Villainess Soap Review

Dulces en Fuego

Deep chocolate scent in the foreground, and subtle notes of black pepper and nutmeg rounding it out make this bar perfect for chocolate lovers. The top of the bar was spiced with a sprinkling of black pepper, which looked great against the dark chocolate color and added a nice finishing touch.

When I washed with the bar I noticed immediately that the lather was a brownish color that looked startling against my bright white tub. I had heard that darker soaps will often produce a dark, discolored, lather so I thought I would be prepared for that.. I wasn't.


As I have progressed further into the bar I am noticing that it is getting more and more exfoliating. It looks like there is black pepper, and possibly nutmeg or cinnamon, incorporated throughout the bar; this feels good on my back and other rough areas, but on more sensitive areas it is almost a little too scratchy for my taste.

Pyromania 

Villainess describes this soap as "Peculiarly spicy, warm black pepper, sweetened with brown sugar, and touched with a veil of smoke". I was really intrigued and pleased with the smell of this soap, and the description of it on Villainess' website is spot on in my opinion. The black pepper was warm and inviting, and yet the spicy qualities were subdued and just right. Lightly dusted over the top of this soap was a silver-grey color which I suspect plays the part of the "veil of smoke".

This soap looked and smelled like night and day when compared to Dulces en Fuego, however the two bars did have some physically similar characteristics. Apart from the lather being the same, I also had the same experience with this bar regarding exfoliation. As I have progressed and showered with this bar I have noticed a dramatic increase in exfoliation and roughness. This bar has poppy seeds incorporated throughout and provided a much more abrasive experience. Again, this feels great on my back and feet, but on everything else this was just a little too scratchy for me. I would not be able to shower daily with this bar, but rather limit its use to a couple times a week (like a special treat).

Sample Packaging

Along with my order I also received a couple soap samples, and I loved the packaging technique they used (I may consider borrowing this element in the future with my own soaps). Each sample came tucked into a small black envelope with a label sticker that coordinated with the larger soap bar labels. Very simple and contemporary in appearance, and it goes perfectly with the overall look and experience of the other Villainess products. I've already used up one sample, Silk and Cyanide, and it smelled lovely.




Overall, my impression of Villainess is that they are a soap company pushing the boundaries of scent combinations and soap branding. Everything that goes into these soaps is full of detail, and everything seems to support the branding vision of the company.

Click here to visit the Villainess website to see their full offering of products.