Most supermarket body washes are, at worst stuffed with sulphates , synthetics and and overpoweringly sweet artificial scents. Or, at best underwhelmingly meh. So, what if we told you that we’d found a Tom Ford dupe that delivers on boujee in a bottle – with the sleek aesthetic of Byredo and the luxe lather of a $136 Tom Ford version for less than $20 at your local Woollies?
Enter Soma – a brand-new, ultra-chic body wash line that’s about to give your top-shelf fragrance favourites a serious run for their money. Created by two ex-Mecca insiders (former Head of Skincare Camille Peressini and Head of New Concepts Georgie Gilbert), Soma is the answer to every beauty lover’s fantasy: designer-level body care at grocery store prices.
Born out of what the founders call “post-Mecca discount depression,” Soma was their way of dealing with the tragic reality of no longer having access to luxury body products without the hefty staff discount. Their solution? Build a brand that bridges the gap between bougie and budget. And put it right where we shop the most.
Launching exclusively in 1,000 Woolworths stores across Australia from July 9, Soma comes in three elevated, addictive scents, each inspired by cult-classic fragrances (with price tags to match). The sleek bottles are a vibe, the formulas are nourishing and gentle, and the scents? So good they might make you forget to rinse off.
Meet the lather-ly lineup
Amber & Jasmine
This radiant, skin-clinging scent is a luminous blend of golden amber resin, creamy sandalwood, and delicate jasmine petals. It’s inspired by none other than Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s Baccarat Rouge 540 Shower Gel – a $136 indulgence for 350mL. Soma’s version is just $18 for a giant 750mL. One sniff and we were in luxury-hotel-in-a-bottle territory.
Almond & Vanille
Comforting and soft like a Sunday morning, this one combines roasted almond, whipped vanilla and creamy tonka bean. Think L’Occitane Almond Shower Oil, but make it modern, massive, and supermarket-friendly. At $18, it’s the kind of body wash you’ll use on a Monday and still feel like you’re floating through Provence.
Vetiver & Cedar
If you’re more into clean, crisp, almost-cologne vibes, Vetiver & Cedar has your name all over it. A fresh take on Byredo’s Vetyver, this unisex-leaning scent blends grassy vetiver with grounding cedarwood for a scent that’s cool, confident, and altogether ready to upgrade your morning routine. Minimalist bathrooms, rejoice.
What makes Soma really stand out isn’t just the scent (although, it’s divine) or the price (did we mention $18?!), it’s the whole experience. These body washes are designed to look as good as they smell – elevated packaging, ultra-generous sizes and a formula that makes your skin feel like it’s been to a spa, not just splashed with soapy water.
In the words of Camille and Georgie: “We wanted to create something that didn’t exist in the grocery aisle – a body wash that feels like a luxury fragrance experience, but lives in your shower, every day.”
So, if you’ve ever dreamed of showering in something that smells like it belongs in a glass cabinet at Mecca – but didn’t want to remortgage your house to do it—Soma is the dupe you’ve been waiting for. It’s your daily dose of dopamine in the form of suds. And a little lather of luxury for a whole lot less.
