Clear Soaps
Klar Seifen (Clear Soaps) is Germany's oldest soap manufactory, founded in 1840 and headquartered in Plankstadt, producing 185+ certified vegan, palm-oil-free solid personal care products — soaps, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants — via DTC e-commerce, four retail stores, and B2B contract manufacturing for conscious consumers and cosmetics brands across eight European countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1840
- HeadquartersPlankstadt, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Clear Soaps does
Klar Seifen GmbH (legal entity), operating under the brand Klar Seifen and referred to here as 'Clear Soaps', is Germany's oldest soap manufactory, founded in 1840 by soap master Philipp Klar in Heidelberg and now headquartered in Plankstadt (registered office at Am Ochsenhorn 13). The company produces and distributes a range of 185+ solid-format personal care products spanning hand and body soaps, shower soaps, facial cleansers, solid shampoos and conditioners, deodorant creams, shaving soaps, hand creams, and accessories. Core production technology centers on a traditional saponification process using plant-based oils (with Greek olive oil as the COSMOS-Natural-certified vegan base), refined through a distinctive five-roller milling process — versus the industry-standard three passes — yielding denser and longer-lasting bars; some production still runs on presses and molds dating back 100+ years. The company holds COSMOS Natural, PETA (since 2021), and Dermatest 'sehr gut' certifications and operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Unternehmenspension GmbH (a holding/investment vehicle), with Jan Heipcke serving as Managing Director.
Revenue is generated through four streams: (1) direct-to-consumer e-commerce via the proprietary klarseifen.de storefront, supported by volume discounts (10% for two items, 15% for three), a €35 free-shipping threshold, and a newsletter-driven 10% welcome incentive; (2) four company-owned retail stores in Heidelberg (flagship opened October 2020), Berlin (June 2021), Düsseldorf (May 2021), and Bonn (March 2021); (3) B2B wholesale distribution through partner Village Cosmetics into reformhaus, pharmacies, cosmetics retailers, and bookstore channels (~50+ retail partners), with Ankorstore marketplace used to reach smaller independent retailers; and (4) contract manufacturing (Lohnherstellung) of private-label solid soaps, shampoos, and conditioners for cosmetics brands and startups at minimum 250kg base-mass order sizes with full regulatory compliance support (CPNP registration, safety assessments). Shipping extends to eight European countries — Germany, Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Poland — at a flat €10 international rate. Customer segmentation is horizontal, spanning conscious consumers seeking plastic-free personal care, scalp/skin problem sufferers, gift buyers, traditional wet shavers, and B2B brands seeking certified contract manufacturing.
Clear Soaps firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Clear Soaps
- Legal name
- Klar Seifen GmbH
- Website
- https://klarseifen.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1840
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Klar Seifen (Clear Soaps) is Germany's oldest soap manufactory, founded in 1840 and headquartered in Plankstadt, producing 185+ certified vegan, palm-oil-free solid personal care products — soaps, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants — via DTC e-commerce, four retail stores, and B2B contract manufacturing for conscious consumers and cosmetics brands across eight European countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Clear Soaps industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Natural Personal Care (Solid Soaps and Cosmetics)
- NAICS
- Soap and Cleaning Compound Manufacturing (32561), Cosmetics, Beauty Supplies, and Perfume Retailers (456120)
- SIC
- Soap, Detergents, Cleang Preparations, Perfumes, Cosmetics (2840), Perfumes, Cosmetics & Other Toilet Preparations (2844)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Deodorants & Antiperspirants (CRADANAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Conditioners & Hair Masks (CRABABAB), Nonfood Grocery & HBC Wholesale (Paper, Cleaning, Personal Care) (AFAIABAL)
Keywords
Where Clear Soaps is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Plankstadt
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices5 records
Markets served
Clear Soaps business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce: Primary revenue stream through proprietary online shop (klarseifen.de) selling full product range directly to consumers. Features include newsletter subscription with 10% welcome discount, volume discounts, and free shipping threshold (€35).
- B2B Distribution via Channel Partners: Wholesale distribution to reformhaus (health food stores), pharmacies, cosmetics retailers, unpackaged stores, and bookstores through distribution partners Village Cosmetics and Ankorstore marketplace.
- Contract Manufacturing (Lohnherstellung): Private label manufacturing services for startups and corporations, producing solid soaps, shaving soaps, solid shampoos and conditioners. Minimum 250kg base mass (2,500-5,000 units depending on weight). Services include logo embossing, custom mold building, packaging support, and regulatory compliance assistance (CPNP, safety assessments).
