Honey Soap: Benefits, Uses, and DIY Recipes for Healthier Skin

Honey soap offers a delightful way to cleanse your skin while enjoying natural benefits. Made with real honey, these soaps combine gentle cleansing with moisturizing properties that many commercial soaps lack.

We find honey soap particularly appealing because it works well for most skin types, from dry to sensitive, without causing the tightness or irritation some traditional soaps create.

The natural sweetness of honey contains enzymes and antioxidants that help nourish skin. When incorporated into soap, honey adds moisture while its antimicrobial properties may help with minor skin issues.

We appreciate that honey soaps often contain fewer harsh chemicals than conventional options, making them suitable for daily use.

When selecting honey soap, pay attention to the honey content and additional ingredients. The best honey soaps list real honey high in their ingredient list, not just as a fragrance.

Look for supporting ingredients like shea butter or olive oil that enhance moisture retention. We also recommend checking whether the soap contains artificial colors or synthetic fragrances if you prefer a more natural product.

We tested fifteen different honey soaps to find options that clean effectively while leaving skin feeling soft and nourished.

Best Honey Soaps

We’ve carefully selected the finest honey soaps that combine nature’s golden elixir with nourishing ingredients to cleanse and hydrate your skin. These exceptional honey-infused cleansers offer the perfect balance of gentle purification and moisturizing benefits for a truly luxurious bathing experience.

Each soap on our list has been chosen for its quality ingredients, effectiveness, and the beautiful way it transforms an ordinary washing routine into a moment of self-care.

Softsoap Milk & Honey Hand Soap Refill

This large 50-ounce refill of moisturizing Milk & Honey hand soap from Softsoap offers excellent value while keeping hands clean and soft.

Pros

• Rich honey scent that’s pleasant but not overpowering
• Leaves hands feeling moisturized rather than dry
• Economical refill size replaces six standard bottles

Cons

• Consistency is quite thick and may need diluting
• Pump can get clogged with extended use
• Plastic container isn’t the most eco-friendly option

We recently tried this Softsoap Milk & Honey refill in our test kitchen and guest bathrooms. The generous 50-ounce bottle has lasted remarkably well, even with frequent daily use.

It’s a simple pleasure to have such a lovely scented soap that doesn’t strip moisture from the skin.

The texture feels luxurious between the fingers, creating a satisfying lather that rinses clean. What impressed us most was how our hands felt afterward – soft and smooth rather than tight or dry.

This formula seems to retain the skin’s natural moisture while still effectively removing germs.

For households looking to economize without sacrificing quality, this refill makes perfect sense. We’ve found it easy to pour into smaller dispensers without spilling, though you might want to use a funnel for narrow openings.

The honey-sweet scent creates a welcoming atmosphere in any bathroom or kitchen, adding a small touch of everyday indulgence to the simple act of washing hands.

Australian Manuka Honey Soap

This luxurious Manuka honey soap delivers exceptional cleansing while keeping skin soft and hydrated.

Pros

• Triple-milled for impressive longevity
• Creates rich, creamy lather that rinses clean
• Contains real New Zealand Manuka honey

Cons

• Larger size may be difficult to handle
• Subtle scent might disappoint those seeking stronger fragrances
• Premium price point compared to regular soap

We recently tested this Australian Botanical soap in our daily shower routine, and the results were truly noteworthy. The substantial 6.6-ounce bar fits comfortably in hand while releasing a gentle, natural honey aroma that isn’t overwhelming.

The formula combines authentic New Zealand Manuka honey with jojoba oil, creating a wonderfully silky lather. Our skin felt noticeably softer after just a few uses.

The triple-milling process ensures this bar lasts significantly longer than standard soaps – we found it held its shape remarkably well without becoming mushy.

What impressed us most was how clean our skin felt without that tight, dry sensation many soaps leave behind. The organic African shea butter provides excellent hydration, making this an ideal choice for all skin types.

Though slightly pricier than ordinary soap, the quality ingredients and extended lifespan make it a worthwhile investment for your daily cleansing ritual.

Amazon Basics Honey Hand Soap Refill

This generous milk and honey hand soap refill offers excellent value with its gentle formula and pleasant scent that makes it a worthy addition to any home.

Pros

• Large 50-ounce size lasts for months
• Dermatologist tested and free of harsh chemicals
• Gentle milk and honey scent isn’t overpowering

Cons

• Pump not included, refill only
• Plastic container isn’t particularly attractive
• May require more than one pump for thorough cleaning

We recently tried this Amazon Basics Milk and Honey Hand Soap and found it to be a delightful surprise. The formula feels smooth and gentle on the skin, and we appreciate that it’s made without triclosan, phthalates, and other potentially harsh ingredients.

