Using quality soap is only a small part of personal hygiene in jiu-jitsu, but it's an important one. I researched and tested the most popular BJJ soaps to find the best options for grapplers looking to protect themselves from skin infections after training.
If we are honest, BJJ and other martial arts soaps are comparable to many other offers on the market but have specific marketing aimed at martial artists and grapplers. Quality BJJ branded products possess the necessary features and high-quality components, but the price tag is a little higher because of the marketing. When choosing a soap to protect you from skin infections, any anti-bacterial, anti-fungal soap with natural ingredients will do the job.
 Best BJJ Soap |  Best BJJ Shower Gel | |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | Gold BJJ Submission Soap | Gold BJJ Submission Body Wash |
| Key Ingredients | Tea Tree Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil | Tea Tree Oil, Eucalyptus Oil, Aloe, Peppermint Oil |
| Size | 4 oz | 12 fl. oz |
| Price | CHECK PRICE | CHECK PRICE |
Key Takeaways
- •Gold BJJ Submission Soap is created for grapplers and ticks all the boxes a good soap should with all-natural ingredients including anti-bacterial oils and incredible scents.
- •Defense Soap is another equally good product well-known among combat sports practitioners seeking infection protection.
- •If budget is a concern, Dove Men Care is a solid everyday option without the premium BJJ price tag.
Best BJJ Soap
Gold BJJ Tea Tree Oil Submission Soap
Perhaps the most popular soap among jiu-jitsu practitioners, which means a lot of people are happy with it for a good reason. Available in three scents, peppermint tea tree, classic tea tree, and activated charcoal, each offers strong and pleasant aromas.
The product is handmade and all-natural in the USA. It contains essential oils with varying concentrations depending on scent selection, though Tea Tree oil is present in all three, which is well known to have anti-fungal qualities.
Additional attributes include vegan, cruelty-free, and GMO-free certifications. The brand offers various pack sizes, with larger quantities providing improved value. This soap suits those seeking high-quality products designed specifically for grapplers.
Pros:
- •All natural ingredients and hand-milled
- •All three scents are excellent
- •Trusted by many practitioners, which is a good testament to quality
Cons:
- •Bars don't last as long as other brands
Best Runner-Up BJJ Soap
Defense Soap
Defense Soap is the oldest and most well-known brand for martial arts soap and could have ranked first, but Gold BJJ offers more jiu-jitsu-specific formulations. The product maintains excellent reputation status across combat sports facilities.
Created with natural ingredients including tea tree and eucalyptus oils, it provides numerous benefits. A significant advantage is its triple-milled construction, guaranteeing consistency and longevity. This durability factor matters considerably given natural soaps' higher pricing. Manufactured in the USA, several scent options exist with slightly varying properties.
Pros:
- •All natural ingredients, including tea tree oil
- •Triple milled for longevity
- •Big packs offer good value
Cons:
- •Not all models are antifungal
Best BJJ Shower Gel
Gold BJJ Submission Body Wash
The same trusted formula combining tea tree oil, eucalyptus oil, and aloe vera found in Gold BJJ's solid soap also appears in their shower gel formulation.
Preference between solid and liquid applications fundamentally depends on individual needs rather than efficacy differences. For those experiencing dry skin post-washing, Gold BJJ Body Wash functions effectively as a moisturizer while maintaining the same antifungal properties as the bar version.
The tea tree and eucalyptus oils combat fungi with equal effectiveness in liquid form.
Pros:
- •The same ingredients as the Gold BJJ Soap
- •Bottle is more convenient to carry
- •Super moisturizing
Cons:
- •Quite expensive for a shower gel
Best Budget BJJ Soap
Dove Men Care Soap
Not everyone can pay $10-15 for a bar of soap, and among conventional alternatives, Dove Men Care represents the optimal choice. While featuring artificial scents and chemical ingredients and lacking BJJ branding, this soap effectively cleanses and deodorizes while providing much better moisturizing effect than other ordinary soaps.
For budget-conscious practitioners, this option delivers satisfactory results.
