Summary: Aesop became a symbol of adulthood for me long before it became a daily ritual, and over time it’s grown into a luxury that feels personal rather than aspirational. What started as a fascination with scent and design has turned into a genuine appreciation for thoughtfully made products that elevate everyday moments. From hand soap to room spray, Aesop makes my everyday feel intentional and senusous — as it should be.

What I love:

  • Aesop’s scents are truly unmatched—complex, recognizable, and long-lasting without being overpowering.
  • The high-quality formulations that actually work, not just smell good — with strong sustainability credentials, too, like B Corp, vegan, cruelty-free, and thoughtful packaging.
  • Gift sets offer good value and make exceptionally great presents, especially if you’re a house guest.

Things to consider:

  • The price point might not feel like a fit for everyday staples, depending on your perferences and budget.

There are certain markers of adult sophistication that, once introduced, I’ve never forgotten. Aesop was one of them.

I moved to New York City from Ohio when I was 18, convinced that the very act of arriving would transform me into the actress-socialites I saw splashed across the tabloids. And in some ways, it did. Over time, the distance between my life and theirs began to shrink. Even on a college budget, I found ways to eat at the same restaurants, shop at the same stores (occasionally), and absorb the mannerisms of a charmed life.

In other ways, the gap remained. I couldn’t rewrite my past or suddenly share their backgrounds. But as I worked, lived, and paid attention, I developed my own taste. I realized I didn’t need to wait for some future version of myself to begin living the life I wanted — I could start then.

“The answer was always the same: Aesop.”

The beauty of Aesop was one of the lessons I picked up along the way. After noticing that certain homes smelled impossibly good, I started asking questions. The answer was always the same: Aesop. I learned how to pronounce it (EE-sop), discovered that the stores kept samples readily available out front, and encountered sales associates who treated each product like a story worth telling. It didn’t take long before I became devoted to the room sprays. Nothing else has ever compared.

Today, Aesop is a luxury that feels entirely my own. And it’s become an essential daily ritual — a reminder that the finer things in life aren’t just about appearance, but about intention and quality. What began as a fascination with a name brand has grown into a genuine appreciation for products made to nourish everyday moments: Washing dishes, rinsing off in the morning, tidying up the house.

About Aesop

Aesop has been around since 1987, when it was founded in Melbourne by Dennis Paphitis. The brand grew out of Paphitis’s work as a hairdresser when he began to experiment with mixing essential oils into products. As demand quickly grew, Aesop was born. From the start, the formulations have been a carefully considered mix of natural, plant-based and laboratory-developed ingredients that are unparalleled in their restorative and nourishing effects. (The name, Aesop, is actually a joke about the overblown stories that other similar brands tell about their products! Like the Aesop of fables, the brand’s simple, minimal ethos is closer to a kernel of truth.)

“From the start, the formulations have been a carefully considered mix of natural, plant-based and laboratory-developed ingredients.”

In my experience, the Aussies are particularly tuned into eco-conscious and sustainable ways of living — and the leaders of Aesop are no exception. Aesop’s products are vegan and Leaping Bunny certified as cruelty-free. The brand is a B Corp, so it meets the highest standards of accountability and transparency for minimal environmental impact. Much of their packaging is recycled and/or recyclable, reusable, and even compostable. There’s also a focus on decreasing energy usage and emissions, with a goal of net-zero emissions and most stores running on 100% renewable energy where possible.

This thoughtfulness translates to each visit in the store, and even how the products are shipped. For example, the products for this piece weren’t shipped from some warehouse — they were couriered to me from a nearby store in a simple muslin bag. Delightful, thoughtful, with minimal impact. 🫶

Why I chose to review Aesop gift sets

I love the Aesop gift sets not only for gifting, but also for stocking up for myself. Starting at $52 for their Greetings in the Guest Room gift kit, these curated selections feel to me like they compound in value, given the beautiful packaging and thoughtful pairings. Plus, you do always save a few bucks as compared to purchasing the products separately. I wholeheartedly recommend checking out all the gift kits — whether you’re planning to host and want to deck out your home with luxurious products for your guests, or you’re planning to stay with someone and want to bring one of the best house guest presents they’ve ever received.

I’ve placed a star (⭐️) next to my all-time favorite products, if you’re looking to start with something smaller. These are my faves, and I think they’ll also give you a great sense of the brand.

Bathroom Abundance Kit, $155

The Bathroom Abundance Kit has two of the most classic Aesop products that have become a staple for me over the years: The Ressurection Hand Wash and the Olous Room Spray. With the addition of the Resurrection Hand Balm and the Nurture Bar Soap, it stands to transform any bathroom into a spa-like experience. For what it’s worth, these products are also perfectly placed throughout the home in the kitchen or living space, too!

A brown Aesop gift box labeled "Bathroom Abundance" sits on a dark wooden surface next to a beige cloth.
A brown Aesop gift box containing an aromatic hand wash, a pink tube of hand balm, a facial mist, and a rectangular box, all neatly arranged in molded packaging.
Here’s what’s included:

⭐️ Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash, $46

This is perhaps the most ubiquitous of all Aesop products, so it’s great for anyone new to the brand or for long-time fans. It’s a classic for a reason. The scent combines Mandarin Rind, Rosemary Leaf, and Cedar Atlas for a sophisticated product. It lingers on my hand after I wash and actually works without drying. (Which makes it great for placing at the kitchen sink, too!) It’s low foaming, with just enough feedback that you feel clean and refreshed.

Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm, $35 (2.6 oz)

The perfect companion to the Ressurection Hand Wash, this balm is a hand cream to rival all others. It helps to reinforce the sublime scent, and it repairs dry hands, especially in the winter months. It’s thick — but not too thick, certainly less than other hand creams I’ve tried. Manufactured in France, delivered in this 100% aluminum tube that’s the prettiest peachy color. I love how this looks in the bathroom, and I’ve even been known to keep it bedside for some repair and aromatherapy at night.

⭐️ Olous Aromatique Room Spray, $66

If I had to pick one product, it would be this room spray. For anyone who has ever lingered in a shop or a spa, wondering how they produce that perfectly intoxicating scent, this one is for you. It literally adds an air of sophistication to your home. I love how this compounds over time, especially when sprayed on fabrics. It combines citrus notes with Cedar and Cardamom for a scent that’s hard to describe as anything but Aesop. No room spray (I’ve tried dozens!) has ever come close.

Nurture Bar Soap, $27

The Nurture bar soap is specifically designed to prevent moisture loss while cleansing thanks to the Shea Butter, making it a lovely addition to this box if gifting in the wintertime. The scent combines Rosemary and Cedar with Lavender for another delightful moment next to your kitchen sink, in the bathroom, or in the bath. I love how this smells after a steamy shower.

A tube of Aesop hand cream and a bottle of Aesop Resurrection Aromatique Hand Wash are placed on a bathroom sink next to a silver faucet.
A hand with a small amount of yellow cream on the back, next to an open Aesop tube on a white bathroom sink.
A brown bottle of Aesop room spray sits on a wooden surface near a black and white wall.
A rectangular bar of Aesop soap in an open cardboard box is placed on a white bathroom counter next to a sink.

Party In The Greenhouse, $132

The Geranium Scent here is a true crowd pleaser, combining herbaceous notes with citrus-y tones that keep me coming back for another sniff. This is a wonderful gift for yourself or someone else if they’re less of a home or ambiance person, and more into self-care. It’s worth noting here that while Aesop doesn’t often launch new products or scents, the recent addition of Eleos Body Cleanser caused a stir for those of us tapped in. I still prefer the Geranium Leaf — but those who enjoy the spicy-ness of Clove should check out Eleos.

Aesop body cleanser and green tube of hand balm in a brown cardboard box on a black surface.
Three Aesop Geranium Leaf body care products, including a bottle of body cleanser, a tube of body scrub, and a tube of body balm, displayed on a dark surface against a light background.
Here’s what’s included:

Geranium Leaf Body Cleanser, $53

I’m not usually a body cleanser person, but I loved lathering up my woefully underused washcloths to apply this cleanser (though the brand recommends using a sea sponge!). The low-foaming formulation here feels sophisticated yet effective, and it’s not too-thick or too-thin. 1-2 pumps was enough for me which is nice, because you get a lot of milage out of the bottle.

⭐️ Geranium Leaf Body Scrub, $47

Another favorite of mine! This is a clear gel with tiny exfoliant beads resembling salt or sand, which makes the process of exfoliating feel like its most ideal form: A natural occurrence that happens seaside. In reality, the exfoliant comes from a blend of Pumice and Bamboo that polishes and stimulates the skin. I loved the feeling of using this scrub in the shower, and found my skin was extra soft after priming it with the scrub and following with moisturizer. It’s for use 2-3x a week, though you’ll want to do it more. A new favorite from the Aesop line for me!


Geranium Leaf Body Balm, $48 (3.4 oz)

A pleasant and slightly looser formulation than the hand balm, this is the companion to the cleanser and scrub above. Formulated with Carrot Oil and Aloe Vera, it not only moisturizes but rebuilds and nourishes your skin. It’s fabricated in Australia and uses a 100% aluminum bottle for the 3.4 oz size. This is a real treat and sweet travel companion (after you manage to use .4 oz). With regular use of the whole system, I found my skin felt moisturized even on the days when I didn’t fully scrub and rehydrate.

A brown pump bottle and a green tube of Aesop Geranium Leaf products sit in a black metal shower caddy against a white tiled wall.
A hand with a dab of yellowish lotion on the back is next to a green tube of Aesop Geranium Leaf Body Balm on a bathroom sink.

So, is Aesop worth it?

I’m hard-pressed to think of another brand that is making home and body products that are as iconic and dialed in as Aesop. Especially when it comes to stocking up on handsoap, room sprays, and elevating other small moments in the home, like moiturizing your hands, nothing else really compares. The brand also carries fragrance that is worth a peek (Tacit is a classic!) — as well as a whole array of treatments, skincare, haircare, and more. Aesop elevates the everyday so it feels considered — and of course, it should. 🤲

This story is in partnership with our friends at Aesop

Ashley D’Arcy is the Senior Editor at The Good Trade. She holds an MA in Philosophy from The New School for Social Research and has contributed to esteemed outlets such as The Nation, 032c, and Yale School of Management’s Insights where she’s leveraged her expertise in making complex ideas accessible to a broad audience. In addition to her editorial work, she is training as a psychoanalytic mental health professional and provides care to patients in New York City. Ashley also explores sustainable fashion, clean beauty, and wellness trends, combining thoughtful cultural critiques with a commitment to mindful living.