Dove Bottled the Scent of Its Iconic Beauty Bar—My Review

Dove’s Beauty Bar will forever remind me of my mom. The only soap that wouldn’t aggravate her sensitive skin and nose, the smooth, teardrop-shaped bars were nestled in practically every drawer of my house growing up. I legitimately couldn’t walk into a bathroom without catching whiffs of that powdery, creamy, soapy scent—one that brings a wash of nostalgia with every rinse, one that never fails to make me feel at home.

It seems I’m not alone in my penchant for the iconic “clean” aroma. After receiving countless DMs from Dove loyalists, the brand decided to give the people what they want: a standalone fragrance inspired by the original Beauty Bar. But, alas, it won’t be here for long. Officially available to shop today, Dove’s Original Fragrance is a limited-edition drop; meaning, once it sells out, it’s gone for good. Maybe—just maybe—with enough DMs the brand will indulge the fans once again, but I’d suggest snagging the exclusive scent while you still can just in case. See all the details below, including my personal smell-test of how it measures up to the classic cleanser.

If you like soapy perfumes—aka, perfumes that make you smell like you just hopped out of the shower or have lingering laundry detergent clinging to your clothes—you’re going to fall head over heels for Dove’s iteration. Yes, I can confirm that it smells exactly like the original bar soap, from the fresh, aldehydic opening to the creamy, powdery dry-down. If you placed the two products down side by side and closed your eyes, you wouldn’t be able to tell which was which. (I did just that, as a matter of fact, only with the Sensitive Beauty Bar. I swear, I still couldn’t tell the difference.)

Now, I’m not usually one to fawn over clean, fresh fragrances. I much prefer something mysterious and smoky on my pulse points, or if I’m committing to the powdery route, I like a hint of musk to make it read more skin-like. That said, I can’t ignore how comforting Dove’s blend feels. Given how much I adore the actual bar soap, I’d say this is one of the only soapy perfumes I could see myself wearing regularly. I probably wouldn’t wear it out dancing (though, never say never), but I could see myself giving it a spritz on work-from-home days when I want something noticeable yet not overpowering, or whenever I’m feeling particularly nostalgic. It also lasts impressively long for such a light, fresh perfume, especially one that costs less than $20 (it’s tagged at exactly $19.57, an ode to the year Dove Beauty Bar first launched).