Have you ever been to the personal care area of your local store and just stood there, admiring the scene? Typically, hundreds of soaps are displayed there. Some of them are made by large brands, and others are made by small local businesses. But then the question is, what is it about one particular bar that makes you love it more than the others? When it comes to the essentials, if you have no preferred brand, it is typically going to be the soap packaging design. 

No matter how great the bar of soap is, it's the box that sells it. Your packaging is your mouthpiece and is going to do all the talking! It provides consumers with information about your business before they even have the opportunity to get a whiff of it. If you're looking to sell your soaps, it's important that you pay attention to the outside as much as the ingredients you're adding.

What Are Custom Soap Boxes?

To understand the marketing strategies, however, you must first understand the basics: what are custom soap boxes? Simply put, they are boxes that are designed and cut just for your product. Many new business owners may be tempted to buy cheaply made, generic boxes and just slap a sticker on the front. The problem is when the boxes are not on the shelf and often do not fit. Your soap could rattle around inside, or the cardboard may be too thin and crush the soap. 

Custom boxes are made from scratch. You will have the option to select the exact size you desire so that your soap fits just right. Your soap branding will be on a blank canvas. Effective packaging ideas for soap are endless, and when going the Custom Packaging route, you can design a box that's just right for the vibe, from a thick, heavy-duty pumice stone soap for mechanics to a small, delicate rosewater facial bar. They offer special cut-out windows, a choice of cardboard thickness, and finishes that regular boxes cannot offer.

What Makes a Great Soap Packaging Design?

After determining that you need a custom box, you need to determine the layout. What Makes a Great Soap Packaging Design? A winning design always succeeds in achieving two goals: keeping the product safe and looking great at the same time. 

Let's start with the nuts and bolts of it. Humidity, heat and rough handling can easily damage soap. A wonderful box is like a mini suit of armor. It prevents moisture from damaging the soap and ensures that the corners will not be smashed when being shipped. 

However, your packaging needs to look right in addition to being safe. This involves choosing colours, fonts and textures that tell a story. For peppermint and eucalyptus scents, a clean and crisp look is your best option, so go for bright green and white. Soft purples and muted colours suit a relaxing lavender bar well. The design also needs to be easy to read. People are interested in the ingredients, the weight and whether the soap is vegan and/or cruelty-free. A good design structures all this information in such a way that it does not spoil the box or overcrowd it.

Standout soap box design ideas

If you think that you look a little stereotypical, perhaps it is time to freshen up your wardrobe. The choice of soap box design ideas is so vast that one is bound to find something that will go beyond a folding carton. 

There are many brands doing creative soap packaging. Some companies, for instance, employ sliding drawer boxes. The little ribbon that is pulled to remove the soap gives the impression of opening a high-quality present. A sleeve or "cigar band" is another trend that is hugely popular. A paper band does not go all the way around the soap, but wraps around the middle. This is cool because customers can see the texture and smell the soap immediately in the store. 

The printing styles can also be experimented with. The current trend is a minimalist design with a lot of white space and a bold font. Conversely, if you pack your box with noisy and colorful botanical drawings or shiny foil prints, your product will be impossible to miss.

The Push for sustainable packaging

The environment is a subject of deep concern today – and it is changing the way business is done. Purchasers scrutinize packaging to find out if your materials are recyclable before they buy. 

The fortunate thing is that you can have both—an ahead-of-the-crowd look and a planet-friendly look. Today the smartest brands are combining luxury soap packaging with what is good for the environment: eco-friendly soap boxes. A premium appearance can be achieved with 100% sustainable packaging materials. 

Consider using recycled thick unbleached kraft paper or cardboard. The natural soy based inks will not reside in landfills for eternity, and don't come close to the price tag of shiny plastics that are used to coat your boxes. One of the best ideas is to use Debossing, where your logo is stamped into the thick cardboard. It doesn't need to use any additional ink or plastic, but it does enhance the box with a beautiful upscale feel that people want to feel.

Wrapping It Up

It can be difficult to sell bath and body products because of the intense competition in the bath and body field. The outside appearance of your product is only a small part of the story...so don't pay attention to it or you'll miss out on some money! Your packaging reflects your brand's image. It helps to build trust, protects what you are doing and attracts those who would otherwise not be drawn to you. Therefore, avoid simply packaging them in boxes, choose fancy boxes and enjoy the higher sales.