Last week, Jo pootled along to Lamb’s Conduit Street in Bloomsbury – honestly a wonderful Christmas shopping destination, should you be in London – to check out these soaps. Yes. All the way to WC1 on a soap-hunt, because beautiful as these Intaglio soaps are, they needed to be smelled before we could recommend them.

Which we now do, unhesitatingly.

Of course, the designs are fab; Pentreath & Hall are renowned for their design flair. But they honestly do also smell fabulous: five scents, available as single soaps (‘Hercules’), as pairs (‘Diana’) and – on our wishlist – the ‘Grand Tour’ set of all five.

Bridie Hall, co-founder of Pentreath & Hall, worked for ages on the technique, which evokes the souvenirs brought bac from European Grand Tours in the first half of the 19th century – a little like cameos; they’re created from two types of soap, the white an unscented version hardened with beeswax (according to someone who’s using the soaps, the design really does last), with the scented layer below.

The fragrances are Lavender, Cardamom & Mimosa (soft and flowery), Aqua Minerals & Sea Kelp, and the two we were torn between: Basil & Neroli Blossom (very fresh, citrusy and lovely), and clean-scented Eucalyptus. Suitably divine, since they are named after Greek gods.

If Santa doesn’t bring at least one of these soaps to us (he has been informed of our desires), we’ll be back in January to pick one up in person, and enjoy the retail delights of Lamb’s Conduit Street, while we’re there.

Meanwhile, you might enjoy Bridie Hall’s article on the challenges of their creation, here. Fascinating stuff!

Grand Tour Collection/£30 for five  – buy here (NB This seems to be out of stock online at time of press, but it might be worth phoning the shop)

Diana Soaps/£22.50 for two – buy here

Hercules Soaps/£18.50 – buy here

Prize Draws