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Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Tuesday Tip

Guest relations.  Week to week I am never sure what will pop into my head to share with you all.  Most often it is something that comes about in a quick and unexpected way.  On more than one occassion I have had that sinking feeling Tuesday will be disappointing because either I am slammed with life, work or both.  Lately, it's been both.  Had it not been for the email I received from a reader, this Tuesday would have been a blank page. 


This reader wanted to know what I would recommend for guest soaps and did I keep favorites always on hand?  I suggest that you only supply your guests with soaps that you would enjoy using yourself.  I offer an assortment.  I also choose the soaps based on whether my guests are male or female and what I think they will like.  I almost always have some on hand, because....well,  I love soap!  But, if it's more than a few days stay, I probably need to shop.  And, yes, multiple soaps for multiple people and uses!!!


When people stay with me, I want them to feel it was pleasurable in the way that good hotels always make you feel.  But, of course everything in the contex of real living.  In other words, plenty of beautiful soaps and stacks of fluffy white towels, just not delivered everyday!


So here is what I have on hand now.  All in dishes and containers I already own.  I would also use any of these in my powder room.  Which would you choose?



One last thing, I have been so late in thanking the very kind  Amy of Pemberley Style  who gave me a blogger award.


She has a wonderful online shop Pemberley Collections that among many other things sells the most delightful soap dishes!

28 comments:

  1. Great post. Love cute soaps for guest use. I'd go for the Savon featured in the first picture!

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  2. I have some handmade soaps from Hawaii that smell amazing. I keep them in my guest bath and they make the whole bath smell wonderful. Great post idea!!

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  3. A fabulous last minute post! Love all the soaps (any really) but especially the Hermes. Have a great week.

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  4. scents are such a personal thing, so I think it's a great idea to offer an assortment. I for one, really dislike the hermes scented toiletries. I would probably choose the pretty blue soap!

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  5. Love that pretty blue Savon soap, and now, thanks to you, curious about the Hermes soaps. Truthfully, I am big on liquid dispensers at all my sinks...love the Savon and the Molton Brown dispensers. With lots of little hands, in the end, for now its just cleaner all around.

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  6. I love the Blue Savon you featured. Wonderful soaps are so luxurious for ourselves and any guest!

    Karena
    Art by Karena

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  7. I can't ever get enough of wonderful soaps. Love the french ones. You have featured some beautiful soaps, especially the blue one in the alabaster holder.

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  8. Nice post, I'll have the white soap on the turquoise plate please!

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  9. I love your soaps!!! But how do you keep them nice looking after they have been used? Do you ever use liquid soap?

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  10. Love the savon soap! I definitely prefer bar soap to liquid soap, but for guests I tend to provide the latter as using other people's bars can be a bit nasty -- and I don't really want to go through the trouble/expense of buying bars for each new guest that comes through. I tend to be bad and just keep all manner of bath products I've swiped from hotels on hand in a wicker basket for my guests' use. I'll also include the unopened tooth brushes and toothpastes I get from the dentist just in case they forgot their own!

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  11. AD, Hermes is not a scent for everyone, so I can definately understand why you don't care for it. I have grown to love it, but have many others I love too.

    Katidid, after they have been used, by someone other than me...I toss them out. I love liquid soap too. A must have for the kitchen and laundry room sinks especially. Another possible post idea...so thanks for asking!

    Averill, yes agreed no sharing of soaps with others. The idea of this makes me shudder! Accepting hotel gifts and passing them on to guests...of course!!!

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  12. I love the Mor Italian Blood Orange soap--I love it for guest and for me! Also the Hermes soap always smells so delicious.

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  13. well, after our discussion hermes it is! but to truly make an informed choice would have to be your guest :-)
    debra

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  14. I'm a bit nuts about having extra things on hand for guests. I swear I could sell toothbrushes we have so many (and I group them with floss and a little cover - crazy). But for some reason I never think about soaps? I just assume having enough liquid soap/pump soap on hand is enough. But I like this idea. Next time I'm out I'm grabbing some pretty ones ;)

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  15. I remember when I first read Coming Home by Rosamunde Pilcher. The main character, Judith, was going home from boarding school to her friend's large country estate for a visit. In her bathroom was Chanel soap. I always loved the description of this from the book and try to pamper my guests with beautiful soaps they might not buy for themselves at home. I love this pretty post and its suggestion of thoughtfulness. xx P&H

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  16. I love soaps....love picking them up at the farmers markets. I do use liquid in the kitchen, laundry and the two downstairs powder rooms. Mainly b/c I don't want multiple people using the same bars. But, agree on lots of pretty soaps in the guest bath and I, too, have extras (toothbrush, hair dryer, deoderant, etc. in a little basket under the sink in the guest bath). Fun post.

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  17. I loved this post and I love, love soaps - and soap boxes as well. I have been known to use the beautiful boxes for decoration on occassion.

    Like others, I use liquid soap in the kitchen. I keep both in the bathrooms, especially the guest bathroom. Savon! Yes!

    A few years ago our grand nephew, about 3 at the time, needed some help in washing his hands. He called out and I went in to find him staring at the bar of soap. He didn't know how to use it! Daycare and home use only dispensers with liquid soap. We adults had a bit of a chuckle after I showed him how to use bar soap - and then I kept finding him in there, washing his hands!

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  18. Very cute post... I just got this biodegradable soap for the bath and it smells like heaven in a bottle... you are one considerate lady with your guests... i'm sure they appreciate it... have a lovely day!

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  19. Thanks for the mention! How about a soap and dish giveaway from Pemberley Collections on your blog?!

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  20. I always love the sound of anything with "au lait" in the name so I wouldn't be able to resist giving that soap a try...but I'm also hugely drawn to those fabulous Hermes dishes!

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  21. Hola Rebecca, yes, treat others as you treat yourself... soaps are one of the great pleasures of life!!!!
    Cariños,
    Maria cecilia

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  22. I'm generally not a fan of liquid soap: somehow it feels like cheating! BUT there is one that I do really like: from Bigelow Chemists, but available at Bath & Body Works (NOT one of my favorite stores: I dash in and quickly buy this soap and corresponding hand cream!) Here's the link to Bigelow: http://bit.ly/aYfpEE
    And, the hand cream is divine!

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  23. I have such a weakness for fabulous soaps! Penhaligons is my favourite... and Mistral! I'm currently using Mistral's Lilac... it's divine.

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  24. Unfortunately we don't have many house guests in our tiny apartment here in DC but I love the idea of pampering your guests. Can't wait till I can have a guest bedroom and bath! Have a great weekend! xx

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  25. I'm a soap junky too! I splurged on some of the square blocky Marseille soaps for our baths...lavendar buds are mixed into them.

    South of France come to me!

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  26. Thank you all so very much for sharing the names of your favorites with me!

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  27. Yes, I buy soaps by stacks and always have different ones available for guests. The prettier they are the more I like them. But, I've noticed I really don't like bars which are too big, they are difficult in your hands. And they must be good. You know, that lovely feeling on your hands? For the bath, we use something different then for the hands. What do you do?

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