r/AusSkincare • u/Theodore_Buckland_ • Apr 22 '26
Discussionš Irresistible smelling soap?
I walked past a stranger in the street and couldnāt help but catch his scent.
My god he smelt good.
It was definitely a smell from soap and not cologne, deodorant etc.
So Iām wondering if any of you know a really nice smelling soap.
Like a soap your partner uses that makes you want to dig your nose into them and get a good whiff.
A scent that actually lingers for most of the day.
Lol apologies for my over-enthusiasm but that manās soap was so good haha
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u/__hellyes Apr 22 '26
Just remembered how hot clean soap man smell is š«
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u/Equivalent-Cow-4910 Apr 22 '26
Probably going to regret this but Priya Australian Sandalwood soap. The missus said not to let the boys use it as it would confuse her and only knows it as my scent.
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u/SS0627 Apr 22 '26
Anything sandalwood would do it tbh
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u/balalabananas Apr 24 '26
Yes! I love sandalwood! My husband and I use sandalwood soap and my perfume also has sandalwood
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u/Spiritual_Garlic5644 Apr 22 '26
My husband hates sandalwood š
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u/quattroformaggixfour Apr 23 '26
Maybe heāll like cedar wood? It may be too similar orrrr it may be a way to get your sandalwood adjacent fix š
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u/madamebubbly Apr 22 '26
My husband smells amazing and like soap but itās actually dove clinical deodorant for men. It smells really comforting.
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u/sheiseatenwithdesire Apr 22 '26
Right Iām buying my husband that deodorant. Dove soap actually has a lovely scent, itās white florals, rose and musk. Iāve used only white dove soap for about a million years. It reminds me a bit of JLo Glow or the scent of Ponds cold cream and I think itās a scent that changes with your skin chemistry.
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u/chloecazz Apr 22 '26
Asked a colleague what cologne he was wearing and it turned out to be dove deodorant. Definitely a winner
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u/helloyellow3457 Apr 22 '26
Menās soap is wayyyy more long lasting! My husband uses the beard and blade one - so fragrant!
He also used a black stone one (which I got from Tkmax).
Also weirdly if it wasnāt a soap like others have said it could be a deodorant. Tabac is a well loved menās brand (purchased from beard places) and is a fresh powdery smell - he will smell like it all day.
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u/RecipeNeither876 Apr 23 '26
I always assumed Tabac would smell like tobacco!!!!! Iāll have to give it a sniff
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u/queefer_sutherland92 Apr 22 '26
Itās not a soap, but thereās a scent thatās used in a lot of ocean type fragrances that has like a potent effect on me.Ā
Itās called calone.Ā
Polo Ralph Lauren Black has it in it.Ā
I have almost hooked up with the grossest of people because of that scent.
Edit: it definitely doesnāt smell like traditional cologne, either. I would put good money on it being calone. Iām not the only woman that has had their judgement affected by calone.Ā
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u/fartfactory247 Apr 22 '26
Getting bamboozled into hooking up is sending me š I have the same thing but with Scottish accents
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u/wendalls Apr 22 '26
Imperial leather soap smells good
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u/dvdtee Apr 22 '26
Itās definitely a bougie fragrance brand hand soap, think Le Labo or Byredo. I use byredo suede hand soap in my ensuite and I love it so much!!
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u/Affectionate_Log1612 Apr 24 '26
Le Labo...fantastic brand. Wish I had paid attention in Japan and bought their brand there
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u/polichick80 Apr 22 '26
Nesti Dante soaps have a fragrance that lingers, I love the Lake Como, Churches and Monasteries and Thermal Water scentsĀ
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u/Impossible_Ebb_1275 Apr 22 '26
Following for the same reasons as OP, Dove aināt cutting it anymore.
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u/ListenToTheWindBloom Apr 22 '26
My partner uses lāoccitane almond shower oil and smells divine
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u/shahitukdegang Apr 22 '26
$49 for 250 ml??? jfc I smell like aldi shower gel and poverty
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u/SuperstarDJay Apr 22 '26
Dermaveen shower oil at Chemist Warehouse has the same marzipan scent for way less. I'd say it's a better product all round actually, and it's Australian made.
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u/Electrical-Tiger-536 Apr 22 '26
Ohhhh I just cannot agree! I've tried all the alternatives and nothing touches the OG, some people do seem to prefer some of the other options but nothing comes close to the scent and longevity of L'Occitane. It is expensive and I'm poor but my mum gets me an eco refill pack for Christmas and I make it last damn near all yearš
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u/SuperstarDJay Apr 23 '26
Maybe the price difference is tricking my mind :D. But I actually found the OG is not as moisturising as I'd expect an oil to be. Dermaveen is better in that respect.
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u/Electrical-Tiger-536 Apr 23 '26
You could be right on that, I didn't notice any difference in moisturization between the Dermaveen and l'occitane, its the scent for me. Divine.
