Birch tar gives the soap its dark colour and its noticeable smoky, tarry smell. During washing, the scent is clearly present, and for many people it is the first thing they notice about the product. After rinsing, the smell on clean skin is usually much weaker and tends to fade fairly quickly, though a faint smoky note may remain for a short while. On hair, the scent can be more tenacious, especially if you use the lather on the scalp and do not follow with a conditioner or a scented hair product. If you prefer a minimal scent, you can still use the soap on the body and then apply your usual body lotion or deodorant, or use it mainly on areas that you rinse well, like hands and feet. Keeping the bar somewhere it can dry between uses helps keep the smell from concentrating in the bathroom. This soap is not meant to be a perfume product; the smoky smell is an expected part of its traditional, functional character.
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