Pine Tar Natural Bar Soap
Campfire Classic with Real Dermatology Heritage
Verified reviewer
Pros & cons.
- +Only Dr. Squatch bar with genuine folk-dermatology heritage and functional actives
- +Real pine tar, colloidal oatmeal, and activated charcoal — not just scent
- +Mild silica exfoliation helpful for keratosis pilaris and rough body skin
- +Distinctive smoky campfire scent for people who love woodsy fragrance
- +Traditional pine tar soap users find it effective for mildly itchy skin
- +Long-lasting scent throw that holds for hours post-shower
- +Plastic-free kraft paper packaging
- −Scent is polarizing and unsuitable for fragrance-sensitive environments
- −Alkaline pH still too harsh for active eczema or compromised barriers
- −Silica grit may be too much for daily use on sensitive skin
- −Pine tar and charcoal can stain light-colored washcloths
- −Pregnancy caution — some guidelines recommend avoiding pine tar topicals
The full review.
Pine tar soap predates Dr. Squatch by over a century. General stores and pharmacies sold commercial pine tar bars in the late 1800s for itchy, flaky, scaly skin—conditions now called eczema and psoriasis—and for the rough, bumpy, keratinized skin of farmers, soldiers, and outdoor workers. Pine tar was the standard. It smells like a wet campfire, turns washbasin water dark grey-brown, and stayed in continuous commercial production for over a hundred years because it worked. When Dr. Squatch launched in 2013 and chose Pine Tar as a founding bar, it did not invent a new concept. It took a folk-dermatological tradition and added modern branding, viral YouTube marketing, and a cold-process build quality that many old-school pine tar brands lost over the decades.
This heritage distinguishes this bar from the rest of the Dr. Squatch catalog. Most bars focus on scent, using cold-process formulation as a secondary feature. Pine Tar reverses this. The smoky campfire scent is the headline and the most polarizing fragrance in the brand’s range; users either love it or dislike it. Underneath the scent is a multi-functional body bar: pine tar for its folk-dermatology history, colloidal oatmeal to soothe and reduce itching, activated charcoal for adsorptive cleansing, and silica sand for moderate physical exfoliation. This is not a scent vehicle with decorative actives. This bar performs functions.
Pine Tar works best on rough body skin. Keratosis pilaris—the chicken-skin bumps on arms and thighs affecting 40 to 80 percent of the population—responds to gentle physical exfoliation, moisturizing lipids, and mild soothing actives. This bar performs those tasks. The silica grit buffs hardened keratin plugs without aggression, while pine tar and oatmeal reduce mild irritation. A shea butter and olive oil base prevents the skin from feeling stripped. Users with keratosis pilaris, back acne, or rough skin on elbows, knees, shoulders, and feet often report visible smoothness after one or two weeks of consistent use. This is not a miracle cure—keratosis pilaris has a genetic component and no topical fully resolves it—but it provides a real, tactile improvement.
The scent is the most distinctive feature of this product and dictates whether people repurchase it. Pine tar has an intense, smoky, woodsy, campfire-meets-wet-forest profile that lingers on the skin hours longer than any other Dr. Squatch bar. If you like the smell of a wood-burning stove or a campfire, you will likely subscribe. If you dislike smoky scents, work in fragrance-sensitive environments, or have a partner who dislikes a forest-fire smell in the bathroom, skip this bar. Pine Tar is never subtle. That is the trade-off.
There are honest limitations. The cold-process pH is alkaline. Even with oatmeal and pine tar, this does not substitute for medical treatment of eczema or psoriasis; consult a dermatologist if you have an active flare. The silica grit may irritate sensitive skin or thin skin areas if used daily. Pine tar stains light-colored washcloths and tints shower water. Some pregnancy guidelines suggest avoiding pine tar out of caution, so expectant mothers may prefer a different variant. These are not dealbreakers, but they are important facts.
The value of Pine Tar differs from the rest of the Dr. Squatch catalog. At $7 per five-ounce bar, the price matches other scents, but it delivers more: multi-functional actives with dermatological heritage rather than just scent in a cold-process base. Compared to a dedicated pine tar soap from a traditional heritage brand, the price is similar and the formulation is arguably better. For users seeking relief from rough or itchy skin, this bar provides more value than most other scents in the lineup.
