Orange & Lavender Shaving Bar

A shaving bar that works with just your hands, no bowl, no brush, no bottle of foam needed. This bar from Friendly Soap uses kaolin clay and hydrogenated soybean oil to produce a lather with genuine slip, the kind that lets a razor glide rather than drag, and the lavender and orange oils give it a clean, balanced scent that is neither too sharp nor too sweet. Straightforward, plastic-free, and considerably better for the skin than an aerosol can.

Key Facts

• 95g bar
• Key ingredients: coconut oil, rapeseed oil, castor oil, hydrogenated soybean oil, kaolin clay, lavender oil, orange oil, aloe vera
• Cold-process method, made in Yorkshire by Friendly Soap
• No bowl or brush required: lather directly with hands
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• No plastic packaging
• pH 8-9
• Available as a single boxed bar or box of 6

The Ingredients That Matter

Kaolin clay is the ingredient that makes this bar work specifically for shaving. It creates a slip between the razor and the skin that reduces drag and the friction that causes irritation and razor burn, which is the same principle synthetic shaving gels rely on. Kaolin also has a mild cleansing quality that helps keep the skin clear during the shave itself.

Hydrogenated soybean oil contributes hardness to the bar and a conditioning quality to the lather. It is a stable ingredient that helps the bar hold its shape through repeated use while adding smoothness to the finished shave.

Castor oil (Sodium Castorate) produces a dense, creamy lather that builds quickly with just hands and water, which is what makes this bar usable without a dedicated shaving brush. It holds its structure through a shave rather than thinning out quickly.

Lavender and orange oils (Lavandula Angustifolia and Citrus Aurantium Dulcis) give the bar a clean, balanced scent: floral and herbal from the lavender, bright and citrus from the orange, neither dominating the other. Both are genuine essential oils rather than synthetic fragrance, and the combination is calming rather than sharp, which suits a shaving product well.

Aloe vera leaf juice powder (Aloe Barbadensis) adds its well-established soothing properties to a bar used directly on freshly shaved skin, helping to reduce the irritation that can follow a close shave.

What This Isn't

No soap can be guaranteed hypoallergenic. This bar contains lavender and orange essential oils along with their naturally occurring Linalool and Limonene content, both of which are known allergens at certain concentrations. Most people tolerate it well, but anyone with known fragrance sensitivities should patch test before regular facial use.

Both lavender and orange oils are photosensitising. If shaving before spending time in direct sunlight, rinse thoroughly afterwards and be aware of increased sun sensitivity on treated skin.

This bar lathers well with hands alone, but a shaving brush and bowl will produce an even denser lather for those who prefer a traditional wet shave. Either approach works.

When It Works Best

For a quick shower shave where simplicity matters: wet the face, lather the bar directly with hands, and shave. It also performs well for a more considered sink shave with a brush if that is your preference, the kaolin and castor oil base responds well to either method. The lavender and orange scent suits any time of day without being too strong for repeated daily use.

How to Use

Wet your face thoroughly with warm water to soften the skin and hair before shaving. Wet the bar and rub between your hands to build a lather, or work it directly onto the face. Apply the lather evenly to the areas you intend to shave and proceed as normal, rinsing the razor frequently. Rinse the face thoroughly after shaving and follow with a moisturiser if your skin tends dry. Store on a draining soap dish between uses.

Perfect For

• Anyone wanting a quick, no-fuss shower shave
• Traditional wet shavers who prefer a brush and bowl
• Those moving away from aerosol shaving foams and gels
• A practical, well-considered gift for someone who shaves regularly
• Anyone simplifying their bathroom routine with fewer, better products
• Sensitive skin that benefits from a clay-based, aloe-soothed lather

What Makes This Different

Most natural soap bars marketed for shaving are simply body soaps with a different label, lacking the slip needed for a genuinely comfortable shave. This bar is formulated specifically for the job: kaolin clay for glide, castor oil for a lather dense enough to use without a brush, and aloe vera to address post-shave comfort. Friendly Soap make it in Yorkshire with no synthetic additives and no plastic packaging, and it performs the function of an aerosol shaving foam without any of the aerosol.

Realistic Expectations

The lather builds quickly with just hands and water, and the kaolin clay slip is noticeable from the first shave. Most people find the shave is as close and comfortable as with a synthetic foam, with less post-shave tightness thanks to the aloe vera and oil base. The lavender and orange scent is present during the shave and fades shortly after rinsing.

Additional Product Details

• Weight: 95g
• Made in: Yorkshire, England by Friendly Soap
• Ingredients: Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Rapeseedate, Aqua, Sodium Castorate, Hydrogenated Soybean Oil, Kaolin (Clay), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) Oil, Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Juice Powder, Linalool*, Limonene* (*naturally occurring in essential oils)
• Vegan and cruelty-free
• No plastic packaging
• pH 8-9

For external use only. Avoid contact with eyes. Contains lavender and orange oils which are photosensitising. Avoid direct sun exposure on treated skin immediately after use. Contains naturally occurring Linalool and Limonene. Patch test recommended for sensitive or reactive skin before first use. If irritation occurs, discontinue use.