I am sure many of us have gone through a lot more hand soap in 2020 than ever before.
At our kitchen sink, I nearly always have Mrs. Meyer’s liquid hand soap. It is inexpensive, nicely and not overpoweringly perfumed, and the perfect viscosity for cutting through hands soiled with meat juice or oil. We cook so much (and therefore wash our hands so frequently at the kitchen sink) that putting anything more expensive at the kitchen tap feels wanton. I like that they come out with seasonal scents like peony and peppermint, too. I find the Mrs. Meyers scents more sophisticated than those of most other widely available, reasonably-priced hand soaps.
For our bathrooms, my favorite scents are:
MOLTON BROWN IN RHUBARB ROSE SCENT
MALIN + GOETZ RUM SCENT (SMELLS LIKE WARM SPICES, NOT BACARDI — HAHA)
LA COMPAGNIE DE PROVENCE LIQUID HAND SOAP IN ROSE SAUVAGE
All four of these will for sure leave you casually sniffing your hands in the aftermath of a cleanse.
I did just discover that Oribe makes hand soap — if you know their haircare products (I swear by their volumizing shampoo and conditioner), you know just how unbelievable their signature scent is. I don’t love the dispenser it comes in (such a petty admission!), but no worries — easy to decant into a marble soap dispenser (look for less with this). Might try this next.
By the front door, we always keep a hand sanitizer pump, and I love Megababe’s formula. Not drippy, dries quickly, and has a much less alcohol-forward scent than most.
Finally, a few super chic hand towels: gorgeous applique monogrammed styles from Lettrefina, white with pretty scalloped trim (available in a bunch of colors), a reasonably priced jacquard bordered style, and my secret source: World Market. I have always had good luck there! I used these in my powder room for many years and I also love the spa-like simplicity of these woven ones.
P.S. A picnic at home and an exhaustive roundup of my favorite home products.