Over a decade ago I bought the cool aid and tried it and it is wasn’t very nice. I really don’t get it.
Seeing it pop up again makes me wonder if they are the original Astro turfing ad campaigners.
The original astro-turfers probably go back to caveman days. Ads and propaganda aren't new.
Finally, I would bet your life that the mega-corp soap makers have been involved with literally hundreds of times more astroturfing than Dr Bronners, not to mention intrusive advertising, PR campaigns, aggressive advertising making people feel ashamed of their bodies, etc... Dr. Bronners take no part in that style of bullshit, and that's worth remembering.
I've been using bronners for a decade and have recommended it to more people than I could count. I've never had anyone tell me they downright disliked the soap - with the exception of peppermint, some folks don't like the chilling sensation.
Follow the instructions on the bottle for dilution as well, makes like easier and spreads out the soap.
I will use it for housekeeping but I don't let it near my body anymore.
That being said - are you diluting it or using it straight? I usually dilute 4 parts water to 1 part soap for handwashing / showering. Also, the Eucalyptus scent was harsher on my skin than others - I prefer the unscented, almond, or peppermint varieties.
Your hair gets that stiff feeling that shampoo doesn’t leave you with. I think it was the mint one I got, as recommended, and it left strong sensation on my balls - the kind you can’t tell if it is burning or freezing. And generally skin dry.
So what exactly does it do that the cheapest store brand bar or liquid soap doesn’t? It’s obviously full of residue given it’s scented, and even if it wasn’t full of non soapy things you’d still need to use body lotion and conditioner afterwards to not feel completely dried out.
Bronners cleans dirt and washes away sweat and grease, sure. But I’ve never encountered a soap or detergent in a super market that didn’t.
The cheapest liquid hand washing soap leaves your skin feeling softer and just as clean and just as scented as Bronners. Although I’m not really sure why being scented is a selling point.
Personally I can’t see why you shouldn’t go for a no perfume, certified safe for people with astma and allergies and certified environmentally friendly. In some markets (like Denmark) even the store brands has these certificates and you can scent yourself with the perfume or cologne of your choice instead of having a mix of cologne, body wash and shampoo fight it out.
Anyway, I find it's very good on the skin, I guess that them selling somewhat fancy soap as overpriced floor cleaner just adds to the mystique.
This is intended to be the other way around, right? Castile soap being the floor cleaner sold as fancy soap?
The reason it caught my eye is because Dr. Bronner’s also makes a lesser-known concentrated detergent called Sal Suds, which is more recommended for cleaning non-living stuff including floors and laundry. The “Dilute!” exhortation is no joke. 2-3 tbsp is enough for a full load of laundry. It’s almost the only household cleaner I use.