Dr Bronner's Magic Soap

Magic In A Bottle

I have been writing for twenty years, and in that time I have reviewed films, music, hotels, cars, beers, wines, sex toys, drugs, cigarettes, brothels and kitchen knives. Nothing surprises me. I pride myself on trying anything once and giving it a fair crack of the whip. But I never thought I would find myself enthusing - no, evangelising  - about a small bottle of liquid soap. But here goes. When I was sent the little bottle of Dr Bronner's Peppermint Pure Castile Soap I stuck it on a shelf and thought no more about it. Yes, Eminem claims it as his favourite soap, and even uses it to brush his teeth when he's in the shower, but to me it was just a bottle of soap. Then, after working late one night I stuck Dr Bronner in my bag and took him home. The following morning I examined the bottle before taking it into the shower. Dr Bronner started to grow on me: "When half-truth is gone and we are dust, the full-truth we print, protect and teach alone lives on! Help teach the whole Human Race!" You don't get that on the side of a bar of Imperial Leather. Dr Bronner was (he died in 1997) clearly as mad as a box of frogs, but a good box of frogs. Anyway, I took the soap into the shower. Squirted a tiny amount into my hands and rubbed it into my scalp. It foamed up nicely, and I left it for a minute or two. A lovely tingling sensation, warm and enlivening, spread across my head. It was ace. When I went to rinse the bubbles, the soap had nearly disappeared. My hair felt utterly clean: slightly tangly and surf bum clean, and that's a good clean. I used some on my body: it was stimulating, and my skin felt clean and taught. I even tried brushing my teeth with a tiny drop: it worked: they felt clean, and I've since spoken to someone who uses the almond version to regularly brush their teeth who says her dentist cannot believe how healthy her teeth and gums are. So, after my shower I was a convert to Dr Bronner's liquid soap. You can use the stuff for cleaning, laundry - and as it is all natural and non-aggressive it's eco-friendly. And from there things get even better. It's all organic, and made in a small factory in Escondido California, by hand, and the company gives to good causes (including an orphanage in China and scholarships for poor children, and homeless shelters). It's an amazing company making good stuff, and long may it prosper. I've been using it for a couple of weeks now and, without coming over all women's mag, my skin has never felt or looked healthier. And the tingly scalp is a great if you have a hangover. You can check out the full range of soaps and oils and balms here, and read up on the history of the firm. You are going to want to buy some Dr Bronner's, and Kinetic stock it, and you can also get it on Amazon.