ICYMI, Mexican fast-casual chain Chipotle announced the drop of their new Cilantro Soap last Friday, as part of their online swag store, ChipotleGoods.com. The soap, which is made of “100% real ingredients,” sold out within a day of its launch, begging the question: why cilantro?
Cilantro is a staple ingredient in quite a few of Chipotle’s cult-favorite foods – in fact, in 2018, the chain purchased nearly 5.5 million pounds of cilantro. Also known as coriander, the herb is a key component of their infamous take on cilantro-lime rice, their addictive guacamole, the marinade for their carne asada, and most of their salsa offerings.
Moreover, cilantro has been at the center of a great internet debate for quite a while: some people love it, while others absolutely can’t stand it. Cilantro is a pretty polarizing ingredient due to a genetic variation in human’s “olfactory-receptor genes that allows them to strongly perceive the soapy-flavored aldehydes in cilantro leaves,” according to Britannica. TL;DR: some people don’t taste herbiness, they just taste soap. So, it almost makes perfect sense that the herb would be an excellent base for an aroma-therapeutic bar of soap.
“Cilantro Soap plays into a larger trend of turning digital moments [such as the Cilantro Twitter debate] into real-life experiences,” said Christ Brandt, the Chief Marketing Officer of Chipotle. “Every Chipotle fan, regardless of which side of the great cilantro debate they’re on, can appreciate this fan-inspired gift.”
According to essential oil company doTERRA, cilantro essential oil has a sweet, herbal aroma that can cleanse the skin while warding off unwanted odors. By inhibiting bacterial growth in your mouth and around your sweat glands, it can also help eliminate unwanted scents.
In fact, herb-based soaps aren’t entirely unheard of: Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day features an aroma-therapeutic line of Basil-scented soaps and detergents; Grove Collective offers a Cedar and Sage scented natural bar soap; and Method Body features a chamomile, starflower, and lavender herbal body wash.
Cilantro essential oil has also been found to aid in healthy digestion while acting as a natural detoxifier for the body when used internally – but don’t eat the soap. Instead, buy the soap, and try out any of Chipotle’s edible products, almost all of which contain cilantro.
ChipotleGoods.com also offers Chips and Guac slides, a burrito-inspired Foil Gym Duffel Bag, shoelaces, and more so that you can get your Chipotle fix while waiting for a Cilantro Soap restock.