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Soap label decoder

Paste the ingredient list from any bar soap, liquid soap or body wash. We will tell you, in plain English, what kind of cleanser it is and what each ingredient does.

Copy it from the package or the product page. Separate ingredients with commas, as they appear on the label.

or try an example:

How to read a soap label in 30 seconds

  1. Look at the first three ingredients. They usually make up most of the product.
  2. Find the cleanser. Names ending in -ate after sodium or potassium (sodium olivate, sodium cocoate) mean true soap. Names like sodium cocoyl isethionate or sodium laureth sulfate mean synthetic cleansers.
  3. Check the scent. “Fragrance” or “parfum” is a blend whose parts are not named. Essential oils are usually listed by plant name. Unscented products list neither.
  4. Scan for what you avoid, such as palm oil, animal fats, milk or specific allergens.

Want the full walkthrough? Read castile soap vs regular soap, sodium lauryl sulfate vs soap and palm oil in soap.

Frequently asked questions

How do I know if my soap is real soap?

Look for saponified oils on the label, such as sodium olivate (olive oil), sodium cocoate (coconut oil) or sodium palmate (palm oil), or for sodium hydroxide (lye). Bars built on ingredients like sodium cocoyl isethionate are syndet bars, not true soap.

Does this tool tell me if a soap is safe for my skin?

No. It explains what each ingredient typically does and flags fragrance, palm and animal ingredients. It cannot know how much of each is present or how your skin will react. Ask a dermatologist about skin conditions or allergies.

Why does the tool say glycerin or stearic acid could be animal- or palm-derived?

These ingredients can be made from plant oils (often palm or coconut) or animal fats, and labels rarely say which. If it matters to you, ask the brand.

Is my ingredient list stored anywhere?

No. The decoder runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you paste is sent to our server.