSC-certified recyclable packaging

The Volume Ingredients

Rosemary leaf oil (Rosmarinus officinalis) is the lead active ingredient for volume. It stimulates scalp circulation, which supports stronger hair growth and encourages follicles to produce hair with more natural thickness and resilience. Studies have shown rosemary oil to be genuinely effective at promoting hair density with regular use, which puts it in a different category from the fragrance-only herbal additions found in many volumising products. The stimulating effect is also felt immediately at the scalp during washing.

Thyme leaf oil (Thymus vulgaris) complements rosemary with antimicrobial properties that maintain a healthy scalp environment. A scalp producing strong, healthy hair is the foundation of lasting volume, and thyme helps prevent the build-up and imbalance that weaken hair at the follicle level.

Lemongrass essential oil (Cymbopogon flexuosus) adds astringent properties that tighten pores and reduce excess oil production at the root. For fine hair, oil control at the scalp is the most direct route to lasting lift: the moment roots become oily, volume collapses. Lemongrass addresses that before it begins.

Kaolin clay is a fine, white mineral clay that absorbs excess sebum at the roots without stripping the hair shaft. It is the ingredient most directly responsible for the lifted, fresh-root feeling this bar produces, and it works without the drying effect of aggressive cleansers.

Oat kernel flour (Avena sativa) coats each strand with a fine layer of naturally occurring proteins, adding measurable thickness and body without weight. It also soothes any scalp sensitivity the more active herbal oils might produce, which makes the overall formulation appropriate for regular use.

Seaweed powder (Ascophyllum nodosum) brings a concentrated mineral profile that supports scalp health and strengthens the hair shaft. The natural polysaccharides in seaweed also have a mild thickening effect on the hair fibre, contributing to the body and texture the formulation is designed to produce.

The Conditioning Oils

The volume ingredients do their work without leaving hair dry because the formulation pairs them with a considered set of lightweight conditioning oils. Coconut oil penetrates the hair shaft to reduce protein loss and strengthen the strand from within. Argan oil smooths the cuticle and adds shine without coating. Avocado oil provides moisture and vitamins A, D, and E. Watermelon seed oil is light enough not to weigh fine hair down while still nourishing the scalp. Squalane mimics the skin's own sebum, maintaining moisture balance without triggering additional oil production.

The Scent

Lemon and lavender lead the fragrance, with rosemary, thyme, and lemongrass audible underneath. The overall impression is herbal and clean: more spa than perfume, which suits a bar whose primary purpose is functional. The lavender softens the sharper herbal notes and prevents the rosemary and thyme from smelling medicinal. Two naturally occurring compounds from the essential oils are listed as required by UK cosmetics regulations: limonene and geraniol. Those with a known sensitivity to either should choose an unscented bar instead.

Who This Bar is For

Fine or thin hair that loses volume quickly is the primary use case, but the bar works equally well for normal hair that simply benefits from additional body and lift. The scalp-stimulating properties of the rosemary and thyme make it a practical choice for anyone concerned about hair density or slow growth, where the washing routine can do active work rather than merely cleansing.

For scalp-specific concerns such as dandruff or oiliness, the Charcoal and Lime scalp bar from the same Fruu range is the more targeted option. For an everyday bar without the volumising focus, the Tangerine Blossom everyday bar uses a similar base with a lighter scent profile.

How to Use

Wet hair thoroughly with warm water. Run the bar directly onto the scalp and hair from roots to ends, or lather between the palms first. Massage into the scalp with fingertips in circular motions: the rosemary oil's stimulating properties benefit from contact time. Rinse thoroughly until the water runs completely clear.

For maximum volume, apply conditioner to mid-lengths and ends only, keeping it away from the roots. Conditioning the scalp adds weight where you need lift.

Store on a draining soap dish between uses and allow to dry fully between washes.

Additional Product Details

• Full ingredients (INCI): Sodium cocoyl isethionate, Hydrogenated vegetable oil, Polyglyceryl-4 laurate, Glycerin, Avena sativa kernel flour, Hydroxypropyl guar hydroxypropyltrimonium chloride, Ascophyllum nodosum powder, Allantoin, Cocos nucifera (coconut) oil, Citrullus vulgaris seed oil, Persea gratissima (avocado) oil, Argania spinosa kernel oil, Squalane, Tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, Kaolin, Rosmarinus officinalis (rosemary) leaf oil, Citrus limon (lemon) peel oil, Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, Thymus vulgaris (thyme) leaf oil, Cymbopogon flexuosus (lemongrass) oil, CI 77742, Tocopherol, Limonene*, Geraniol*  *occurs naturally in essential oils
• Weight: 55g
• 45+ washes per bar
• Handmade in London by Fruu Cosmetics
• Vegan, cruelty-free, PETA approved
• 98% plant-derived, 100% natural fragrances
• Plastic-free, FSC-certified recyclable cardboard packaging