Customer Reviews

Peppermint Soap 1gal

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4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
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I will never buy any other "soap" or cleaning product again! I used this for the first time three days ago and have since been looking for excuses to clean things with it! I am *amazed* at all it cleans, how *well* it cleans, how wonderful it smells, and how it actually improves the condition of my skin after my chores (dishwashing, cleaning countertops, etc.)!?! And not only is it non-toxic and pet-friendly, but it is a natural insecticide! That might sound random until you spill some caramel sauce on your deck, which actually happened to me yesterday. I jumped at the chance to use my "new" cleaning spray (a small amount of this soap, diluted in water, stored in an old, rinsed 409 spray bottle). I sprayed the puddle of sticky, fake caramel made of mostly corn syrup and it practically dissolved...and no worries about ants having a party in that spot - or my dog licking toxic residue. Awesome, right? :) Or maybe that's just me that gets excited about silly things like that. It happens. :)

For you less-excitable, practical folks with better eating habits (heh)...I can confirm that it works great for the following uses, all cleaned with a squirt from the aforementioned spray bottle of water with a few drops of Bronner's soap diluted into it:

1. handwashing dishes - gets them squeaky clean! spray a squirt, sponge, and rinse!
2. cooktop/microwave and laminate counters
3. finished wood tables
4. laminate floor in my kitchen. Bonus: spray the floor, put on old socks, skate around, and then throw the socks in the laundry. If the cleaner soaks through your socks, they will feel and smell fresh due to an antibacterial peppermint treatment! Also, the soap on the socks works as a stain pre-treater, remover, and detergent booster so just throw them in your regular laundry and your clothes will get cleaner from it - not dirtier!
5. Polished chrome bathroom fixtures
6. Fantastic Hand Soap - dilute it into a pump dispenser, but try to get a "gooseneck" spout pump dispenser so the soap goes down into your hand and not out at your shirt. It's thin and I learned this from experience. But hey, again...it helped my laundry and I smelled great. And I used whatever got on the counter to clean it!
7. Cleaning light switches, baseboards, painted stair railings, and painted doors
8. Slate and ceramic tile surfaces
9. Toilets
10. 1/8 cup full-strength as laundry detergent, no fabric softener needed

I can also attest that it's been wonderful for me and my two daughters who have sensitive, super-dry skin that cracks and peels with any other kind of soap we've purchased. We wash our hands frequently and no amount of lotion seems to be able to combat the irritating effects that the handwashing has on our skin. My kids try to get out of washing their hands whenever possible and I can't really blame them, but I can't let them avoid this necessary hygiene, either. Guess what? Both my girls are looking for excuses to wash their hands now and their skin is almost completely healed, even with the increased handwashing!! They love the smell and the cool "tingle" it gives your hands for a few seconds afterward. Thank you, thank you to Dr. Bronner's company for relieving my kids of their chapped skin and nagging mother.

Only one caveat so far - like other reviewers have mentioned, I don't recommend washing your hair with it. We have pretty balanced tap water - neither hard nor soft, and I have fine, long hair that is prone to waves and frizz. I used a few full-strength drops and although the soap worked up its usual fantastic lather, my hair took forever to dry and turned out stringy and flat. I had to wash it again with "regular" shampoo. It wasn't frizzy, though, so maybe it would be okay for people with really frizzy, thick hair? I don't know. Just my own experience using it as shampoo and it was a definite fail.

Don't let that small issue stop you from buying this product, though. Soooo many uses, and so many other things you can quit buying which will save you money and simplify your life. In our case it removed the need to buy toilet bowl cleaner, all-purpose cleaner like 409, furniture polish/cleaner, floor cleaner...and lotion by the case I can't wait to discover all its other uses and recommend this soap without reservation.

It smells fantastic, works better than any other soap, is biodegradable -- we love it. Basically about 3 years ago we stopped buying handsoaps, dishsoaps, and household soaps and instead only use this. About 1 year ago we stopped buying laundry detergent and now pour a little bit of this in the laundry for the cleanest clothes ever that smell minty / fresh and clean. The lavender scent one smells great as well, haven't tried anything other than the blue and lavender types yet. So if you can make this switch to just one kind of soap, imagine how much simpler this is...you don't have to remember to get toilet bowl cleaner, counter spray, oven spray, kitchen floor solutions, window / glass cleaners, etc....just one bottle to replace when it gets low, simple! Also, please note that we heavily dilute this, for example for dishes we fill up a little squirt bottle about 1/4 of the way and add water to the rest. Even still it is super potent. For laundry detergent I would say we put 1/4 cup or less for a medium washer. I would say one of these jugs lasts us for 2-3 months for a family of 2.