For those with sensitive skin in the household, this offers peace of mind.

The scent is quite lovely – a subtle honey sweetness balanced with creamy milk notes that doesn’t overwhelm the senses. After washing, hands feel clean but not stripped of moisture.

The light moisturizers in the formula help prevent that tight, dry feeling that many soaps leave behind.

At this price point for 50 fluid ounces, the value is simply unmatched. We’ve refilled several dispensers throughout our home and still have plenty remaining.

The container itself is practical rather than decorative, but that’s a small sacrifice for such an economical option. For households that go through hand soap quickly, this refill bottle is a smart, budget-friendly choice that doesn’t compromise on quality.

Australian Botanical Manuka Honey Soap

This luxurious Manuka honey soap offers exceptional cleansing with natural ingredients that leave skin feeling soft and nourished.

Pros

• Extra-large, long-lasting bars provide excellent value
• Natural ingredients including real New Zealand Manuka honey
• Rich, creamy lather that rinses clean without residue

Cons

• Higher price point than regular soap
• Large size may be difficult for some to handle
• Limited fragrance options in this line

We recently tried these Australian Botanical Soap bars and were thoroughly impressed by their substantial size and quality. Each bar feels weighty and substantial in the hand – much larger than typical soaps found in stores.

The natural honey scent is subtle and pleasant, not overpowering or artificial.

The lathering experience sets this soap apart from ordinary options. It creates a rich, creamy foam that feels more like a luxury skin treatment than simple soap.

After washing, our skin felt clean yet moisturized, with none of that tight, dry feeling that cheaper soaps often leave behind.

What makes this soap truly special is its longevity. One bar lasted nearly a month of daily use, making the price quite reasonable when you consider how quickly standard bars disappear.

The triple-milling process creates a dense soap that doesn’t turn mushy in the shower. For those seeking a natural cleansing option with skin-nourishing ingredients, these Manuka honey bars deliver a touch of affordable luxury to everyday bathing.

Eczema Honey Foaming Hand Soap

This gentle foaming soap offers a perfect balance of cleansing power and skin nourishment for those with sensitive or eczema-prone hands.

Pros

• Soothes irritated skin with colloidal oatmeal and organic honey
• Free from harsh chemicals, fragrances, and irritants
• Keeps hands soft while effectively cleaning

Cons

• Pump mechanism sometimes sticks and needs adjustment
• Higher price point than regular hand soaps
• Foam disappears quickly, requiring more product per wash

We recently tried this Eczema Honey hand soap in our kitchen and bathroom, and the difference was noticeable right away.

The gentle formula creates a light foam that cleans effectively without stripping moisture from hands. For those of us who wash frequently throughout the day, this is a welcome relief.

The natural ingredient list impressed us. Coconut oil, palm oil, hemp oil, and olive oil work together to nourish skin while the organic honey helps seal in moisture.

After using it for a week, our hands felt noticeably softer, even during a cold snap that normally would have caused dryness and cracking.

One thing to note is the size of the bottle. At 8.4 ounces, it doesn’t last as long as we’d like for the price. However, for those with eczema or sensitive skin conditions, the relief it provides makes it worth the investment.

We appreciate that it’s made in the USA and carries the Leaping Bunny certification, confirming it’s genuinely cruelty-free.

Buying Guide

When selecting a honey soap, we must consider several key factors. Quality ingredients make all the difference in a truly luxurious cleansing experience.

Natural honey content should be at the top of your checklist. The best soaps contain real honey, not artificial fragrances or honey-like additives.

The transparency of ingredient lists tells us much about a product’s quality. Look for short, recognizable ingredients rather than long chemical names.

Key Ingredients to Look For

• Raw honey – Provides natural moisturizing properties
• Beeswax – Helps create a protective barrier on skin
• Essential oils – Offers natural fragrance without harsh chemicals
• Glycerin – Attracts moisture to the skin

The soap’s production method matters immensely. Cold-processed soaps retain more of honey’s beneficial properties than mass-produced varieties.

Form and Function

Soap Type	Best For	Notes
Bar Soap	Traditional use, less packaging	Lasts longer when kept dry between uses
Liquid Soap	Convenience, sharing	Look for pump dispensers to prevent waste
Whipped Soap	Luxury experience	Extra moisturizing but may not last as long

The color of honey soap should be natural. Gentle amber or golden hues indicate real honey content. Bright yellow often suggests artificial coloring.

Fragrance is another consideration. The best honey soaps have a subtle, natural scent rather than an overwhelming perfume.