Pros:
- •Much cheaper than the rest of the options
- •Great moisturizing effect
Cons:
- •Has artificial ingredients
- •Not anti-fungal
Other Notable BJJ Soaps Worth Mentioning
Dr. Squatch All-Natural Bar Soap
Dr. Squatch is a super popular option for an all-natural soap great for grapplers and athletes in general. Marketing specifically targets male consumers, though usage remains unrestricted by gender.
A notable limitation exists: it lacks explicit antibacterial properties, meaning it doesn't contain oils lab-proven to be effective. However, the combination of cypress, lavender, and clary sage oils performs well for skin health. Strong, masculine aromas and pronounced exfoliating qualities effectively eliminate accumulated dirt.
Pros:
- •Only natural ingredients
- •Strong exfoliating factor to easily remove all the dirt away
- •Scents geared towards men
Cons:
- •More expensive than other models on this list
Art of Sport Soap
Art of Sport delivers all-day freshness and has a great scent while maintaining all-natural ingredient standards. Featuring tea tree oil for antifungal action, this formula distinguishes itself through shea butter inclusion, functioning as a moisturizer.
Two variants, Rise and Deify, contain slightly different formulations. The product demonstrates strong Amazon credibility with over 11,000 reviews, ensuring quality confidence.
Pros:
- •Good value for all-natural ingredients
- •Shea butter works well as a moisturizer
Cons:
- •The scent is short-lasting
Botanic Hearth Tea Tree Body Wash
Though not marketed for martial arts or sports specifically, this shower gel contains all essential quality-product components. Main ingredients include tea tree oil for antifungal properties, plus sea buckthorn oil and peppermint.
The compound helps remove unpleasant body odors easier and promotes healthy skin. The Botanic Hearth formula meets ethical sourcing and cruelty-free standards for conscientious consumers.
Pros:
- •All natural ingredients for strong anti-fungal effect
- •Insane amount of positive Amazon reviews
- •Controls unpleasant body odors
Cons:
- •Not BJJ or athlete-branded
How To Pick The Best BJJ Soap
Ingredients
Ingredient quality is the most important aspect of a soap. Natural and organic products are recommended over artificial alternatives.
Common beneficial ingredients include tea tree oil, natural palm oil, olive oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, and aloe vera. Additional components providing exfoliation include activated charcoal. Supplementary ingredients like peppermint, lemon, eucalyptus, goat milk, and cedar add fragrance or moisturization.
Regular soaps contain mostly artificial ingredients, but most people wash regularly with conventional soaps and haven't had many issues. However, during fungal outbreaks at facilities, quality BJJ soap becomes essential protection.
Antifungal vs. Regular
The most important feature of a cleaning product for grapplers is to be antifungal. While all soaps remove dirt and sweat, not all equally combat fungal threats.
Ringworm represents the most prevalent infection in BJJ environments, though more dangerous conditions exist. Antifungal soap use has been proven to have a positive effect, though effectiveness isn't entirely scientifically established.
Liquid Or Solid
The choice between liquid and solid is personal. Solid bars offer direct skin application advantages and extended longevity. Body wash requires sponge application but provides portable convenience for gym settings.
Both formats deliver equal cleaning properties, and that is all that matters.
Jiu-Jitsu Hygiene Fundamentals
Using quality soap is only a small part of personal hygiene in jiu-jitsu. Additional critical practices include:
Shower Before Practice: Showering before class is recommended. If it's not possible to shower, use wet anti-bacterial wipes and clean yourself as best before practice. This simple step could significantly reduce infection transmission.
Shower Immediately After Practice: Shower as soon as you can after practice. Don't let the germs and fungi infect skin irritation. Remove the offenders as quickly as possible.
Use Clean Clothes Every Practice: NEVER use the same clothes twice before washing.
Summary
Gold BJJ Submission Soap is created for grapplers and ticks all the boxes a good soap should with all-natural ingredients including anti-bacterial oils and incredible scents. Defense Soap is another equally good product well-known among combat sports practitioners.
While not mandatory, using natural soaps and body washes is an excellent way to treat your body well after grueling training sessions.