- Retail Store Sales: Revenue from company-owned retail stores in Heidelberg, Berlin, Düsseldorf, and Bonn, offering full product range plus in-store experience.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single item standard pricing |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Volume discount bundle - 2 items |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Volume discount bundle - 3 items |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Gift boxes and sets |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Premium care soaps |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Clear Soaps product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Klar Seifen manufactures and sells solid-format natural personal care products—including hand and body soaps, solid shampoos and conditioners, deodorant creams, facial cleansers, shaving soaps, and hand creams—primarily direct-to-consumer through its own e-commerce shop and four retail stores in Germany. The company additionally offers B2B contract manufacturing (Lohnherstellung) of private-label solid soaps, shampoos, and conditioners for brands and startups. All products are vegan, palm-oil free, plastic-free, and certified under COSMOS Natural and PETA standards, made using a five-roller milling process and traditional recipes dating back to the company's founding in 1840.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Solid Soaps (Feste Seifen) Solid-format bar soaps across multiple sub-categories (hand, body, shower, bath, facial, care, fragrance-free, classic/retro), made using plant-based oils, alkaline solution (lye), and a five-roller milling process; offered to environmentally conscious end consumers and via specialty retail.
- Solid Shampoo and Conditioner Bars Plastic-free solid shampoo and conditioner bars for daily hair washing, including specialized anti-dandruff formulations using mild surfactants (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate) and active ingredients (Piroctone Olamine, Zinc PCA, Panthenol); targeted at conscious consumers and people with scalp concerns.
- Kopf.KLAR Anti-Dandruff Solid Shampoo 100g solid shampoo formulated for dandruff, itchy scalp, and oily scalp using a coconut-oil-based mild surfactant (Sodium Cocoyl Isethionate), Piroctone Olamine for Malassezia yeast control, Zinc PCA for sebum regulation, and Panthenol for moisture; priced at €15.00 (€150.00/kg) and backed by dermatological testing.
- 3-in-1 Feste Dusche Kardamom & Limette Solid 3-in-1 care product (100g) for hair, face, and body with cardamom and lime fragrance, built on a mild surfactant base (rather than traditional soap) so it can be used across all three zones; targets travelers and minimalists seeking a single plastic-free product to replace multiple liquid personal care items.
- Deodorant Cream (Deocreme) Solid deodorant creams sold in aluminum tins (e.g., Lemongrass 65ml at €19.80), formulated as a plastic-free, natural alternative to aerosol and roll-on deodorants; targeted at environmentally conscious consumers seeking effective daily odor protection.
- Hand Cream Hand creams positioned as a complement to the company's hand soaps, providing moisturizing care in line with the brand's natural, sustainably packaged product ethos.
- Shaving Soaps and Shaving Products Traditional wet-shaving solid soaps (Rasierseifen), complementary aftershave and eau de toilette, and shaving accessories/sets (including women's shaving products), serving consumers practicing classic soap-and-brush shaving and seeking sustainable alternatives to disposable razors and canned foam.
- Facial Cleansers Solid facial cleansing bars formulated for normal, dry, blemish-prone, and sensitive skin, designed as a plastic-free alternative to bottled facial cleansers within the company's natural personal care range.
- Gift Boxes and Sets (Sets & Geschenkboxen) Pre-curated gift boxes and sets combining multiple soaps, shaving, or care products for gifting (e.g., Geschenkbox Damen €32.80, Geschenkbox Rasur schwarz €109.00, Duschseifen Set €35.00 was €44.00); positioned for special occasions and corporate gifting.
- Contract Manufacturing / Private Label (Lohnherstellung) OEM / private-label manufacturing of solid soaps, shaving soaps, solid shampoos, and solid conditioners for startups and corporate brands. Minimum order 250 kg base mass (2,500–5,000 units depending on bar weight); production capacity of 3,000–100,000+ units per run. Services include logo embossing, custom mold building, packaging support, and EU regulatory compliance (CPNP registration, safety assessments).
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% of customers rate Kopf.KLAR anti-dandruff shampoo 4-5 stars (based on 29 reviews)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Clear Soaps
Customer profileSegments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Clear Soaps technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Clear Soaps partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Village CosmeticscoreB2B distribution partner handling wholesale to reformhaus, pharmacies, cosmetics retailers, and bookstores. Contact: www.village-cosmetics.de, [email protected], Tel: +49 (0)821/27 28 0-0.
- AnkorstoreminorMarketplace platform connecting Klar Seifen with smaller independent retailers. Enables smaller shops to stock products easily.
