Go to any fancy restaurant worth its weight in caviar or even your chic friend’s bathroom, and you’ll likely find luxurious hand soap waiting for you to wash up. Odds are: It’s Aesop. Although hand soap is ubiquitous, it is not the best product made by the Aesop brand. From moisturizers to shaving essentials, Aesop is one of the most comprehensive skincare brands out there, and they make products that work as well as look on the packaging.
For those who are not familiar with Aesop’s fable (not… Which one), the Australian brand has been around since 1987, starting out as a humble supplier of personal care products before selling to the Big Guys: Natura & Co in 2012 and then to L’Oreal in 2023. Aesop’s aesthetic is characterized by minimalism with products that vary from creams Heavy winter to gentle cleansers for sensitive skin. It even branched out into fragrances and home goods, resulting in memorable collaborations with the likes of Rimowa and Rick Owens.