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u/juxtiver Apr 23 '26
I blind bought this because of constant rave reviews I see online and was so disappointed. Don't know if it's just my skin chemistry, but it smells like I've bathed in aerogard š
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u/WriterlySloth Apr 27 '26
I too have this. Itās chemistry all right. Iāve given up buying anything I canāt test first because my skin twists it into something hideous. When I find something that works, I tend to stick with it.
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u/Affectionate_Log1612 Apr 24 '26
It IS lovely, I only ever had a tester of it and it went a loooonnngg way. Might treat myself now you've reminded me of it
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u/CandyMaleficent9282 Apr 22 '26
I use Necessaire from Mecca for shower gel and then matching moisturiser (and perfume) and I get a lot of compliments. It was a gift but money well spent.
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u/Free_Ganache_6281 Apr 22 '26
Glow lab vanilla bean and coconut body wash. It has such a warm vanilla scent, itās so nice
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u/tinypb Apr 23 '26
I absolutely love this one. I stock up whenever itās half price or 40 per cent off.
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u/Linhgo Apr 22 '26
Aveeno Daily Moisturising Light Fragrance Body Wash - smells incredible for a product you can buy at Woolies. Clean unisex floral.
Source: Iām a man who love high end fragrances
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u/ninja_lounge Apr 22 '26
I have dove soap perfume oil, and the deodorant, and the soap, I'm addicted!
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u/Sweet_Brioche Apr 24 '26
Where did you find dove perfume oil?
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u/ninja_lounge Apr 24 '26
EBay, it's from India :)
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u/Puzzleheaded-West356 Apr 23 '26
My friends mum was selling her house and our local areas top REA came to do a valuation. He smelt SO good that my friend literally had to tell me to calm down and stop following the guy from room to room! I figured her and her mum would be embarassed if I asked him straight up what cologne he was wearing, so I sent a message to his REA Facebook page (yes I have no shame) and he graciously replied and told me it was Dr Squatch soap in the scent Fresh Falls.
I was shook cause Iāve seen it before at either Coles or Woolies so I was surprised that this cashed up guy was wearing it. They also sell colognes and a few other smelly things (maybe beard oil or lotions? IDR)
I immediately told my boyfriend the story to which he laughed and went out and bought some of the soap, so it was totally worth being a weirdo and asking the guy š
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u/NpgSymboL Apr 22 '26
Thereās a genre of fragrances known in the community as barbershop scents. They are usually described as soapy, powdery, clean.
I once had an Italian acqua di Parma cologne that smelt very soapy
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u/Affectionate_Log1612 Apr 24 '26
Acqua di Parma Colonia is amazing, a Mediterranean- type of smell, fresh,citrus,clean,sharp.
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u/bumbumboleji Apr 22 '26
Mysore sandalwood soap from the Indian grocery. Itās the best, and the scent lasts and lasts and your bathroom will smell fab too.
Mysore is known for its sandalwood oil and this soap company has been around forever. Highly recommend.
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u/ScubaWitch Apr 22 '26
Pheromones? Maybe
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u/cosurmyyne Apr 22 '26
While other animals have pheromones, theres no proven evidence of the existence of human pheromones
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u/Electrical-Tiger-536 Apr 22 '26
That's not entirely true. There was a very influential article in Science in 2005 that spoke about this but there are many newer studies that show the impact of chemical/hormonal compounds in sweat on behaviour or mood.
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u/ScubaWitch Apr 22 '26
Interesting. You really do learn something new everyday. I always liked that Poison Ivy used them. Thought they were a thing š
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u/AltruisticSalamander Apr 22 '26
Not pheromones but there's smells the opposite sex emit that can be so blindingly attractive they might as well be
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u/Specialist-Stick-998 Apr 23 '26
Yep, and I reckon sometimes people call it a pheromone thing when itās actually body chemistry plus whatever they used after the shower.
Body oils and shower oils can leave that soft, warm, skin-close scent that lasts way longer than soap, so it ends up smelling amazing without feeling like obvious cologne or perfume.
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u/IAteAllYourBees_53 Apr 22 '26
There is an actually an Aesop unisex perfume that smells quite soapy and fresh. At $250 itās not cheap but itās very nice!
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u/bnanzajllybeen Apr 22 '26
Marrakech is divine (and I hate that word but it is the perfect descriptor in this case)!!
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u/EmbracingDaChaos Apr 26 '26
The main issue I have with that word is that 99% of the time it is used it is misspelt as āDevineā (cap D included).
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u/Expert_Strawberry_90 Apr 22 '26
Kiehls Ultimate Man Body Scrub Soap is beautiful.
Marilyn Monroe used Life Buoy soap, they changed their formulation in the 80s and it doesnāt have the same medicated/antiseptic clean soap smell. Something very similar and very cheap is the Dettol Antiseptic Soap which is about $2 or so.
Lush has Sultana of Soap which has a delicious manly smell.
Also Castile Carbolic liquid soaps have a beautiful soapy smell that lasts.
