Supply Exfoliating Bar Soap Review: Sandalwood and Cedar for Men

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My Midlife Shower Ritual in a Bar

There’s a moment in my day that nobody sees.
No emails, no kids shouting “Papa!”, no dog scratching at the door. Just me, hot water, and a bar of soap in my hand.

I couldn’t help but notice, somewhere between turning 40 and turning 50, that my shower stopped being just “a quick wash” and quietly became a ritual. Ten minutes where I reset my brain, rinse off the day, and come out feeling like I’ve been given a fresh start. And if you’re like me, a bar soap guy to the core, you’ll understand why finding a good bar matters. Especially when that bar exfoliates too.

Lately, that bar has been the Exfoliating Bar Soap from Supply, in the Sandalwood & Cedar scent and it has very happily earned its place in my shower.

Why I’ll Always Be a Bar Soap Guy

Let me admit it: I’ve tried body washes. The brightly coloured gels, the “ocean breeze” scents, the plastic bottles gathering dust in the corner of the shower. They’re fine. Functional. Forgettable. Bar soaps, on the other hand, are a whole different story.

You feel the weight, the texture, the way it glides over the skin. You know instantly if it’s too harsh, too creamy, too “meh”, there’s nowhere to hide.

And when you add exfoliation into the mix, it becomes even more satisfying. That gentle “scrub” feeling is like a reset button for your skin. After 50, when skin can feel a bit dull and rough around the edges, that matters more than it used to.

This is exactly why I was curious about Supply’s Exfoliating Bar Soap. It promised a proper clean, gentle exfoliation, hydration, and a grown-up woody scent. On paper, it sounded like my kind of bar.

Meet the Supply Exfoliating Bar Soap

This is a 7oz exfoliating bar: so it’s big, solid, and feels substantial in the hand. It’s the kind of bar you pick up and think, “Okay, this is going to last me a while.”

The design is simple and masculine: a rectangular bar stamped with the word SUPPLY. No fuss, no weird colours, no gimmicks. Just a proper bar soap that looks like it belongs in a grown man’s bathroom.

Supply describe it as a bar that refreshes, cleanses and exfoliates, scrubbing away dirt, rough patches and dryness, while leaving the skin softer and more moisturised rather than stripped. Inside, you’ve got:

• Jojoba beads for physical exfoliation

• Aloe to soothe and calm the skin

• Shea butter to hydrate and lock in moisture

It’s free from the usual suspects like parabens, silicones and sulfates, and uses biodegradable jojoba beads instead of plastic microbeads. The ingredients are globally and sustainably sourced, which I appreciate as someone trying (slowly, imperfectly) to make better choices in the bathroom. The bar comes in three scents. I’m using: Sandalwood & Cedar – Warm, Woody, Comforting. This is exactly the kind of scent I reach for in the colder months.

To my nose, it’s:

• Warm and woody

• Slightly creamy, almost cosy

• Masculine but not aggressive

• Present in the shower, but not so strong that it follows you around all day

It’s more “well-dressed man in a wool jumper” than “teenage body spray in a locker room”, which is perfect for me. The scent lingers softly on the skin after the shower, but it doesn’t fight with your fragrance if you wear one on top.

What’s Inside: Gentle Scrub, Not Sandpaper

Exfoliating bars can be tricky. Some feel like you’re attacking your skin with a brick. Others are so timid you wonder if they’re doing anything at all. This one sits in a very comfortable middle ground.

• The jojoba beads are smooth, rounded and evenly spread through the bar. You definitely feel the scrub, but it doesn’t scratch.

• The aloe gives that slight “ahh” feeling on the skin, especially if you’ve had a long day or your skin is a bit reactive.

• The shea butter adds a nice slip and leaves my skin feeling soft, not tight.

I have normal skin (not particularly sensitive), and I’ve had no redness, no irritation, no burning or tightness even on the upper arms and shoulders where I tend to scrub a bit more.

How I Use It in My Midlife Shower Ritual

Here’s how it fits into my routine as a 51-year-old man trying to keep things simple, effective, and enjoyable.

I don’t use this bar every single day as an exfoliator. Instead, I reach for it 2–3 times a week, or on days where I feel like I need a bit more of a reset.

1. Warm shower first. I let the steam and hot water soften the skin for a couple of minutes.

2. Lather in the hands. I rub the bar between my hands first to get some foam going and feel how “gritty” it is.

3. Direct on the body. Then I run the bar directly over my chest, shoulders, back, arms and legs in gentle circular motions. You feel the beads working, but it never feels harsh.

4. Avoiding the more delicate bits. I keep it away from intimate areas and use something gentler there. For the face, I occasionally use the lather (not the bar directly) if I want a very light exfoliation, but I don’t do that every day.

5. Rinse. It rinses off cleanly, with no waxy film and no feeling of “I need to wash this off again.”

When I step out of the shower, my skin feels:

• Properly clean

• Smoother to the touch, especially on the shoulders and upper arms

• Comfortable, not dry or tight

And there’s that subtle whisper of sandalwood and cedar that just makes me feel… put together, even if I’m only going downstairs in joggers to answer emails.

Results After Using It Regularly

After a few weeks of using the Supply Exfoliating Bar Soap in rotation with my regular, non-exfoliating bar, here’s what I’ve noticed:

• Smoother skin on the body. Especially on the upper arms, shoulders and legs :the places that usually feel a little rough or dry.

• Less noticeable dryness.

• No residue. It doesn’t leave that weird film on the skin or in the shower. It rinses clean.

• Good longevity. For a 7oz bar, it holds up well. Using it a few times a week, and keeping it on a draining soap dish, I can see it lasting comfortably a few weeks.

Who This Bar Is For (And Who It Isn’t)

Great if…

• You’re a bar soap person (or want to become one).

• You love that properly clean, polished feeling on the body.

• You’re over 35–40 and starting to notice your skin looks a little dull or rough.

• You enjoy warm, woody, masculine scents that don’t punch people in the face.

• You like the idea of biodegradable exfoliating beads and a formula without parabens, silicones or sulfates.

Maybe not ideal if…

• You absolutely hate any kind of scrub or texture on your skin.

• Your skin is extremely sensitive or reactive to physical exfoliation (in that case, I’d say patch-test first or use something even gentler).

• You prefer fruity, sweet or very light scents: Sandalwood & Cedar is warm and woody, very much in the “classic masculine” family.

Final Thoughts – A Small Everyday Luxury That Earns Its Place

The Supply Exfoliating Bar Soap in Sandalwood & Cedar ticks a lot of boxes for me:

• It fits my love of bar soaps.

• It gives effective but gentle exfoliation.

• It smells warm, grown-up and comforting.

• It leaves my skin clean, smooth and comfortable, not stripped.

Will I keep it in my rotation?
Absolutely. This is the bar I’ll keep reaching for on those mornings (or evenings) when I need my shower to do a little more than just “get me clean.”

If you’re a man who enjoys feeling properly fresh and smooth without overcomplicating things, and you like the idea of turning your shower into a small daily ritual rather than just a chore, this exfoliating bar from Supply is very much worth a place on your soap dish. Available at Supply.com (here) Thanks Supply for sending this great soap.

Jerome