Brits stunned after discovering sticker on Imperial Leather soap has hidden use
When you ask someone to picture a bar of soap in their minds, chances are they'll be thinking of one branded with the familiar red and gold stamp reading 'Imperial Leather'.
It's the bar of soap which nobody can ever recall actually buying but, for some inexplicable reason, we all end up owning at some point in our lives.
Supposedly inspired by the scent of Russian leather - whatever that smells like - these trusty beige soap bars are considered the 'old faithful' when it comes to giving your hands a good wash every time you visit the bathroom.
But why does every bar comes with a branding sticker stamped on the top? — And why is it impossible to remove?
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If you've ever managed to use a bar of Imperial Leather all the way until the end then you'll probably notice the sticker hangs around until the very last vestige of soap has been lathered on dirty hands.
Granted, it's not the sort of conundrum which will keep you up at night, but many have wondered about the reason behind the Imperial Leather sticker on social media.
"If the relationship isn't as strong as that sticker on Imperial Leather soap I don't want it," one person even joked on Twitter, summing up the sticker's ability to remain attached to your soap bar through thick and thin.
Fortunately for us, Imperial Leather has in-fact been kind enough to share the reason why all soap bars come with the familiar sticker stamped across the top.
And it turns out we've all been storing our soaps completely the wrong way around.
Grab your nearest bar of Imperial Leather soap (which is probably gathering dust in your grandparent's bathroom) and you'll notice the stamp is deliberately designed to sit above the rest of the bar.
This is because we're meant to store the bar upside down on the side of our bathroom sinks, with the sticker acting as a mini soap dish.
"Besides the brand identity, the sticker on the top is for a long lasting bar and preventing mushiness," a spokesperson for Imperial Leather explained to MailOnline back in 2023.
"When the soap is used, the sticker will make and keep the top surface, where the sticker is on, concave.
"After use, the soap is supposed to be upside down. The concave surface will help water run out from the bar and minimise the touching surface on a soap tray."
Of course, this isn't an Earth-shattering revelation, but it would appear Imperial Leather should be chucking in some instructions which its soap bars, as many people were unaware of the function.
"That makes perfect sense, I've been an imperial guy for years and never thought of that so I just went and 'flipped my soap' and it works, thanks," commented one person on a Reddit discussion about the soap.
The more you know.
Brenna Cooper