Product Review: Bath and Body Works Mandarin Lime Energy Hand Soap

A definition of Energy (from Merriam-Webster online dictionary): a usually positive spiritual force energy flowing through all people> or 2) a fundamental entity of nature that is transferred between parts of a system in the production of physical change within the system and usually regarded as the capacity for doing work

A definition of Aromatherapy (from Merriam-Webster online dictionary): : massage of the body and especially of the face with a preparation of fragrant essential oils extracted from herbs, flowers, and fruits; broadly: the use of aroma to enhance a feeling of well-being.

So excuse me for wondering how Bath & Body Works can put a label on their hand soaps that say "Energy Hand Soap." What exactly does that mean? Now the Mandarin Lime Aromatherapy Energy Hand Soap smells like, uh, well... OK. try to visualize this: Open a can of mandarin oranges. Take out a segment or two and put it in a plastic zip top bag. Now cut up a lime in several slices and put it in the bag along with the orange segments. Close up the bag and let "ferment" for about two weeks outside of the refrigerator. Open the bag and take a deep whiff of the scent. Well, that's about what this hand soap smells like. I sniff the "essence" of the oils on my hand and wonder what is rotting in the back of the refrigerator.

This "Energy" Aromatherapy hand soap neither imparts any positive spiritual forces (that I'm consciously aware of) nor does the scent (odor?) impart or enhance any feelings of well being. So this makes me ponder just how often wording and slogans on beauty products are meant to draw in the female shopper and entice them to spend billions of dollars on these types of merchandise.

On the positive side, a quick pump of a small amount of soap lathers quite well, without the problems of the Bath & Body Works Anti-Bacterial Moisturizing Hand Soaps which drop in messy clumps into the sink (read a previous review I wrote of those). My wife bought this, normally $6.00/12 fl ounces bottle, as part of the recent 5 for $15 promotion. $3.00 may be a reasonable price for 12 ounces of some hand soaps, but not this particular one. My wife bought this for me believing I'd somehow like it. But I hate to hurt my wife's feelings, so this will be just our little secret, ok?