I recently ran out of my British Rose Shower Gel which I loved for its beautiful fragrance. Shower gels are something I use everyday, sometimes twice a day, on account of such frequent usage I was looking for a natural & organic option. Ms. Super Consumer had often raved about the brand so I decided to sample Soul Tree and was leaning towards the Rose fragrance yet again!

Cost:

500 INR for 300 ml

Buy Online:

here

Product Claims:

This aromatic, soap-free shower gel is made with fragrant Pure Rosewater and cooling extracts from Vetiver (Khus). Aloe Vera hydrates and soothes, leaving skin fragrant, soft and supple.

– Suitable for all skin types.
– Certified ‘Natural’ by BDIH, Germany*
– 100% Vegetarian
– Not tested on animals
– Our products do not contain Parabens, Silicones, Lead, DEA/TEA, Phtalates, SLS/SLES, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Fragrance

*BDIH is the non-profit Association of Industries and Trading Firms for pharmaceuticals, health care products, food supplements and personal hygiene products (www.bdih.de).

Ingredients:

Aqua, Coco glucoside, Lauryl glucoside, Glycerine, Vetiveria zizanioides (vetiver) extract*, Aloe barbadensis (aloe vera) juice*, Capryl/caprylyl glucoside, Rosa damascena (rose) infusion*, Hibiscus rosa sinensis (hibiscus) infusion*, Citric acid, Xanthan gum, Sodium levulinate, Onosma hispidum (ratanjot) oil, Mel (honey)*, Parfum**, Potassium sorbate, Linalool**, Limonene**, Citronellol**, Geraniol**, Benzyl alcohol, Benzyl cinnamate**, Citral**, Eugenol**, Farnesol**

*From certified organic farms

**From essential oils

Shelf Life:

30 months from the date of manufacture (which is pretty high considering it is organic!)

Let’s take a minute and appreciate the over all branding and packaging improvement this brand has undergone. The new graphics make the products look luxurious and worth the cost one is paying. This is how good graphic design & branding plays up the perceived value of a product, which is very important considering we are making most of our purchase decisions online nowadays.

But when the product actually reached me, I was a tad disappointed to experience the cheap plastic quality with a shoddy pump dispenser and was thrown back to the days where I used to detest online shopping for this very reason. I need three pumps for one time use since the pump doesn’t dispense enough in one go. Also since the plastic is low quality if you aren’t gentle with it; it is bound to pop out or break.

The product has a gel like consistency and is reddish-brown in colour. One needs quite a bit for one time use because it doesn’t lather much at all. Folks who use a loofah perhaps may have a better lathering experience.

Also an important point to note is that once the product comes in contact with air it thickens which tends to jam the pump. Then if you want to pump stuff out you need more force and with that extra force the solidified product as well as the liquid behind comes gushing out at full speed & goes everywhere causing a lot of waste. One needs to always be mindful of that! I specifically went for a pump based product because it is easy and saves time. I especially realized this while using my face wash which also has a pump, I have stuck it in a basket and don’t need to handle the bottle at all. Unfortunately due to this jamming of product I always have to pick up the bottle and direct it clearly into my palms, lest it go all over my shower walls & floor.

The fragrance of the product initially is pretty strong and herbal smelling. I sense more Khus (Vetiver) than Rose. But the scent doesn’t linger nor does it last long. Personally I am OK with that but if you are looking for something with lasting fragrance this might not be for you. It doesn’t feel overly fresh not does it feel dull, personally I like a balanced fragrance to start the day so this works for me.

It does a good job of cleansing the skin without drying it. It is quite gentle and the skin feels soft and clean without any irritation, dryness or that taut feeling that some harsh products bring.

Pros:

• Gentle on the skin
• Organic + Vegetarian
• Cruelty Free
• Free of Parabens, Silicones, Lead, DEA/TEA, Phtalates, SLS/SLES, Mineral Oil, Petrolatum, Fragrance

Cons:

• Expensive
• Not easily available offline
• Poor quality pump package

Closing Thoughts:

The funny part is after using this face cleanser, I really started appreciating the benefit of a pump dispenser; its quick, dispenses the right amount in one go and you don’t have to touch anything like a tube or unscrew caps etc. So I bought this shower gel with great hopes for the pump. Unfortunately the packaging turned out to be a bust!

But otherwise it is a good shower gel and of course extra points for it being vegetarian, cruelty free, organic and yet being equally effective. I would re-purchase this if they improve the packaging!

What is your opinion of natural products? Have you tried anything else from this brand, let me know your experience in the comments. Also check out other organic products I have tried here & here.