Sanatan Soap : Review

Here's a review of a soap, supposedly touted as herbal and spiritual; the name being Sanatan Soap or rather Sanatan Panchamrut soap.

A spiritually inclined friend of my mine gifted me this Sanantan Panchamrut soap.  And yes, it is the same soap manufactured by the controversial Sanatan Sanstha.

Sanatan Soap, claims to be a Indian traditional soap with its promise of pure, chemical-free skincare and with a spiritual significance . But does it live up to the hype? Let’s dive into what unique about this soap and whether it’s worth adding to your routine.

What is Sanatan Panchamrut Soap?

Sanatan Panchamrut Soap is not just another bar of soap; it's an embodiment of the Panchamrut or Panchamrutham and Panchagavya, the 2 sacred blends traditionally used in Hindu rituals.

Or rather, this Natural Ayurvedic soap combines the five natural ingredients of Panchamruta along with Panchagavya. These elements are supposed to enrich the skin, making this soap a holistic skincare solution.

Cow Milk: Known for its nourishing and soothing properties.

Curd: Offers probiotic benefits, helping maintain skin's pH balance.

Honey: Acts as a natural humectant, locking in moisture.

Jaggery: Provides gentle exfoliation and hydration, promoting a brighter complexion.

Ghee (Clarified Butter): Rich in vitamins, offering deep nourishment.

Panchagavya: Ayurvedic texts and anecdotal evidence suggest that Panchagavya has antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. As such Panchagavya soaps are supposedly good to soothe inflammatory skin conditions such acne, boils and other skin conditions as per Ayurvedic practitioners.

Now let’s look into other ingredients mentioned in this soap.

It’s a grade 1 soap with total fat content (TFM) of 78%.

Now what’s this? Besides the ingredients of Panchagavya and Panchamrut, there appear to be certain chemicals like sodium palmate, sodium palm curnlate, TiO2, Triclosan and Tinogard TT.

While some are essential chemicals, others seem not so good or safe.

Sodium Palmate and Sodium Palm Kernelate 

Sodium Palmate and Sodium Palm Kernelate (looks like sodium palm curnlate is a spelling error as printed on the soap bar) are both saponified ingredients used in soap making. Both ingredints contibute to the soap’s basic functionalitity in cleaning, lathering, hardness, moisturizing and texture. These two are generally considered as safe ingredients.

Titanium Dioxide

Titanium Dioxide (TiO2) in soaps primarily functions as a whitening and opacifying agent, giving soaps an appealing, uniform color. It also provides minor UV protection to the soap itself and can contribute to a creamier texture.

Safe for topical use, TiO2 is regulated and approved by bodies like the FDA, though considerations about its environmental and production ethics are relevant.

Triclosan

Triclosan, once common in antibacterial soaps, was banned by the FDA in 2016 for consumer antiseptic washes due to insufficient evidence proving its safety and effectiveness compared to plain soap and water (FDA, 2016).

Concerns include potential hormonal disruption, bacterial resistance, and environmental impact (WebMD, 2016; NPR, 2016).

Although still permitted in some products like toothpaste under specific conditions, its use in soaps is generally considered unsafe due to these health and environmental concerns (Cleveland Clinic, 2022).

Tinogard TT

Tinogard TT, or Pentaerythrityl Tetra-di-t-butyl Hydroxyhydrocinnamate, is an antioxidant used in cosmetics, including soaps, to enhance product stability by preventing oxidation.

It's recognized for its safety, with the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) affirming its use at concentrations up to 0.8% without significant concerns (CIR, 2018).

This compound boasts a low toxicological and ecotoxicological risk profile, making it a preferable choice over other antioxidants like BHT for eco-friendly formulations (BASF, via product descriptions).

Compliance with international cosmetic regulations further supports its safety, ensuring it meets standards for use in personal care products (UL Prospector).

However, like all ingredients, proper formulation to avoid skin irritation is essential.

Verdict about the chemicals in Sanatan Panchamrut soap

Looks like most of the chemicals included in  Sanatan Panchamrut soap (Panchagavyayukta)like Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate, Titanium Dioxide, and Tinogard TT, are generally considered safe for cosmetic use, with each serving specific functions like cleansing, whitening, and antioxidant protection.

However, the inclusion of Triclosan is concerning. The presence of Triclosan in this soap thus raises significant health and environmental safety issues.

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My experience with Sanatana Panchamrut soap

It has cream colour, as you can see from the picture. Also it has a nice fragrance, that’s not too overpowering. Furthermore, it doesn't lather much and is rather kind on my normal to dry skin.

The skin doesn’t become taut after bath as it doesn’t strip the skin dry like many other soaps. It could be suitable for oily & acne-prone skin too (Panchagavya, supposedly has antibacterial and antiseptic properties).

I’ve been using it for more than a week and till now I haven’t any complaints. Neither has it given me any allergy rashes like some other herbal soaps, Medimix, Chandrika etc.

The only concern I have is the presence of Triclosan in its ingredient list. Otherwise, it’s a decent soap with no other concerns.

A 75g bar costs just Rs.28/-  (in 2025). So it’s reasonably priced.

Sanatan Neem Soap Review

I’ve used their Sanatan Neem Soap too, long ago when I used to get pimples. This soap’s good too. I remember having no issues with this soap and it was not at all harsh on my skin.

This soap has neem and Tusli as the chief ingredients which have antiseptic and antibacterial properties and hence this soap is most suitable for oily and acne-prone skins. But it might work well on normal to dry skins too. It costs only Rs 25/- (in 2025)

### Pros of Sanatan Panchamrut Soap

Goodness of natural ingredients like Panchamrut and Panchagavya.

Doesn’t strip the skin dry after bath.

No strong, overpowering fragrance.

Non-allergic, at least for my skin.

Affordable and budget-friendly.

Spiritual Satisfaction. It helps in the integration of daily hygiene with cultural practices.

### Cons of Sanatan Panchamrut Soap

Presence of Triclosan which has health and environmental concerns and is banned by FDA. This is its biggest con. I hope they remove this ingredient and substitute it with some other safe ingredient in future.

Limited Availability. Depending on your location, it might be challenging to find in local stores. It’s not even available from their online site. Check here.

Also their soaps are not available on online stores like Amazon and Flipkart also. There are some products by another brand called Sanatana, which are available on Amazon, but they are not the same ones manufactured by Sanatan Sanstha.

Scientific Perspective of Panchagavya

If you have concerns about Panchagavya, read this:

Limited Research: Most claims about Panchagavya’s skincare benefits are rooted in tradition rather than modern science. For example, cow urine’s antimicrobial properties have been studied in labs, but results are mixed and context-specific.  

Safety Concerns: Raw cow dung/urine can carry harmful bacteria (e.g., E. coli) if not processed properly. Modern Panchagavya skincare products (like soaps or creams) are often sterilized or fermented to mitigate risks.  

Cultural Sensitivity: Panchagavya holds sacred significance in Hinduism, so its use in skincare may be controversial for some.  

In Conclusion

While I did like Sanatan Panchamrut Soap, I have concerns about it including Triclosan as one of its ingredients. So I may not consider buying from this brand again.

If you've tried Sanatan Panchamrut Soap or other variants of Sanatan soap like Ashtagandha, Panchagavyayukta Ubtan, Tusli, Chameli etc.  share your experience in the comments below!

[Updated on February 6, 2025]