The Botanical Soap Guide: Choosing & Caring for CYN-SILK No.03 and No.04

Quick Decision Answer: Both CYN-SILK No.03 Nourishing Botanical Soap ($24, 100 g) and CYN-SILK No.04 Ink Jade Cleansing Soap ($24, 100 g) are multi-purpose solid botanical cleansers crafted for face, body, and hair, housed in reusable laser-engraved aluminum tins with zero synthetic hardeners or synthetic fragrances. Choose No.03 Nourishing if your skin or scalp leans dry, tight, or delicate and you prefer a cushiony, conditioning finish. Choose No.04 Ink Jade if you have an oilier T-zone or scalp, or want a crisper post-workout and summer cleanse.

Side-by-Side Comparison: CYN-SILK No.03 vs. CYN-SILK No.04

1. CYN-SILK No.03 Nourishing Botanical Soap ($24, 100 g)

If commercial bar soaps have ever left your cheeks or arms feeling taut and chalky, CYN-SILK No.03 Nourishing Botanical Soap was formulated to change your relationship with solid cleansing. By retaining natural plant glycerin and conditioning oils during slow saponification, No.03 creates a silk-like lather that respects your lipid barrier.

• Verified Customer Experience:

  "The wash leaves my skin feeling comfortable and soft, without the tight feeling I associate with many bar soaps." — Amanda R.

• Ideal For: Daily facial cleansing, dry or sensitive body skin, and gentle scalp washing when paired with CYN-SILK No.02 Flourishing Elixir ($58) on clean, dry hair afterward.

2. CYN-SILK No.04 Ink Jade Cleansing Soap ($24, 100 g)

Inspired by the dark, mineral-rich inkstones of Jiangnan scholars (The Ancient Scholar's Grooming Rituals), CYN-SILK No.04 Ink Jade Cleansing Soap delivers a stronger cleansing feel while maintaining a calm, non-stripping finish.

• Ideal For: Oily-skin routines (with a stronger cleansing feel), humid summer days, clarifying hair and scalp washes, or alternating with No.03 as a seasonal/evening deep cleanse.

3. How to Use Your Botanical Bar Across Face, Body, and Hair

Because both No.03 and No.04 are formulated for face, body, and hair, a single 100 g bar streamlines your shower shelf and travel bag:

1. For the Face: Wet your hands with lukewarm water and roll the bar between your palms to build a fine, creamy foam. Set the bar down on a dry ledge, then massage the foam over your face before rinsing thoroughly.
2. For the Body: Work the lather directly across damp skin from shoulders to feet, breathing in the grounding notes of wet moss and aged cedar before rinsing clean. (Read more: Lather as Meditation.)
3. For the Hair & Scalp: Thoroughly soak hair with warm water. Build rich foam in your hands (rather than rubbing the solid bar rough against tangled hair strands) and massage the lather directly into your scalp with your fingertips. Rinse completely. Once hair is dry, follow with CYN-SILK No.01 Anchoring Mist ($42) in the morning or CYN-SILK No.02 Flourishing Elixir ($58) in the evening.

4. Caring for Your Bar & Laser-Engraved Aluminum Tin

Because we refuse to use synthetic hardeners, our cold-processed bars retain their natural glycerin—which naturally attracts ambient water if left sitting in a puddle.

• At Home: Do not store a wet bar inside a closed tin under a running shower stream. Place the bar on a slatted bamboo, wooden, or ceramic draining dish with open airflow between uses.
• For Travel: Let the bar dry fully after your final shower, pat away any surface moisture with a clean towel, and seal it inside its laser-engraved aluminum tin for compact carry-on packing. (Read our full care guide: How to Keep a Botanical Soap Bar Dry and Lasting Longer.)

Choose Your Cleansing Finish

Both bars produce a dense, creamy lather without synthetic foaming boosters. Choose No.03 for a more nourishing feel or No.04 for a stronger cleansing feel, and keep the aluminum tin for dry storage.

Further Reading in The Jiangnan Journal

• Solid Botanical Bars vs. Liquid Wash: Why Format Matters
• Why We Package Our Botanical Bars in Laser-Engraved Aluminum Tins
• Before Synthetic Surfactants: How Ancient Saponin Cleansers Worked