I've been aware of how toxic most soaps and so-called "cleaning products" are for about 20 years, and for me Dr Bronner's liquid soaps have been my favourite soap for at least 12 years. Needless to say, I've looked at many options in that time, and in many countries (considering how much I travel).

If you're not familiar with the toxicity of common ingredients in most dish soaps, hand soaps (especially the liquid hand soaps, including most of the ones that imply they are "natural"), laundry products, and household cleaners then please take some precious time to do so. You and your family will be all the better for it. The short story? ALL common "cleaning products" are toxic to some degree, most quite severely so. A good starting place is to learn about "Sodium Lauryl Sulfate" and "Sodium Laureth Sulfate".

For further self-education on the topic: A good reference book (and iPhone/iPod app) is available called Chemical Maze and another by the same author called What's Really in Your Basket: An Easy to Use Guide to Food Additives & Cosmetic Ingredients. You'll find the companion iOS app on iTunes (just search for "chemical maze"). I use that as opposed to the book because I can more easily carry it with me when shopping. A few websites that may come in handy are [...], and doing a search on Google for "household cleaners ingredient info" (without the "" quote marks) will turn up plenty of helpful info. Another useful site is [...] (sorry about the odd looking links, Amazon don't like posting of links despite the fact these links all back up the buying of this product. Just remove the spaces and replace the (dot)'s.

So where does Dr Bronner's come into this?

First off their product actually is "soap" and more to the point it is "pure Castile soap". Castile is a region in Spain where soap was made from pure olive oil, which made it different from soap made from lard (animal fat). So Castile has come to be associated with liquid plant oil based soaps. Soaps differ from modern chemical "detergents". Most so-called "soaps" (especially liquid ones) have no real "soap" in them... just a toxic cocktail of chemical detergents (this includes most sham-poo, body cleaners, hand cleaners, dish "soap", etc.). Depending on your generation, Dr Bronner's might be the first real and pure true soap you use and grow to love... like I am many other folk have.

The ingredients on Dr Bronner's liquid soaps are: Water, Saponified Organic Coconut and Organic Olive Oils, (w/Retained Glycerin), Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Lavandin Extract, Organic Lavender Oil, Citric Acid, Vitamin E

-- N.B. The Lavandin and Lavender oil will vary, depending on which flavour soap you go for (I enjoy Peppermint, Lavender, and Rose the most).

>> A few tips <<
-- Dilution and dispensers --
This liquid soap is super concentrated. It is NOT diluted. When I gave a 16oz bottle to my brother he joyfully exclaimed that it was hard to not use too much! Just a squirt the size of a US quarter on his hand was enough to wash his whole body from head to feet (he has a bald head, so not much was needed for the head). A couple of drops is enough to wash the hands and face. So use much less than you might think is necessary.
You may find it useful to get a dispenser and then dilute it with water so less concentrated soap is dispensed. The Gatco 1486 Frosted Glass Soap Dispenser has a nice classic yet modern look, and has top ratings on Amazon. The InterDesign York Short Pump is another with good reviews. If your kitchen sink is set up for it (i.e. it has the hole for one) here's a nice in-sink dispenser: Danze D495912SS Premium Soap and Lotion Dispenser, Stainless Steel. Great for the dishes and the hands. Here is another that has a beautiful sleek modern look: KOHLER K-9619-7 Soap or Lotion Dispenser, Black Black (although quite a bit more expensive). I am recommending a dispenser because I've found it is such a nice compliment to using pure Castile soap in the house.

-- Teeth --
"If you use that foul language again... I'll wash your mouth out with soap!!"...

Yes, I know, most people will cringe at the idea of using soap to wash the teeth, but in my opinion (after years of research on the matter) it is one of the better ways to clean the teeth. Most toothpastes also contain toxic detergents, and other noxious substances. You might like to read up on the information the late Dr Judd presented on dental health, and you'll see why he also recommends pure Castile soap for washing the teeth. I use one drop of the peppermint soap, or I dab my brush onto a bar of Dr. Bronner Organic Peppermint Bar Soap. I must emphasise ONE drop / ONE dab. Any more and you'll be frothing uncontrollably at the mouth like a rapid dog! Comical the first few times, but not pleasant for daily repetition. One does have to become accustomed to the flavour, but it is non-toxic, and I've found if I only use one drop and keep the my tongue out of the way (toward the back of the mouth), then I don't actually taste the soap. I just wash my mouth out with water before allowing my tongue to come into contact with the teeth. Not for everyone, but if you read up on Dr Judd you may be convinced it's worth while (by the way, in my mid 30's I have NO fillings in my teeth... so something is working).

