Welcome to Robb Recommends, a regular series in which our editors and contributors recommend something they’ve tried, loved—and believe will change your life for the better.

There’s something refreshingly satisfying about the simplicity of a bar of soap. I’m not a fan of shower gels; I prefer the tactile experience of a solid bar. I’ve tried countless formulas over the years, but every time a brand transforms the familiar into something unique and new – reinventing the wheel, so to speak. Flamingo Estate is one such brand. Its soaps stand out in the market with their apothecary aromas, natural formulas and exceptional cleansing lather. Their large, dense square slabs embody a luxury of back to basics that is woven deep into their very DNA.

Flamingo Estate isn’t your typical grooming brand – it’s as well known for its luxurious olive oil as it is for its bath and body products. Its handwashes, soaps and candles have gained cult status among grooming and home fragrance lovers. But its soap bars in particular, with their distinctive square shape, have caused quite a stir, and it’s easy to see why. They’re hand-made and feel like they’ve been cut straight from a farm’s soap slab, reminiscent of a time when you’d visit a local maker in town rather than order something online. And it’s not just the looks: these soaps lather exceptionally well, and the addition of babassu oil – sourced as a sustainable alternative to palm oil – leaves skin incredibly soft. They cleanse thoroughly without drying out skin or feeling harsh, and offer a natural, chemical-free experience.

Each soap is handcrafted with sustainability in mind, using ingredients from a fully traceable network of growers and farms. Made in Los Angeles, these soaps are palm oil and petroleum-free and rely on 100 percent essential oils for their scents and most other ingredients, resulting in almost entirely natural compositions—whether it’s charcoal, peppermint, or sage. And the scents? If I had to sum them up in one word, it would be “herbal.” That’s fitting, considering these soaps come from a California estate known for its vibrant, lush gardens. Leave a bar of soap next to your bathtub and it almost doubles as a room diffuser.

When you open the very pretty box (which is also perfect for gifting), you’ll immediately notice how much this bar of soap packs. $42 for a single bar might seem steep, but this hefty cleansing block should last for a month’s worth of showers. Which brings me to my final point: the size. The larger square shape takes some getting used to, especially if you’re used to a more traditional, rectangular bar. At first, the shape feels odd and the edges may need a few showers to soften and conform to your grip. But once you get used to it, it’s easy to handle and the shape only adds to its artisanal appeal. That’s a small consideration for a soap that lasts this long, lathers this well, and smells this good. Flamingo Estate proves that in a market saturated with options, sometimes the simplest concepts are the most luxurious and unique.

My first introduction to the brand was through their rosemary soap. While rosemary can be polarizing in personal care, the blend shines here. It captures the best green scents from its garden, creating an invigorating, herbal scent. French green clay detoxifies and the olive and babassu oils nourish your skin.

Exfoliating soap is sometimes essential to slough off dead skin cells so your skin can rejuvenate and absorb moisture. While many exfoliating soaps can be harsh, this one uses poppy seeds for a gentle smoothing effect. The peppermint scent is a tingling wake-up call, while blue clay draws out impurities and Big Sur sea salt exfoliates.

The soothing aroma of California lavender and sage from this charcoal stone will transform your bathroom into a fragrant pharmacy. Charcoal soaps can leave residue in the tub, but this one is worth it – it detoxifies, opens pores, and provides a deep clean that surpasses traditional soaps.