PRODUCT REVIEW – Savlon bathing soap

Product: Savlon bathing soap with glycerin marketed by Johnson & Johnson, Mumbai, India

My family has been using the above soap for a long time now. It started off well. For the first time, lower middleclass in India got an opportunity to use “Pears”-like soap, of course, a little less transparent than Pears, for the cost of an ordinary bathing soap and freedom from germs as advertised by the company. Over time, the cost of the soap cake steadily went up by about 40%, only the packing has changed each time.

The major issue of concern with the soap is it has not improved over time. It still looses it’s transparency within a day or two of opening the wrapper/pack, probably due to hydrolysis of sodium compounds present as ingredients. Amount of frothing reduces, it becomes soggy, too soft and breaks down even when only 50% of the cake is consumed. This is very much evident during rainy season or when the humidity is very high. With other soaps, this breakdown occurs with the last 10-20% of soap cake remaining.

The company should ensure that the bathing soap should not loose its properties during its full use. The product Savlon needs to be tested in all seasons and rectify this undesirable and avoidable problem.