Molton Brown Review: Our Verdict on the Bougie Body Washes Beloved by the Queen (2024)

Here’s a universal truth:

Buying a fancy hand wash or shower gel for your home instantly makes you feel like a grown up.

So when our Senior Editor Amy asked me to road-test some luxurious products from fancy pants British fragrance brand Molton Brown, I happily obliged.

I thought, what the heck. If it's good enough for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (yes, really), it's good enough for me.

My skin smelled so delicious after using one of the shower gels and body lotions, I’ve already added them to my next staff order.

I’m also going to grab one for my mum, and maybe my aunt.

And actually, maybe also a Molton Brown gift set for my friend who just moved into her new place.

Keep reading for everything you need to know about Molton Brown, including Molton Brown reviews of our top picks from their bougie body care and home products range.

What Is Molton Brown?

Molton Brown is a luxury British fragrance, bath, body, hair and home fragrance brand.

From humble beginnings in the 1970s hand-mixing products in the basem*nt of a London salon, to featuring in the bathrooms of fancy hotels (and royal households) around the world, Molton Brown is pure luxury.

Here are some quick facts about Molton Brown:

• The ‘pioneers of positive luxury’, the heritage brand is best-known for their Molton Brown candles and fragrances that come in super sleek bottles.

• Molton Brown scents are high quality and slightly masculine-leaning that last for hours when enjoyed as a shower gel, body moisturiser, hand wash and hand cream, candle, and home fragrance.

• The brand was awarded a Royal Warrant from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, an honour bestowed only to brands that have supplied products for the Queen's royal household for at least five years!

• You'll find Molton Brown luxury amenities in 5-star hotels around the world, as well as British institutions like the English National Opera.

• Is Molton Brown vegan?The range is 97% vegan, with all non-vegan products being reformulated as the brand moves towards becoming a 100% vegan manufacturer.

• Is Molton Brown cruelty-free? They sure are! They’ve even been Leaping Bunny-approved.

Our Molton Brown Reviews.

It has to be said, Molton Brown products are on the spendy side.

$42 for a 300ml shower gel is a luxury, so which Molton Brown product should you add to cart?

We've been dutifully trialling the range and have narrowed down what we think are the best Molton Brown home and body products.

From a bath oil with real gold flakes to a best-selling body wash, these are some of our faves...

1. Molton Brown Black Pepper.

What:

Molton Brown Black Pepper Body Wash 300ml

• If you Google ‘Molton Brown body wash’ or ‘Molton Brown shower gel’, chances are this best seller will pop up.

• Molton Brown Black Pepper is one of their signature scents and has an award-winning spicy fragrance with a masculine lean.

• Key fragrance notes include black pepper, ginger, oakmoss, coriander and vetiver.

My Molton Brown Black Pepper Body Wash review:

I can’t say I was an instant fan of this scent. It was a little too spicy and strong for me.

But when I actually used it in the shower, the tides turned.

I enjoyed it and it made me feel like I was staying (and showering) in a fancy hotel.

The heady, woody and citrus notes make it a perfect gift for that cool and suave person in your life.

I gave this to my cousin to try and he said it evoked the scent of a chic menswear store!

Amy's partner also loves the Molton Brown Black Pepper Single Wick Candle 180g - he calls it his 'man candle'.

2. Molton Brown Lily & Magnolia Blossom Shower Gel.

What:

• This bath and shower gel is inspired by the Cornish woodlands.

• It's gentle but rich, and cleanses the skin while leaving behind a subtle scent.

• Key fragrance notes include white tea, green mandarin, ylang-ylang and magnolia.

My Molton Brown Lily & Magnolia Blossom Bath & Shower Gel review:

If you love a light, fresh, floral scent that’s not too overpowering, I highly recommend this Molton Brown shower gel.

It smelled heavenly and I only needed a pea-sized amount for a generous lather.

My body smelled so good after drying off, and the scent lingers long after you've hopped out of the shower.

Side note, if you’ve been searching ‘Molton Brown online’ or 'where to buy Molton Brown', you’re not alone.

After seeing it on my Instagram stories, a friend excitedly told me she didn't realise you could buy Molton Brown at Adore Beauty!

She added this shower gel to cart, I know she won’t regret that decision.

3. Molton Brown Heavenly Gingerlily Hand Wash.

What:

Molton Brown Gingerlily Hand Wash 300ml

• This Molton Brown hand wash is scented with notes of peach, tuberose, plum and cedar.

• The gel forms a light lather that won't strip the skin.

• Molton Brown Gingerlily Body Lotion 300ml is a matching hand cream and body lotion enriched with macadamia and abyssinian oils.

• Key fragrance notes in this lotion include: ginger, cardamom, tuberose, plum, peach and musk.

My Molton Brown Heavenly Gingerlily hand wash review:

I LOVED this scent in both the body lotion and the hand wash.

Every time I washed my hands with this, I would let out an "ahhhhhhhhhhhhh".

The non-greasy body moisturiser feels rich in texture (but also fancy rich). I'll be keeping both of these in the bathroom for when guests come around.

Or when I'm feeling bougie.

Shop these Heavenly Ginger products here:

4. Molton Brown Oudh Accord & Gold Bath Oil.

What:

• An opulent fragranced bath oil infused with real 23.5-carat gold flakes fit for a queen.

• Enriched with argan and moringa oils to hydrate, replenish and moisturise skin.

• Key notes of oudh, cinnamon, tea and honey give this oil its spicy, decadent scent.

• Is vegan, paraben and cruelty-free and comes in a recyclable glass bottle.

My Molton Brown Oudh Accord & Gold Bath Oil Review:

I know a bath oil with gold flecks seems excessive, especially when it also comes with an excessive price tag.

But if you wanted to gift a loved one something really, really special they would never buy for themselves, this is it.

I gave this to my bougie aunt to try in her bougie bath and she said it felt as decadent on the skin as it looks in the bottle.

I ran the bath for her and only poured a tiny amount in for the lather you see in the picture.

If you prefer a more floral bath scent, is another pick I've heard great things about.

5. Molton Brown Orange & Bergamot Home Linen Mist.

What:

• A fragranced room spray mist powered with notes of orange, bergamot, neroli and petitgrain.

• Ideal for home and linen use.

• Comes in a recyclable glass bottle with atomiser.

My Molton Brown Orange & Bergamot Home & Linen Mist review:

This is the product that made me feel most like I was staying in a 5-star hotel.

The powerful and indulgent aroma filled the room with just one spritz, and took me back to memories of staying in a very cool and fancy New York hotel.

It's a bit too spicy for me to use every day, but I would definitely spritz to liven up the home or for when guests come over.

Final Thoughts...

So, is Molton Brown good? Yes!

They make excellent gifts, plus I always love to have some bougie bath and home products on hand.

You know, for those times when you've got company, and stash the supermarket soap away and replace with the good stuff.

If you want to buy yourself something bougie or have a thing for beautiful hand washes and shower gels, Molton Brown products are definitely worth the splurge.

Go on. Treat yourself, darling.

For some more bougie and fancy products, check out one of these articles below:

• Sorry, But These Ridiculously Luxe Fragrances Are 100% Worth Their Bougie Price Tags

• A Guide To The Most Extravagant Perfume Bottles You've Ever Seen