Valued for its pleasant fragrance, designer packaging and nourishing ingredients, bar soap has it all for shoppers in 2024.
The pandemic certainly led to a rise in popularity for hand sanitizer and hand soaps, putting bar soap back on the map, alongside liquid and foaming hand soap. Of course, for 2024 and beyond, bar soaps will be more valued for their decorative appeal and all-natural and nourishing ingredients for the body.
According to a forecast report by Fortune Business Insights, the global bar soap market size was projected to grow from $29.16 billion in 2022 to $38.42 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate of 4.02 percent.
According to the 2024 Gift Book Consumer Survey, 33 percent of respondents said they would buy bar soaps, specifically, from a boutique store, which was 4 percent higher than their likelihood to buy face care products and 6 percent higher than their likelihood to buy men’s care.
Nourishing Reasons
Bar soap dates back to ancient Mesopotamia and there’s a long history of people using bar soaps to not only lift away dirt, but even treat skin diseases. To this day, bar soap is more valued for its extra nourishing ingredients, like clarifying charcoal for blemish-prone skin, moisturizing cocoa butter or exfoliating minerals. Other all-natural ingredients, like goat’s milk promise extra-nourishing hydration and will continue to be popular.
Added fragrance is another important attribute that consumers consider when buying bars of soap since they can take the place of perfume in a daily routine.
Designer Packaging
When it comes to bar soaps, the packaging is everything. Whether featuring a seasonal design like a pumpkin patch or collection of poinsettias or an everyday pattern like fields of flowers or a collection of citrus, bar soaps are as decorative as they are useful. Stylish packaging makes soap feel more special, especially as a gift; in fact, some popular soaps even feature extra embellishments like wax seals for an ultra-elevated look.
In addition to decorative packaging, soap dishes are making a comeback and will be popular additions for 2024 since they can be paired with a bar of soap for a great gift set. The dish itself is a simple and easy way to decorate any bathroom, too. Soap dishes are an easy way for consumers to add an extra element of flair to their bathroom vanities and are able to be switched out easily as seasons change and holidays roll around. Dishes shaped for holidays — think pumpkins and ghosts for Halloween or Santa and presents for Christmas — are solid options for the consumers who are into seasonal decor.
Soap dishes that match the bar soap packaging will be especially popular since consumers can keep the decoration and not feel bad about unwrapping and using the bar of soap.