-- Spray bottle --
Put some Bronner soap into a spray bottle (diluted with water) and it makes a great household cleaner for dishes, basins, toilets, stains, and more. The Peppermint soap (not sure why peppermint in particular) works wonders on blood stains. you can get spray bottles such as Tolco Empty Spray Bottle

-- Small Bronner Bottle is worth getting --
I travel a lot. I find it very handy to have the little tiny travel size bottle Bronner does. I refill it from my 1 gallon bottle. If you want a travel size to keep with you buy this: Bronner's Castile Liquid Soap Organic-Peppermint 2 Ounces. The bottle is sturdy. I've had mine for a few years and use it nearly every day.

>> Conclusion <<
I've checked out a lot of soap and cleaning products over the years, including lots of new ones that have come onto the scene under the guise of being "natural", "organic", "eco-friendly", etc., and Dr Bronner's soap is still the best for general purposes. One can't really improve on pure organic Castile soap. There's nothing to add to it (except perhaps some nice essential oils) and nothing to take away from it. It is what it is. Tried and proven for hundreds of years.

Buy some, enjoy it. I know you will. And then you'll be buying it in 1 gallon bottles like I do.

- Jonathan Evatt
International lecturer, natural health expert, gourmet whole-food chief, and award-winning author of Peace, Power, and Presence: A guide to Self Empowerment, Inner Peace, and Spiritual Enlightenment (1877492019 on Amazon.com)
To see reviews on holistic books, super-foods, and other healthy-living products, check out my Amazon profile page.

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I've been using a variety of their soaps for at least 20 years. Every time I wonder if it could be useful some where else I'm always proven right!!! Whole body, dishes & pots/pans (you won't believe how clean it gets them!), shower, sink, bathroom mirror, glasses, ... Basically anything you can rinse off with water.

For example, nothing dissolves tree sap (like from the base of a christmas tree) on your hands like this soap! Nothing!!! It slides right off! This is unbelievably great to clean with. The best part is that there are NO chemicals - all natural ingredients that your body can live with.

The peppermint cleans and rinses off by far the best. Almond then Eucalyptus and Tea Tree (roughly in that order descending). Different ingredients leave a slight residue that washes off using more or less water depending.

I've been using Dr. Bronners' for at least 30 years- since I started buying it at the old co-op in my school days. Great for all personal hygeine- I use it for hand soap, shampoo, general bathing, etc. A gallon jug lastas a long time- add a pump from the hardware store and use it to refill smaller containers around the house.

My favorites? Peppermint for the astringent effect, and Tea Tree. But they're all good, and this price is half what you'll pay in some hippie ripoff artist's store.

And remember- as the doctor himself says, Dilute! Dilute! Dilute!

I have used Dr. Bronner Peppermint soap since the late 1960's as part of my bath arsenal. Lately I have been reading ingredients of the other soaps & shampoos etc., and find several things I don't like in all of them, so I have switched to Dr. Bronner (with an occasional bar of Ivory for hand soap) for all my bath & shower needs. I am even using it as my sole shampoo and it does great. I am a guy with medium length hair- if I had long hair needing conditioner etc. it may not do the trick. I feel much better not covering myself with lauryl sulphates and parabens daily (both possible carcinogens in most regular bath products).
Also, my lady says I smell great using the Dr. Bronner peppermint.

I hope they they make this stuff forever!

I've been using this tingly peppermint soap personally for years to cool off in the shower. Now I use it in my restaurant business in our kitchen dispensers as an incentive to get our employees to wash their hands often.
I'll be darned. IT WORKS!

I usually use Bronner's Eucalyptus. I got the Peppermint just for a change of pace. The peppermint soap burns my, um, nether regions... Bad enough that I gave away a $30 gallon of soap. Great soap, but the peppermint literally hurt.

We are "going green" in our home, and Dr. Bronner's was highly recommended by friends. We are very happy. It's in every soap dispenser (including dish soap) and spray bottle for cleaning. Simplicity. Bubbles are great, smell is refreshing, results are fantastic. We don't use this as body wash except when we're camping...we use Olivella soap in the shower. But I do use it in the summer as my face wash, as it is soooo refreshing to wash your greasey face with this on a hot, sticky day. I don't find it drying but I also don't use it daily. Very happy customers.

We use this soap for everything. I mean everything. Hair, body, teeth, clothes, floors.. you name it. All natual and safe for everything except your eyes.