Short answer: Wet your skin, work up a good lather and massage it into the places where skin oil builds up: behind the ears, the back of the neck, the chest, the upper back and along the hairline. Leave it on for 30 to 60 seconds, rinse thoroughly and pat dry. Once a day suits most people. Keep the bar dry between uses, patch test first if your skin is sensitive, and change pillowcases often.
Why some areas matter more
The smell people call "old person smell" is linked to skin oil. In a study of people aged 26 to 75, researchers at Shiseido found 2-nonenal, a compound with a greasy, grassy smell, only in the body odour of those aged 40 and over. Higher amounts went together with more of certain fatty acids and oxidised fats in the oil on the skin's surface (Haze et al., 2001, Journal of Investigative Dermatology). There is more on this in what is nonenal?
So the aim is simple: clear that oily layer regularly, before it has time to go stale. Any soap does this to a degree, and a persimmon soap is used in the same way. It helps wash away the oily residue that carries the smell. It is not a treatment, and it does not stop your skin producing oil.
Oil glands are most plentiful on the scalp, face, chest and upper back, and several of these areas are easy to miss in a quick shower.
| Area | Why it deserves attention | How to wash it |
|---|---|---|
| Behind the ears | Out of sight, with folds where oil collects | Use your fingertips and plenty of lather; rinse the fold well |
| Back of the neck | Rubs against collars by day and pillows by night | Lift longer hair and work the lather up to the hairline |
| Chest | One of the oilier areas of the body | Lather with your hands or a flannel, including over the breastbone |
| Upper back and shoulders | Oily and hard to reach | Use a flannel held at both ends or a soft long-handled brush |
| Hairline | Oil from the scalp gathers along the edge | Lather along the hairline, away from your eyes; shampoo your hair as usual |
Step by step
- Use warm, not hot, water. Very hot water can leave older skin dry and itchy.
- Make a proper lather. Wet the bar and rub it between your hands, on a flannel or in a foaming net until you have a creamy foam. The lather does the work, so there is no need to press the bar hard against your skin.
- Massage it in for 30 to 60 seconds. Work slowly over each area in the table. Giving the lather time on the skin helps it loosen oily residue; scrubbing harder doesn't add much and can irritate.
- Rinse thoroughly. Leftover soap can make skin feel tight or itchy. Take extra care behind the ears and along the hairline, where suds like to hide.
- Pat dry with a clean towel. If your skin tends to be dry, a simple unscented moisturiser on dry patches, such as shins and forearms, can help.
Keep the lather away from your eyes. If any gets in, rinse with plenty of clean water.
Hands, flannel or washcloth?
Your hands are the gentlest option and work well behind the ears and on the neck. A flannel (a washcloth, in the US) adds a little friction, which helps across the chest and back. Use a fresh one each time or every second use, wash flannels hot (60°C if the label allows), and let them dry fully between uses so they don't turn musty. For the back, a soft long-handled brush or a bath strap is kinder to stiff shoulders. Exfoliating gloves are fine now and then, but not every day if your skin is thin or sensitive.
How often to use it
Once a day, in your usual bath or shower, suits most people. After exercise or on a hot day, a second quick wash of the key areas is fine. Older skin can dry out with frequent soaping, so if yours feels tight or itchy, use the soap on the key areas only and a milder wash, or just water, on the rest of your body.
If you want to judge whether a new soap makes a difference, change one thing at a time and give it a few weeks. Ask someone you trust, because we rarely notice our own smell. Our article does persimmon soap work? explains what the evidence can and can't tell you.
Sensitive skin: patch test first
Any new soap can disagree with some skin, especially if you have eczema, a fragrance allergy or very dry skin. A simple patch test helps:
- For two or three days, wash a coin-sized patch on the inside of your forearm with the lather, then rinse and pat dry.
- Check for redness, itching, stinging or bumps.
- No reaction? Start with the key areas before using it all over.
- If your skin reacts, stop using the soap. If a rash doesn't settle within a few days, speak to a pharmacist or your GP.
If you have broken skin or a skin condition, or you use prescribed creams, ask your pharmacist or GP before trying a new soap. Read the ingredient list too, especially if you know you react to certain fragrances or plant extracts.
Storing the bar
Bars rich in glycerin and natural oils soften quickly if they sit in water. To make yours last:
- Keep it on a draining soap dish or rack, out of the direct spray of the shower.
- Let it dry between uses. If you wash twice a day, cut the bar in half and keep one half dry.
- Only put it in a travel tin once it is completely dry.
Pillowcases, collars and clothes
Washing your skin is half the job. Skin oil also builds up in the things that touch it for hours, and those can smell long after you have showered. A few habits help:
- Change pillowcases twice a week, or turn them over halfway through the week.
- Wash cotton bedding weekly, at 60°C if the label allows.
- Wear shirts and blouses once before washing, and give collars extra attention.
- Wash hats, scarves and coat collars more often than you might think.
Our guide to getting the smell out of clothes and the home covers temperatures, oxygen bleach and soft furnishings in more detail. If you are still choosing a soap, our persimmon soap comparison sets out the options side by side.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use persimmon soap on my face?
Check the label first, because facial skin is more delicate than the body. Patch test and keep it away from your eyes. If your face feels tight afterwards, switch to a gentle facial cleanser and keep the persimmon soap for your body.
Can I wash my hair with it?
Check the label first: a bar made for the body is not necessarily suitable as a shampoo. It usually works best to lather along the hairline and the back of the neck, then use your normal shampoo.
Should I stop using deodorant?
No. Soap and deodorant do different jobs. Soap washes oily residue and sweat off your skin; a deodorant or antiperspirant helps with underarm sweat and odour (odor, on American packaging) through the day.
How long should I keep trying before deciding?
Give any new routine a few weeks, alongside regular washing of bedding and clothes, before you decide. Ask someone close to you for an honest opinion.
What if the smell doesn't change?
Look at bedding, clothes and soft furnishings, which can hold on to smell even when your skin is clean. If your body odour changes suddenly or strongly, or comes with other symptoms, see your GP.