Who is this for? People with keratosis pilaris, back acne, rough body skin, mild itchy patches, or a love for smoky campfire scents. Outdoor types, winter sports enthusiasts, and those who prefer a gritty exfoliating bar. Users wanting a body bar with functional actives beyond shea butter and kaolin. Who should skip? Anyone with very sensitive skin or active eczema who needs to consult a dermatologist first. Anyone who dislikes strong scents. Pregnant users cautious about pine tar. People sharing a shower with a fragrance-sensitive partner. For everyone else—especially those with rough body skin—this is the Dr. Squatch bar that does more than smell good.
Who Should Buy
People with keratosis pilaris, back acne, rough body skin, mild itchy patches, or a love for smoky campfire scents. Outdoor types, winter sports enthusiasts, and those who like a gritty exfoliating bar. Users seeking a body bar with functional actives beyond shea butter and kaolin.
Who should skip?
Anyone with very sensitive skin or active eczema who should consult a dermatologist first. Anyone who dislikes strong scents. Pregnant users cautious about pine tar. People sharing a shower with a fragrance-sensitive partner.
Formula
Ingredient analysis.
Full INCI list · pH 9.5
Saponified Oils of: Elaeis Guineensis (Sustainable Palm) Oil, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut) Oil, Olea Europaea (Olive) Oil; Butyrospermum Parkii (Shea) Butter, Pinus Palustris (Pine) Tar, Pinus Sylvestris (Pine) Leaf Oil, Avena Sativa (Oat) Kernel Meal, Sand (Silica), Charcoal Powder, Kaolin, Sea Salt, Fragrance (Natural)
Skin match.
The science.
The Science
Pine tar has a long history in dermatology and evidence for treating itchy, flaky, and mildly inflamed skin. A 2008 review in the American Journal of Clinical Dermatology assessed pine tar's anti-inflammatory and anti-pruritic effects. It concluded that while modern randomized controlled trials are limited, its long history and in vitro data on phenolic constituents support traditional use for seborrheic dermatitis, psoriasis, and chronic itch. Pine tar is chemically distinct from coal tar. High-concentration occupational exposure raises concerns for coal tar, but pine tar (derived from pine wood through destructive distillation) lacks similar risks in rinse-off consumer products. Colloidal oatmeal is an FDA-monograph skin protectant. Its avenanthramide and polysaccharide content provides documented anti-itch and soothing effects; multiple clinical trials show efficacy for atopic dermatitis symptom relief and general pruritus. Activated charcoal is common in cleansers for its adsorptive properties, but its real-world benefit in a short-contact wash-off bar is modest. Silica sand at this particle size provides moderate physical exfoliation without the micro-tearing concerns linked to harder particles like walnut shell. The essential oil fragrance includes pine oil (with limonene and alpha-pinene) and natural fragrance compounds containing standard fragrance allergens. This means the bar isn't a sensitive-skin choice despite its traditional dermatological positioning. Overall, this formulation is one of the few cold-process men's bars on the market with ingredient-level credibility beyond marketing copy.
Dermatologist Perspective
Pine tar soap has a long traditional role in dermatology, though its place in modern evidence-based treatment is more limited than 50 years ago. Dermatologists still occasionally recommend pine tar-containing products as an adjunct for patients with chronic itchy conditions like seborrheic dermatitis, chronic simple pruritus, or mild keratosis pilaris, especially for patients preferring natural approaches or those who failed first-line treatments. For active eczema or psoriasis flares, modern prescription therapies — topical corticosteroids, calcineurin inhibitors, JAK inhibitors, biologics — are the standard of care; self-treating with a bar soap is generally not recommended. For healthy adult skin seeking a functional body cleanser with gentle exfoliation and soothing activity, Dr. Squatch Pine Tar is a reasonable choice, with standard caveats about fragrance sensitivity and the recommendation to follow with a ceramide-based body moisturizer.
Where it fits in your routine.
Wet the bar with warm water and lather it on damp skin or in your hands. Apply to the full body from the neck down. Focus on rougher areas like elbows, knees, shoulders, back, and the tops of thighs where keratosis pilaris is common. The silica grit provides gentle physical exfoliation; do not scrub aggressively. Rinse thoroughly. Use dark-colored washcloths to avoid staining. Store on a draining soap dish between uses. Follow with a ceramide-rich body moisturizer, especially on exfoliated areas.
