Noubar Soap

Despite possessing enough soap to last me a couple of years, I cannot help but bid on products I don't have. So when a rather large slab of Noubar appeared on eBay, I was sure as hell I was not going to let it slip through my fingers. Unfortunately, I discovered that piece was rather old and it didn't lather anywhere near as well as it should have done. So when Lush brought out a fresh batch in the Kitchen, I was all over it like a dog with a bone.

Lush claim that Noubar contains smoky vetivert oil and Turkish rose absolute to keep you sweet every time you wash. However, the scent that greeted me on first sniff was not of rose or vetivert. Instead, I detected a smooth, nutty scent, which is not surprising as this soap contains an impressive four different types of nut; peanuts, walnuts, almonds and pistachios.

Unlike a lot of other Lush soaps, this one has a lot of ingredients in it, which is why I was rather surprised to find that it was incredibly soft to touch and flattened when I applied a little pressure on the surface. I have read online that many people find this soap rather difficult to lather up and although it is quite a stubborn soap, there's a reason for this. I'd definitely say that this is more of a creamy, moisturising soap, so although it doesn't produce as much foam as others, the gel it does create is very exfoliating and gentle on the skin. Too much of this and I think it would dry out my skin.

The great thing about the different types of nuts featured in Noubar, is that they give the soap a rough, coarse texture that helps to remove unwanted dead cells and smooth out lumps and bumps. Coupled with the oils and minerals, this soap is great at both scrubbing and softening the skin, while at the same time moisturising it so it is not irritated or damaged by the treatment. The only issue I found with the inclusion of the nuts, is that this soap tended to fall apart in the shower and you end up with not only the lather on your skin, but pieces of nut etc... as well. 

It's a very subtle smelling soap, with elements of gardenia and rose mixed in with the woody scent of pistachios and almonds. It reminded me very much of the pistachio nougat bars that you can buy in sweet shops, and I was almost tempted to take a bite at one stag. It definitely has the look and feel of nougat to it, hence the name, and would be most suited towards someone who doesn't like overpowering smells. I was rather impressed by how hydrated and smooth my skin felt after use, and it definitely didn't have that tight, dried out feeling that some soaps can sometimes give you.

This soap performed really well, and I was impressed by how fresh and yummy looking it was when it arrived. While this soap is really soft on the skin and leaves it looking and feeling nourished, I would be careful when using this in the shower. This is the sort of soap that shrinks very quickly and a 100g bar will not get you far if you're using it too vigorously. I'm glad that I managed to get myself a few blocks of this and it'll be a great shower companion in the foreseeable colder months. 

Quantitative Ingredients: Water (Aqua), Glycerine, Grapeseed Oil, Organic Coconut Oil, Chopped Peanuts, Chopped Walnuts, Perfume, Titanium Dioxide, Pistachio Nuts, Gardenia Extract, Vetivert Oil, Rose Absolute, Cedarwood Oil, Sodium Chloride, EDTA, Sodium Hydroxide, Tetrasodium Etidronate, Citronellol, Geraniol, Colour 42090.

Vegan?: Yes

2014 Price: £4.25 for 100g.

2016 Price: £4.50 for 100g.

2017 Price: £4.25 for 100g.