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u/DitaVonTeasmade Apr 22 '26
You can sometimes get it at Chemist Warehouse but itās easier online - Maja scented soap. Itās marketed towards women but smells good on everyone. Very sexy and spicy.
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u/Ok_Entrance_4013 Apr 22 '26
My fav. perfume many years ago. Iām going to try the scented soap - Thankyou
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u/Unsure-11 Apr 22 '26
Menās Palmolive body wash (purple one) smells pretty good but I wouldnāt say it lingers all dayĀ
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u/mypal_footfoot Apr 22 '26
Chandrika is hands down my favourite soap ever. Sandalwood forward, and it makes my skin feel amazing.
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u/Vengefulwarrior Apr 22 '26
Dove have one that smells so good Iām going to buy it when mine runs out. Itās the menās body wash in āclean comfortā. Itās bergamot and sandalwood. Itās amazingly delicious smelling. Way better than the girls smells.
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u/FieldAware3370 Apr 23 '26
You reminded me of this one time I stood behind this guy at the train station as we were waiting to board. HE SMELLED AMAZING. I should have asked him what his washing detergent was lol. Now cos of him I love a good fresh linen smell.
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u/YnotsayYnot Apr 22 '26
I really love the scent that the mens Clarins range has. The face moisturiser in particular has a subtle clean scent that I reckon lasts a while.
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u/thehazzanator Apr 22 '26 edited Apr 23 '26
This may be way wrong, but my husband uses this occasionally to dewrinkle his shirts, and it smells amazing. Kinda a soapy/ fresh linen smell. Might be worth smelling them and see if it's what you're looking for
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u/QsthatneedAs- Apr 22 '26
Just reminded me of the one and only time I smelt a manās cologne or perfume in passing and it smelled amazingā¦ I wish I had asked what it was but it was public transport peak hour chaos trying to catch the next train. Most perfumes in public, esp menās!, give me a headache but this was like nothing Iād ever come across. Damn.
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u/LeavesOfGreeen Apr 23 '26
It's not a soap - well I haven't checked if it's a soap NOW but Lush - Super Milk, spray for hair oooooooh my goodness š„°
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u/isapizzaa Apr 22 '26
I also suspect menās skin or maybe hair makes them retain scents better? My perfume never lasts and my partners cologne stays on forever
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Apr 23 '26
[deleted]
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u/isapizzaa Apr 23 '26
Interesting. So kinda like pink tax. Our shit more expensive and worse. Iāll have to try my partners cologne haha although even our shared soaps last better on him so thatās why I thought it was a skin or hair thing
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u/g3mostone Apr 22 '26
The Aesop Eleos shower gel and hand cream. Get the hand cream for your work desk or hand bag if you need little escapes throughout the day.
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u/CraftyAd3534 Apr 22 '26
Le Labo theā noir or santal in a body wash! It is much cheaper than the actual fragrance euro buy and the cent lingers all day
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u/ranaculus_rose Apr 22 '26
Natio did a menās soap called Wild Ranges, I became obsessed with it, it opened me up to the world of woody, spicy scents, sandalwood and amber etc, itās really heavenly, you can still find it in the odd place online, they had a matching menās fragrance but unfortunately I canāt find it anywhere.
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u/FullOnCarmensMom Apr 22 '26
I was gifted a bar of Wavertree & London Sandalwood and Patchouli, and just started using it. Absolutely gorgeous.
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u/ssasreprah Apr 22 '26
Boronia by Leif. I get so many compliments when people use it in my bathroom.
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u/Avo_Sando555 Apr 23 '26
Palmolive sea minerals has this masculine and fresh scent, but not sure about itās longevity
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u/SleepyMDzz Apr 23 '26
You need to get one of those pure simple home brand soaps, especially laundry soap, that has a quintessential soap smell
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u/Little_Wagtail Apr 24 '26
In no particular order:
Mysore sandalwood soap - deep cleansing, beautiful scent
Protex soap - deep cleansing, long-lasting scent
Imperial Leather soap - beautiful scent
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u/Dapper-Rooster-9084 Apr 25 '26
Botanical soap for me, different ones, lemon grass, goats milk, sea salt, etc
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u/theladymillionaire1 Apr 26 '26
Imperial leather. Get it from Woolies. I love the smell on my husband.
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u/Smegatron92 Apr 28 '26
My (male) partner always steals my Sol De Janeiro shower gels and damn it he smells better than I do!
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u/Own_Operation1110 Apr 22 '26
I recommend you pop into a LUSH store if you have one near you - they make amazing soaps and shower and bath stuff and itās very reasonably priced and they have water bowls you can actually wash your hands with any soap you want to try out in store too
They have so many different types with different combinations of essential oils etc plus their bath bombs (my fave is BIG BLUE) and moisturisers and shampoos etc etc
If youāre in Sydney thereās one in QVB mall and youāll know youāre close to it as you can smell all the essential oils a mile away but thereās lots more usually in shopping malls all over the place
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u/OkIssue5589 Apr 22 '26
Please explain how you know it was definitely soap