One of the Best Natural & Organic Soaps I’ve Used

When it comes to natural soap made in the UK, Hiltwood Soap earns its place as one of the best natural soaps in the UK I’ve personally used. After testing four different Hiltwood soap bars in real, everyday conditions — including long, muddy days working in the garden — what stood out wasn’t hype or clever marketing. Instead, it was how gentle, effective, and genuinely skin‑friendly these natural soaps are.
This is a product‑led UK natural soap review, based on hands‑on use rather than claims, buzzwords, or ingredient lists alone. If you’re looking for an honest review of UK‑made natural soap, this is written from daily experience, not theory.
This way to visit Hiltwood.com for the latest deals & prices.
The Hiltwood Soaps Tested (UK‑Made Natural Soap Bars)
I tested four UK‑made natural soap bars from Hiltwood, each with its own clear purpose:
- Lime & Charcoal — fresh, cleansing, and great after outdoor work
- Tea Tree & Lavender — balanced and calming
- Dead Sea Mud & Pumice — gently exfoliating and deeply nourishing
- Cedarwood & Spanish Verbena (with turmeric, eucalyptus, lemon, mint & olive stone) — complex and earthy
Taken together, these bars cover everyday cleansing, gentle exfoliation, freshness, and skin nourishment. As a set, they give a strong overview of Hiltwood’s approach to handmade natural soap in the UK.
First Impressions: Scent & Appearance
Even before unwrapping, the soaps were noticeably fragrant, with fresh, natural scents coming straight through the packaging. That’s usually a good sign that essential oils are doing the work, rather than synthetic fragrance oils.
Visually, the bars look clean, simple, and well made, with natural colouring rather than anything artificial. The charcoal soap bar stood out immediately — deep black, bold, and reassuringly functional, rather than decorative for decoration’s sake.
Overall, they look and feel like proper, handmade soap — exactly what you want from a high‑quality natural bar.
Ingredients, Skin Feel & Sensitivity
Natural soap for sensitive skin
In use, the word that kept coming to mind was creamy. Despite having slightly sensitive skin, none of the bars caused irritation, redness, or dryness — something that’s often an issue with commercial soap.

- The citrus‑forward soaps feel fresh and uplifting
- The charcoal and Dead Sea mud soaps feel earthy and grounding
- The eucalyptus blend feels clean and cooling
Importantly, everything feels balanced. These soaps cleanse effectively while still feeling nourishing, making them well suited to anyone searching for a natural soap for sensitive skin. They also align well with broader ethical choices, such as opting for palm oil free soap in the UK, which is something I cover in more detail elsewhere.
Lather & Daily Use
How this natural soap performs in everyday use
Natural soaps sometimes fall down when it comes to performance. Fortunately, that isn’t the case here.
- They lather well for a genuinely natural, handmade soap
- When used with an exfoliator, they fluff up easily
- A soap bag is included, which helps improve lather and extend the life of the bar
One thing I actively dislike about many commercial soaps is the way they leave your skin feeling stripped — that overly squeaky‑clean sensation where all your natural oils feel gone. For me, that feeling is genuinely uncomfortable.
Hiltwood avoids this completely.
Instead, your skin feels clean but still like skin — comfortable, nourished, and intact. Even many so‑called “olive oil soaps” don’t manage this balance as well.
Hiltwood Soap vs Commercial Soap Bars
Compared to most commercial soap bars, Hiltwood natural soap feels noticeably different in everyday use. While many supermarket soaps rely on synthetic detergents and hardeners, Hiltwood takes a gentler, more traditional approach.
As a result, it cleans thoroughly without leaving your skin feeling tight, squeaky, or overly stripped once rinsed. Instead, the lather feels softer and creamier, and your skin is left comfortable rather than depleted. Even after heavy outdoor work, you still feel properly clean — just without that unpleasant after‑feel.
| Feature | Hiltwood Natural Soap | Commercial Soap Bars |
|---|---|---|
| Cleansing feel | Clean but comfortable | Often harsh or squeaky‑clean |
| Skin after use | Nourished, no tightness | Can feel dry or stripped |
| Lather type | Creamy and soft | Foamy but aggressive |
| Ingredients | Plant oils & essential oils | Synthetic detergents & fragrance |
| Scent | Natural and subtle | Strong or artificial |
| Daily use | Gentle enough for regular washing | Can cause dryness over time |
| Best for | Sensitive skin & outdoor use | Occasional or cosmetic use |
Skin Feel After Washing

This is where Hiltwood really shines.
- No tightness
- No dryness
- No lingering residue
Instead, your skin feels clean, nourished, and comfortable — even after a full day working outdoors in mud and grime.
Clean as a whistle, without feeling punished for it.
Scent Longevity
The scent fades naturally after washing but returns immediately when lathered again. Importantly, it never feels overpowering, which makes these soaps easy to use daily without clashing with other products.
Favourite Bars & Rotation
After repeated use, clear favourites emerged:
- Top picks: Dead Sea Mud & Pumice and the lemon‑forward bars (tied)
- The mud bar felt the most nourishing on my skin
- The citrus bars were ideal for feeling fresh and ready in the morning
- Least favourite: Eucalyptus blend — not due to quality, purely personal preference
How Hiltwood Compares to Other Natural & Organic Soaps
Hiltwood feels like natural soap without the noise.
- No overblown claims
- No unnecessary price inflation
- No pretending to be luxury while cutting corners
It’s competitively priced, often cheaper than comparable natural and organic soap brands, while still delivering genuinely well‑made products. Combined with strong branding, thoughtful presentation, and good customer service, it comfortably ranks among the best UK natural soap brands I’ve tried.
Being UK‑made is another genuine advantage, helping reduce unnecessary freight miles and keeping the product footprint lower overall.

Who Hiltwood Soap Is Best For
- Anyone wanting to nurture their skin rather than strip it
- People looking for a natural soap for sensitive skin
- Outdoor workers, gardeners, and active lifestyles
- Eco‑conscious households
- Anyone who wants to get properly clean and smell good
Final Verdict
Is Hiltwood One of the Best Natural Soaps in the UK?
Based on extended, real‑world use, Hiltwood Soap delivers exactly what good natural soap should: gentle cleansing, honest ingredients, and a genuinely pleasant daily experience.
There’s no hype here — just well‑made, thoughtfully formulated UK natural soap that does its job properly.
Rating: 5/5




