If you happen to have stumbled into the ads for Dr. Squatch soap products, there’s a decent chance you’ve been at least slightly offended.
The company has faced scathing criticism for the so-called “bro culture” that they represent and the extreme gender stereotypes that come with it.
And in many ways these ads harken back to attitudes from the last century that feel dated, to say the least.
The ads are omnipresent on both YouTube and TikTok, and it’s hard to listen to a podcast without running into the Dr. Squatch controversy.
They say any publicity is good publicity in the ad game, so it’s unlikely they’ll be pulled or peter out any time soon.
But what about the products themselves? Are they legit, or is it all about creative marketing that happens to be offensive?
Let’s take a deeper dive into some of the issues that are involved, and we’ll help you make a call if you’re considering them.
The Product Plusses and Minuses
Bro culture aside, Dr. Squatch soaps are supposedly all about being natural.
They’re free of chemicals, irritants and preservatives, and they can be used by bros—and others, presumably—of all skin types.
They also feature a variety of unique scents, and potential buyers can use something called a “Squatch Quiz” to figure out which soaps and scents will suit them best.
The marketing angle rolls on with a “Sudisfaction Guarantee” on all the company’s products (that’s “satisfaction” for the non-bros, of course).
And there’s free shipping for all US subscribers, plus a 15 percent discount for all subscribers on the company’s site.
One of the most amazing aspects of the Dr. Squatch brand is the sheer number of products the company offers.
The product line also includes shampoo, conditioner shower boosters, soap savers, soap grippers, shaving products, beard oils and colognes, and candles and gifts (no, we’re not making that last one up).
These are luxury products, so if you’re considering becoming a Dr. Squatch devotee, make sure you have the budget for it.
Where to buy Dr. Squatch soaps?
Dr. Squatch Customer Reviews & The Downside
Roll through some of the reviews for Dr. Squatch products, and much of what you’ll see feels too good to be true.
There are literally hundreds of reviews for many of the products, the soaps especially, and everyone is rated at least 4.5 out of 5.
The reviews include comments like “Ever since I started using this my wife can’t stop running her fingers through my hair,” and many of the other reviews are glowing to the point where they basically just draw and eye roll.
Which leads to the real downside of the products. Reviews aside, there are some red flags about these products that should raise serious concerns.
Chief among them is the fact that the company is not accredited by the Better Business Bureau (BBB), which in fact gave the company an F rating.
And there’s more. Squatch has a rating of just 2.45 on TrustPilot.com, and there are many reviews that contain complaints about deliveries, which may be the key to the BBB and TrustPilot ratings.
Dr. Squatch Exposed: Scam or Legit?
What better way to examine the “scamminess or legitness” of Dr. Squatch than to look at what their soap is made of.
In all honesty, the brand is open about everything that goes in the soap, except of course how it’s made (or where).
However, one ingredient that cuts across their bar soap line is the sea salt and other exfoliating properties.
This means that the soap can help turn over dead skin cells faster as long as you shower with warm to mildly hot water.
For anything hard like greasy or for killing germs, Dr. Squatch soaps won’t do much. So, you’ll need stronger, and probably harsher liquid soap or detergent for that.
And that’s another plus for the bar soap, it’s gentle for the skin and makes for an excellent daily soap.
The Natural Argument
The soaps are advertised as being natural, even though it contains certain ingredients that are mildly unnatural, for lack of a better word.
Take palm oil, for example, which the soap contains. It is mainly used as a moisturizer, to block moisture from escaping from the skin and to keep the skin soft and supple.
It’s sustainable, quite alright. The problem with the use of palm oil is that either it is fabricated or sourced from the forests, which means deforestation among the rapidly going unrest around deforestation, climate change, and habitat degradation.
But that’s beside the point.
The Nice Scent
Most of the bar soaps smell nice and there are even more popular scents a lot of people can’t do without like the Pine Tar, Bay Rum, Cedar Citrus, and Gold Moss.
But the question is, “is it worth it?”
Looking at the price, you can be sure you’ll pay close to ten dollars for each “little bar” of soap that might not last you more than a few weeks if you have good showering habits.
However, there are plenty of similar soaps with exact same ingredients but bigger and cheaper. One of the most popular, and often linked to Dr. Squatch is The Soap Guy.
I compared the two here. The Soap Guy has basically the same identical soap to Dr. Squatch, same ingredients, almost the same nomenclature, package and all. It’s cheaper and bigger.
Why then the difference in price?
Quite a few users, I’ve read dozens of reviews, note that though they’re almost identical, the scent and overall experience are different between The Soap Guy and Dr. Squatch.
Also, Dr. Squatch is well recognized and has better brand recognition, thanks to big marketing spend over the years.
One theory is that the inflated cost of the soaps is for covering the huge marketing expenses. A cursory look at the annual account of Dr. Squatch often looks dim too.
Huge expenses and not a profitable year at least for the last year.
So, to answer the question, legit or scam? Obviously, this brand isn’t a scam in the sense that they sell you a pipe dream or what’s different from what they advertise.
It’s legit quite alright. But are there cheaper alternatives? You can be sure. In fact, I have a big post showing you lots and lots of alternatives here.
Is it a Marketing Scam?
Quite a number of people seem to think that Dr. Squatch is a marketing scam. I don’t think so. If I’m being marketed to, I have to be a dimwit or skunk to buy without thinking.
Yes, I know all the copywriting tricks so I have to want something before buying. And you know why I linked to cheaper alternatives up there?
Because if you don’t like Dr. Squatch, what stops you from going for alternatives?
Another thing to address is how the soap itself is made.
Dr. Squatch might actually have a trick up their sleeve, substituting things like triglycerides, and sodium hydroxide with weaker substances or even deliberating leaving out important ingredients that makes their soap useless basically.
I understand if anyone wants to bash the company for selling overpriced soaps. But to say the soaps are useless in absolute terms is not right.
People generally love the soaps, only complaining about the price or the fact that it doesn’t last long.
Go read a few Reddit posts or check some videos on YouTube bullying the company and you’ll understand what I’m saying.
Dr. Squatch Complaints
If you review rating sites, you’ll generally find that those complaining converge on two points. Dr. Squatch bar soaps are too small for their price.
And they don’t last a month if you shower twice daily. Well, most people only do so a day but I don’t think that’ll mean much difference.
Is Dr. Squatch worth buying? Yes, they make good soaps. It won’t last long like Duke Cannon or Bearsville or Dove. For me though, I think they’re worth it if you can afford them.
Does Dr. Squatch have a money-back guarantee if you don’t like it? Yes, get in touch with them before 30 days and get your money back.
I think this is where most critique should focus on. If they don’t stand up to their guarantee, then that’s a scam and obviously worth taking up with the company.
Not complain that it’s expensive when everyone can always choose to buy or pass.
The Verdict
So should you go with Squatch products?
Ridiculously glowing reviews aside, there’s nothing wrong with them aside from the pricing, so if you’re a fan and you have the budget there’s no reason not to at least try them.
But the BBB and TrustPilot ratings are huge red flags that should definitely deserve your attention.
It’s incredibly rare for a legitimate company to post a combination that bad, so you should definitely factor that into your final decision.
Up Next: Dr. Squatch Alternatives