At $7 per 5-ounce bar, Pine Tar costs the same as other Dr. Squatch variants but offers more functional value. The pine tar, oatmeal, charcoal, and silica blend works for more than just scent. Pine Tar is cheaper or equal to traditional pine tar soap brands that sell similar products for $8-12 per bar. It remains a premium option compared to drugstore body wash. For users with rough skin, keratosis pilaris, or mild itchy conditions, the value is higher than for scent-only variants. For users seeking the smoky fragrance experience, value depends on scent preference.
This bar works for people with keratosis pilaris, rough body skin, mild back acne, or chronic mildly itchy skin who want a functional cold-process bar with real dermatological heritage. It suits fans of smoky, woodsy, campfire-style scents seeking long-lasting fragrance. Outdoor enthusiasts and users who value the traditional pine tar soap tradition will like it.
Consult a dermatologist for proper treatment if you have active eczema or psoriasis flares. Use this if you are fragrance-sensitive or have partners who dislike smoky scents. Pregnant users may prefer to avoid pine tar. People with very sensitive or thin skin that cannot tolerate mild physical exfoliation should avoid it.
Product details.
Thick cold-process bar with visible dark color, gritty exfoliation, and a dark creamy lather
Old Forest Growth — smoky, woodsy pine tar smells like a campfire and wet forest
Recycled kraft paper box, fully plastic-free
The scent is smoky and woodsy, like a campfire, before the bar even gets wet. Charcoal and pine tar create a grey-brown foam. Silica sand adds a mild, noticeable grit that most users adjust to quickly. This scent lasts longer than any other Dr. Squatch bar and stays for hours after a shower.
3-4 weeks with daily full-body use on a draining soap dish
12 months
fall winter
The backstory.
Pine Tar was one of Dr. Squatch's founding bars and the one most responsible for putting the brand on the viral-ad map in the mid-2010s. The pine tar soap tradition itself goes back over 150 years — commercial pine tar soaps have been sold since the late 1800s for use on itchy, flaky, or irritated skin, and it was a staple in general stores and pharmacies long before the modern 'natural soap' category existed. Dr. Squatch's version is a modernized take on that heritage.
About Dr. Squatch
Established Brand (5–20 years)Pine Tar is one of Dr. Squatch's founding bars, produced since the brand launched in 2013. Dr. Squatch is not a dermatologist-developed brand, but pine tar soap has a long history of folk dermatological use for eczema and psoriasis. This history gives the formulation category traditional credibility.
FAQ.
What is pine tar soap good for?
Pine tar soap has a long history in folk dermatology for itchy, flaky, or mildly inflamed skin. Modern users find Dr. Squatch Pine Tar helpful for keratosis pilaris (rough bumps on arms and thighs), back acne, and rough body skin. Pine tar, colloidal oatmeal, and mild silica exfoliation provide multi-functional value beyond the scent.
What does Pine Tar soap smell like?
It smells like a campfire. The scent is smoky, woodsy, and evokes a wet forest or a wood-burning stove. This is the most polarizing scent in the Dr. Squatch lineup; users either love it or dislike it. There is no middle ground. The scent stays on skin for hours after a shower.
Can I use Pine Tar soap for eczema?
Traditional pine tar soap has folk-medical history for eczema, and some users find it helpful for mild flares. However, this is still a cold-process bar at an alkaline pH, which can be counterproductive for actively compromised skin. If you have eczema, check with a dermatologist before trying this — prescription treatments or syndet cleansers may be more appropriate.
Is Pine Tar soap safe?
Yes — pine tar (distinct from coal tar) has appeared in consumer soap for over a century. It has no documented cancer risk at typical cosmetic concentrations in rinse-off products. Main safety concerns include fragrance allergy, contact dermatitis from pine essential oils, and pregnancy (some sources recommend avoiding pine tar during pregnancy out of caution — check with your doctor).
Will the dark color stain my washcloth?
It can. The pine tar and activated charcoal transfer to light-colored washcloths, especially new ones. Use a dark washcloth to avoid this, or lather the bar directly on your skin. The color rinses off skin completely.
Can I use Pine Tar soap during pregnancy?
No strong evidence opposes it, but some obstetricians suggest avoiding pine tar topicals during pregnancy because of phenolic compound absorption concerns. If you are pregnant and want to use a Dr. Squatch bar, Cool Fresh Aloe is a safer default.
What the community says.
"Helps with keratosis pilaris and bacne"
"Distinctive smoky campfire scent"
"Effective for rough body skin and back"
"Traditional pine tar benefits in a modern bar"
"Scent is polarizing — either love or hate"
"Grit can be too aggressive for some skin types"
"Dark color can stain light washcloths"
