.:: CybeleSays ::.

As I’ve mentioned here before, I’m a sucker for a fancy soap. Just a seemingly plain bar of soap because in this case, presentation is everything! A new line to me is this AGRARIA brand. Built on the premise of ‘wrapped-and-ready-to-give,’ the brand was thinking eco-friendly long before it was hip when it comes to packaging. The first location sprouted up in San Francisco in 1970 and now their products can be found in locations all around the world.

This Luxury Bath Bar is my first taste of the line and it’s been a good bite! Their soaps are triple-milled and come in 8 scents and contain olive oil, vitamin E, Shea Butter, Yucca Oil, Kukui Oil and sea fennel, so they not only look good, they have function. The one I tried is the Lemon Verbena and it’s the perfect scent for the spring.

Yes, it’s a little pricey at $20 but when you are looking to treat yourself, isn’t it worth it? Get it and other products @ agrariahome.com.

So what scent has your full attention right now? I seem to be all over the map and am changing my mind daily, which is what I’m allowed to do as a woman, right? Here are some more recommendations from L to R clockwise.

ESCADA Cherry in the Air eau de toilette ($56/1.6oz, $20/.25oz @ sephora.com) – I love the smell of cherry and always seem to have at least one cherry scent in rotation this time of year. This one has notes of black cherry, raspberry, mandarin, marshmallow, gardenia, coconut, sandalwood and oakwood. Love!

KRIGLER Pleasure Garden 79 Scented Candle ($65/6.34oz @ krigler.com) – if you love gardenia, this scent will take you to heaven! This one is a blend of jasmine, vanilla, mimosa, all floating on gardenia petals.

LATHER Orange Peel Face Soap ($8/4oz @ lather.com) – for normal or combo skin and contains organically derived orange oil. Sulfate and parabens-free.

ARQUISTE Flor y Canto eau de parfum ($165/1.8oz @ barneys.com) – described as an opulent floral, this one “celebrates the feeling and smells of an Aztec festival." Notes include Mexican tuberose, magnolia, plumeria and marigold. Very unique.

MOONESSENCE Papaya & Pineapple Exfoliating Masque ($42.99/2oz @ sfrbeauty.com) – contains extracts of papaya, green papaya and pineapple, which are known for their exfoliating properties.

Disclosure: Some of these items were provided for review purposes. Some I bought.

If you’re talking gift giving, then the LUSH brand should jump into your brain as all of their products are great for giving.

What it is: LUSH … Had A Very Shiny Nose

Why I like it: Gift sets are the total way to go and this one is all wrapped up and ready. It contains: Mr. Punch soap (3.5oz), The Olive Branch Shower Gel (3.3oz) and Sandy Santa (3.6oz). No small sample sizes here.

Price: $23.95 @ lush.com.

Good quality products don’t have to break the bank. What makes a great line for me is attention to detail with not only the actual product but the packaging. I know it’s not quite holiday buying time yet, but this MOR line’s products score high points in the product and packaging department and are totally affordable.

Neroli Clementine Body Butter ($16/8.8oz) – formulated with skin-loving ingredients like olive oil, grape seed oil, Shea butter, vitamins A & C and Aloe vera, among others. It smells like fresh oranges!

Indian Pomelo Soap ($14/7oz) from the Emporium White Collection – textured paper wrapped around the soap, embossed and foiled inspired by historial items dating back to the 16^th century until the 19^th century. This triple-milled bar is so solid, it should last me about 8 months... 

Both and more, or rather Mor, @ morcosmetics.com.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

You know you’ve got a winner on your hands when you can smell the product through the packaging. And this is the case with LUSH’s Angel’s Delight Soap ($5.95/3.5oz @ lush.com). This one has real tangerine oil inside and just a splash of blackcurrent. And this one is just so colorful, which is great for anytime of the year, really.

Do you prefer a liquid body soap or bar soap? I oscillate between the two throughout the week with no real favorite rearing its head. Here are four new ones that just came out that are in full rotation in my shower.

BODYCOLOGY Shower Gel & Bubble Bath in Enchanted Forest ($4.99/16oz @ bodycology.com for locations) – using real honey and aloe vera, this one smells of jasmine (my favorite) and nutmeg on a base of musk and just really clean smelling.

THYMES Triple-Milled Soap in Bergamot Vert ($13/7oz @ thymes.com) – this one is a dash of floral, a dash of woody and two dashes of citrus. Yes, it’s officially fall but this one seems to delight all year round.

SOAP & PAPER FACTORY Handmade Shea Butter Soap in Close ($8/4oz only @ Anthropologie stores nationwide) – now you and your man can enjoy the same soap as this one is a tad masculine – sandalwood, cedar and a hint of citrus.

BATH & BODY WORKS Shower Gel in Paris Amour ($10.50/10oz @ bathandbodyworks.com) - this scent collection just came out and it’s surprisingly nice this time of year – French tulips, apple blossoms and sparkling pink champagne.

Disclosure: Samples of these items were provided for review purposes.

Ooo soaps! If you read Cybelesays.com, then you know I’m fan. And CRABTREE & EVELYN is adding some to my pretty vast collection with these from these triple-milled soaps from their new Heritage Collection. So what is triple-milled exactly? Triple-milled is a manufacturing process that simply means that the soap is shredded apart three times and then put back together. Milling helps distribute the color and fragrance evenly throughout the final bar of soap and it helps it last longer by making it harder (ref. sudsreport.com). I wonder why no quadruple-milled or … not sure what the next term would be! You know how companies are always trying to one up each other. But I digress.

These Soaps are vegetable-based and contain Shea Butter, cocoa butter, coconut and evening primrose oils and you can choose from unique scents like Avocado & Olive Oil, Vetiver & Juniper, Oatmeal & Wheatgerm and Almond Milk & Honey shown here. $8/5.57oz @ crabtree-evelyn.com.

And don’t forget, soaps like this make a great gift!

I’ve been a tad out of touch with my favorite honey ingredient lately and remembered how much I love it with this next one. From the Noodle & Boo line is GLOWOLOGY and their Moisturizing Body Bar ($8/5.75oz @ glowologyskincare.com) was made for those with dry skin and with one look at the ingredients, yup, this will give you some moisture – honey, Shea Butter, and vitamin E are the three majors inside. And it has a slight powder/honey scent to it. Nice.

Do you just use a liquid to wash your face? I think most do now-a-days. I’ve recently been using VERMONT SOAP ORGANICS Lemongrass Soap and am delighted with the results! Now before you say, “eww, soap on your face?” hear me out. Their bars are all handmade with a vegetable base and contain ingredients that are USDA Certified Organic to Food Standards.

This Lemongrass one contains the following: Saponified Organic Oils of Palm, Coconut, Olive and Palm Kernal, Lemongrass essential oils, and Rosemary Extract. That’s it! This one is best for normal acting skin but they also have others for dry and oily types. Sometimes less (ingredients) is more. $3.99/3oz @ vermontsoap.com.

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.

Liquid soaps are great but there’s just something great about a bar soap. PHARMACOPIA Bar Soap in Jasmine & Clary Sage ($5.20/4oz @ pharmacopia.net). It has your basic soap ingredients like sodium palmate, sodium cocoate and glycerin and then comes the jasmine, sage, calendula and orange peel oil. Is your New Year’s resolution to use more products that use natural ingredients. This is a good start!

Disclosure: A sample of this item was provided to Cybelesays.com for review purposes.