Mrs. Meyer's really nailed the whole "hygiene, but make it fun" brief. (Britt Ross/Yahoo)(Britt Ross/Yahoo)
Once November rolls around, the hunt for perfect, no-fail gifts is on. And it's no easy feat; you've got to consider whether your recipient would prefer you go the fun route or opt for something practical. And what if they already have the item you're eyeing? Ugh, the worst! However, as someone who shops for a living, I believe I might have found a gift that almost anyone would be thrilled to receive: the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Holiday Hand Soap Bundle.
Yes, it's a bit of a tongue twister, but hear me out: Everyone washes their hands, right? (At least, we hope!) Thus, everyone needs hand soap — but this isn't just any hand soap. The four scents in this collection are full of winter warmth and cheer, making the simple task of handwashing an absolute pleasure. Plus, this set is fairly new, meaning there's a good chance you won't run the risk of it being a repeat.
So, how can I be so sure these are soaps worth giving? Well, I happen to have this very foursome, and it's quickly jumped to the top of my holiday shopping list. Keep scrolling to see why it's my new favorite.
(For more inspiration, check out our roundup of the best Christmas gifts to give this year.)
Prefer more autumnal-leaning scents? This 4-pack includes Apple Cider, Acorn Spice, Fall Leaves and Mum fragrances.
With a 35-hour burn time, these candles will keep the aromas going long after the holidays are over. Plus, they come in glass jars that can be reused once they're done.
I'll admit, I'm a sucker for good packaging, and the Mrs. Meyer's Clean Day Holiday Hand Soap Bundle gets an A+ in that department. The four bottles come in a colorful box that has — get this — scratch-and-sniff stickers on the outside, allowing you to smell each scent without having to open anything. Talk about feeling like a kid again!
That said, the fragrances themselves are a mix of playful and refined: Gingerbread is warm and toasty, Iowa Pine is earthy yet refreshing and Snowdrop has clean, floral notes. I was a bit worried about Peppermint, as I'm not so big on artificial mint as a flavor, but I was pleased to find it's more sophisticated than I was expecting — more Andes than candy cane.
As for the soap itself, my perpetually dry skin appreciates the gentle formula, which is made of nourishing, hydrating ingredients like aloe vera extract, olive oil and essential plant oils. As a former professional baker who still spends much of my free time in the kitchen, I'm constantly washing my hands, and Mrs. Meyer's is the only brand of hand soap I buy to ensure things don't get too scaly, especially in the winter.
Still not sold? Here's what recent Amazon shoppers are saying about this aromatic assortment.
"These will brighten a household and maybe even encourage small children to wash their hands (hard to resist Gingerbread or Peppermint)," said one. "Same quality ingredients as other Meyer's products."
"I love the scents in this set," swooned another. "I got refills for Snowdrop and Iowa Pine, as they are very pleasant and neutral enough to go past the winter traditional scents. Mrs. Meyer's soap also cleans really well without drying your hands too much."
"Scentsational," raved a third. "Absolutely LOVE this hand soap. Rich lather with a wonderful scent!"
"This is my go-to liquid soap," wrote a final fan. "The only fragrance I was not crazy about was the Gingerbread, but my daughter loved it. My favorite is the Iowa [Pine] fragrance. [It] does not irritate or dry out my hands, which is a plus."
Psst: If you're traveling by plane for the holidays and can't bring this much liquid, some of these scents are available as highly giftable candles.
If you have Amazon Prime, you’ll get free shipping, of course. Not yet a member? No problem. You can sign up for your free 30-day trial here. (And by the way, those without Prime still get free shipping on orders of $35 or more.)
The reviews quoted above reflect the most recent versions at the time of publication.
