# Dr Bronner's Mystical Soap **URL:** \ **Category:** Cecil's Columns/Staff Reports\ **Created:** [January 17, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444 "2013-01-17T00:19:25Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 12:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/1 "2013-01-17T00:19:25Z")
[LINK TO ARTICLE](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/904/why-the-weird-religious-ravings-on-dr-bronners-soap) I bought some today. It makes a great shampoo & bodywash. The Peppermint formula smells wonderful, & makes the skin tingle. No Cosmic Awareness _per se_, as yet. Perhaps I need more than one washing… ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/2 "2013-01-17T00:58:10Z")
When I was a hippie in the 1970’s I used to brush my teeth with it. Don’t swallow, you’ll regret it. ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/3 "2013-01-17T01:01:10Z")
Their peppermint bar soap is my favorite bar soap ever, and their almond (I think it was almond) liquid is excellent as well. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/4 "2013-01-17T01:04:27Z")
Got mine from Target, oddly enough. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/5 "2013-01-17T04:09:39Z")
I once encountered a bar of hand soap with almond scent. (Don’t ask where.) I’ve wondered ever since, where to get soap like that. I’ve never seen in in a store anywhere. ---
**Author:** ![Ulfreida](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ulfreida/32/8014_2.png) [@Ulfreida](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulfreida)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/6 "2013-01-17T05:37:42Z")
> [@Senegoid](#): > > I once encountered a bar of hand soap with almond scent. (Don’t ask where.) I’ve wondered ever since, where to get soap like that. I’ve never seen in in a store anywhere. Crabtree & Evelyn Caswell Massey Yardley Dr. Bronner’s of course and a zillion artisan soap makers on Etsy You must be a guy, to not know how to find soap. No offense. ---
**Author:** ![dataguy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/eada6e/32.png) [@dataguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dataguy)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/7 "2013-01-17T15:23:00Z")
This is not only high-quality soap, I feel good about supporting the company. They are one of the few remaining small companies that have built their reputation on producing high-quality, natural products that have not been purchased by a large corporation. All of their products are still produced in small batches using the original formulas. Bob’s Red Mill is another company like this. Others that have retained the brand, but are now part of large corporations include: Burt’s Bees Tom’s of Maine Ben & Jerry’s Odwalla Kashi … and [others](http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2011/10/03/9-ethical-small-brands-that-are-actually-owned-by-major-companies/). The company is still owned by the son of the original Dr. Bronner, and I even like his stand on [political issues](http://blog.sfgate.com/smellthetruth/2012/06/13/hemp-businessman-arrested-in-protest-on-white-house-lawn/). I’ve begun to consider the expressed political positions of company executives when making purchasing decisions. I’ve decided to stop supporting some of financially because I have come to consider that as a form of supporting their political views. Highly recommended product for a variety of reasons. ---
**Author:** ![SeaDragonTattoo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@SeaDragonTattoo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SeaDragonTattoo)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/8 "2013-01-17T16:40:50Z")
Plus, the liquid soap goes a long way with a few drops. I have bought the larger $15 bottles a couple times, and I’m pretty sure each has lasted over a year just using as shower soap (but not shampoo). Just a couple nickel-sized servings in the palm of my hand seem to be all I need per shower. The employees also are treated well, IIRC without looking it up right now, something about the executives not taking salaries any higher than the highest paid employees, or something like that. Fair wages and benefits and the profits are distributed rather than the top people taking home enormous bonuses and laughing all the way to the bank. There’s also a documentary, “Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soapbox,” available instantly on Netflix. He was a nut, but I guess as good as a nut could be. ---
**Author:** ![Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b38774/32.png) [@Attack\_from\_the\_3rd\_dimension](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Attack_from_the_3rd_dimension)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/9 "2013-01-17T17:01:58Z")
We buy the giant bottle, then fill up old smaller bottles with 5-10% soap & 90-95% water. Lasts forever, lathers great, smells good. ---
**Author:** ![Jake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jake)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 5:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/10 "2013-01-17T17:35:34Z")
Yep, it’s a very good soap. But a little pricey for me. I like the idea of cutting it with water though. Maybe I’ll try that… ---
**Author:** ![gazpacho](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@gazpacho](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gazpacho)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/11 "2013-01-17T22:25:35Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > Yep, it’s a very good soap. But a little pricey for me. I like the idea of cutting it with water though. Maybe I’ll try that… You should do that with almost any liquid soap. You really only need a small amount of soap and having it thinner makes it easier to distribute across the surfaces that need cleaning. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 17, 2013, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/12 "2013-01-17T23:15:21Z")
It’s \*\*not \*\*a good bubble bath. But the bath smells wonderful. ---
**Author:** ![gracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/8e7dd6/32.png) [@gracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gracer)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/13 "2013-01-18T00:00:36Z")
Oh, I wish I could get that around here, it sounds very nice. The story of his family history was very sad though, it may have sent a little dust into the air here or something. The writing on the products distinctly reminds me of the print-outs Crazy Bus Lady hands out on Manchester Magic busses. She always told us that we could look it all up in the John Rylands library, so I will just go ahead and assume the same is true for the wisdom of Dr. Bronner! 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/14 "2013-01-18T01:04:20Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > Yep, it’s a very good soap. But a little pricey for me. I like the idea of cutting it with water though. Maybe I’ll try that… You know, they should really mention that great idea on the label but I bet they don’t 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Cartoonacy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/848f3c/32.png) [@Cartoonacy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cartoonacy)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/15 "2013-01-18T20:41:05Z")
> [@dataguy](#): > > I’ve begun to consider the expressed political positions of company executives when making purchasing decisions. I’ve decided to stop supporting some of financially because I have come to consider that as a form of supporting their political views. A decent and responsible policy. But also keep in mind that the opinions of a company’s few executives are not necessarily shared by the company’s many employees, whom your dollars also support. That’s certainly the case in the company I work for. ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 9:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/16 "2013-01-18T21:24:50Z")
> [@Jake](#): > > Yep, it’s a very good soap. But a little pricey for me. I like the idea of cutting it with water though. Maybe I’ll try that… Dilute! Dilute! OK! ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/17 "2013-01-18T23:03:32Z")
> [@gracer](#): > > Oh, I wish I could get that around here, it sounds very nice. The story of his family history was very sad though, it may have sent a little dust into the air here or something. > > The writing on the products distinctly reminds me of the print-outs Crazy Bus Lady hands out on Manchester Magic busses. She always told us that we could look it all up in the John Rylands library, so I will just go ahead and assume the same is true for the wisdom of Dr. Bronner! 😉 Again, try Target. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/18 "2013-01-18T23:13:45Z")
Don’t forget the soap contains hemp seed oil. So, you’re not just getting a great product, you’re supporting hemp farmers and more sustainable agriculture. ---
**Author:** ![jimmosk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e68b1a/32.png) [@jimmosk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimmosk)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/19 "2013-01-18T23:14:58Z")
You might be interested to know there’s a reasonably good documentary [Doctor Bronner’s Magic Soapbox](http://movies.netflix.com/WiMovie/Dr._Bronner_s_Magic_Soapbox/70073552), currently available on netflix instant. ---
**Author:** ![Dangerosa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/22d042/32.png) [@Dangerosa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dangerosa)\ **Post date:** [January 18, 2013, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444/20 "2013-01-18T23:39:06Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > You know, they should really mention that great idea on the label but I bet they don’t 🆒 They ran out of room [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dr-bronners-mystical-soap/647444.md?page=2)