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The best luxury hand soaps and creams for your downstairs loo, according to GH editors
The posh products team GH uses to impress guests
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Austin Austin Palmarosa & Vetiver Hand Soap
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Was it passing your driving test? Taking your first solo flight? Perhaps bringing home your first baby? For me, the first time I felt like a real grown-up was when I replaced the grubby Carex in my downstairs bathroom with a chic, expensively-packaged bottle of luxury soap (read: one that cost more than a fiver).
Because as all grown-ups know, treating them to the best luxury soaps and creams is a surefire way to impress your guests – and have them asking where they can get their own.
Love decking out your downstairs loo with luxury fragrance and feel-good vibes? Check out our roundup of the best electric diffusers, too.
You'll find some of my favourite luxury soaps below (as a beauty writer, I've tried a fair few over the years), along with recommendations from the Good Housekeeping team. Some even told me they only take their fancy lotions out of the cupboard when they have visitors. I won't name any names.
These are the ones guaranteed to cause a stir next time you host.
"The scent of this hand wash has been so well considered, it really should be a perfume – it's that good. Developed by dermatologist Alexis Granite, the wash's spiced amber accord was something she worked carefully on – a gourmand scent that's very close to her heart.
“I'd recommend following up with the Joonbyrd Wonder Land Hand Lotion for double the deliciousness." – Fleur Fruzza, Beauty Editor
"If you’re keen to impress your dinner guests before they’ve even tucked into the food, this soap is the best secret weapon. The fresh, subtle citrus scent immediately transports you to an English garden, while the formulation is silky, leaving hands noticeably soft. Plus, it's organic.
"I’ve had the odd bottle go missing after a dinner party – it's that good." – Florence Reeves-White, Senior Beauty Writer, GHI
"I normally have this in my ensuite bathroom rather than the downstairs loo, because it's far too good for the kids when there are no guests around to impress.
"The soap's texture is beautifully thick, producing a luxurious lather from a single pump, and the mint and mandarin scent really lingers, too." – Lynne Hyland, Senior Beauty Editor
"I am yet to have a house guest who doesn’t ask after this hand lotion after visiting the bathroom. It comes in a range of fragrances – this one is blooming with soft rose, clean grapefruit and warm spices, for one of the most alluring perfumes there is." – Katy Young, Group Beauty Director
"I recently took a trip to The Dolomites for the first time with my mum, where fresh mountain air and prescribed rest sit high on the daily to-do list. The hotel we stayed in had this Aesop set in every room, and I even ended up bonding with other guests about it – we were all coming out of the loos smelling our palms and waxing lyrical about the rosemary scent.
“As a fully-fledged adult, I realised it was within my power to bring a little slice of that trip home with me by buying my own, and my mum did the same. Now we share the joy of that trip with whoever visits – it's a lovely memory in the palm of our hands.” – Florence Reeves-White
"The first time I smelled this soap was in Maze, a boutique store nestled in Bristol’s picturesque Clifton village. The neroli, jasmine and bergamot aromas instantly transported me from Clifton’s pastel-coloured Georgian buildings to a family holiday long ago in Portugal. And fittingly, ‘lumiere dorée’ translates to ‘golden light.’
For me, a scent that can evoke such visceral, happy memories is a must-have, and I often lean towards fresh, floral smells that feel soothing and familiar. I also adore the butter-yellow shade of the block. It’s almost too good to use.” – Bella Evennett-Watts, Group Deputy Features Editor
"I was instantly sold on its aesthetic (show me a bathroom this doesn’t match) and forever in love with its fresh, modern rose scent. If any brand could make rose perfume cool, it was this one.” – Katy Young
Florence is our Senior Beauty Writer, specialising in expert-tested beauty and grooming reviews — from toothbrushes to the latest skincare launches. She’s committed to sharing recommendations for products that truly work and make people feel confident and healthy. Prior to this she was at Tropic Skincare, where she worked closely with biochemists in the lab, delving into the functions of each fresh, natural ingredient and conveying its efficacy to her audience in easy-to-digest terms.
With over five years’ experience in beauty and health journalism, Florence has written for ELLE, Women’s Fitness, Sister Magazine, National Geographic Traveller and many more, with a strong sustainability angle thread through much of her work.
When she isn’t packing for a trip away, working out, eating out or reading up on retinol serums, you’ll probably find her experimenting with her film camera and building her portfolio of portraits. Florence’s photography can be found at florencereeves-white.com, her Instagram is @florencereeveswhite and her twitter is @floreadsnwrites
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