- Edel NaturwarenminorPartner manufacturer providing complementary products such as Aloe Vera Gel, recommended for post-shaving care after using Klar Seifen products.
- Heimat DistillersminorCollaboration producing specialty soaps: Ginseife (Gin soap) and Rumseife (Rum soap) combining soap craftsmanship with spirits branding.
- DHLcorePrimary shipping partner for domestic German deliveries (3-5 days) and international shipments to Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Poland (5-7 days).
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Clear Soaps competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- The Body Shop: Global ethical beauty retailer (owned by Natura &Co) offering natural-ingredient soaps, body care, and personal care across 70+ countries. Comparable as a broader incumbent that overlaps with Klar Seifen's bar soap and natural personal care categories through a much wider retail footprint.
- Natura &Co: Brazilian multinational personal care conglomerate (owner of The Body Shop, Avon, Aesop) with broad natural/ethical beauty portfolio. Comparable as broader incumbent in the natural and ethical personal care space that competes for the same conscious consumer.
Direct peers
- Lush: UK-based handmade cosmetics brand specializing in solid bar soaps, shampoos, and personal care with a strong anti-plastic and ethical-sourcing positioning. Closest direct peer to Klar Seifen given overlapping product formats, sustainability credentials, and direct-to-consumer retail model.
- Santaverde: German natural cosmetics brand specializing in aloe-vera-based skincare and natural personal care with COSMOS certifications. Comparable direct peer given shared German market presence, natural positioning, and specialty retail distribution through reformhaus and natural cosmetics channels.
- Korres: Greek natural cosmetics brand producing natural skincare, body care, and personal care products sold through specialty and pharmacy retail. Comparable on natural ingredient positioning, European specialty retail distribution, and multi-category personal care portfolio.
- Weleda: German-Swiss natural cosmetics brand with similar heritage (founded 1921) producing natural personal care including bar soaps and body care. Highly comparable due to shared German market, natural/anthroposophic positioning, and broad specialty retail distribution.
- Dr. Bronner's: US-based family-owned maker of organic bar soaps and multi-category personal care with strong sustainability and ethical sourcing positioning. Comparable to Klar Seifen on solid-format soaps, sustainability credentials, and family/mission-driven brand building.
- Saponificio Varesino: Italian artisan soap and shaving products manufacturer founded 1945 with traditional craft methods and direct e-commerce. Comparable direct peer on traditional soap-making heritage, bar soap focus, and premium positioning with growing DTC channel.
- Speick: German natural personal care brand producing bar soaps, shampoos, and deodorants with reformhaus and natural cosmetics distribution. Closely comparable direct peer given shared German market, natural/traditional positioning, and overlap in bar soaps and deodorants.
- Dr. Squatch: US-based DTC brand making natural men's bar soaps and personal care with strong sustainability and natural-ingredient positioning. Comparable on solid-format bar soaps, plastic-free packaging, and digital-first go-to-market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Clear Soaps social profiles
Digital presenceClear Soaps financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Clear Soaps leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles1 record
Clear Soaps funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Clear Soaps M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Clear Soaps
What does Clear Soaps do?
Klar Seifen manufactures and sells solid-format natural personal care products—including hand and body soaps, solid shampoos and conditioners, deodorant creams, facial cleansers, shaving soaps, and hand creams—primarily direct-to-consumer through its own e-commerce shop and four retail stores in Germany. The company additionally offers B2B contract manufacturing (Lohnherstellung) of private-label solid soaps, shampoos, and conditioners for brands and startups. All products are vegan, palm-oil free, plastic-free, and certified under COSMOS Natural and PETA standards, made using a five-roller milling process and traditional recipes dating back to the company's founding in 1840.
Is Clear Soaps a public or private company?
Clear Soaps is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Clear Soaps founded?
Clear Soaps was founded in 1840. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Clear Soaps based?
Clear Soaps is headquartered in Plankstadt, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Clear Soaps make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Direct-to-Consumer E-commerce is the primary driver. The others are B2B Distribution via Channel Partners, contract Manufacturing (Lohnherstellung) and retail Store Sales.
Who are Clear Soaps's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are The Body Shop and Natura &Co. Direct peers are Lush, Santaverde, Korres, Weleda, Dr. Bronner's, Saponificio Varesino, Speick and Dr. Squatch.
Does Clear Soaps have an API?
No public API is recorded for Clear Soaps.
What industry is Clear Soaps in?
Clear Soaps's product category is Natural Personal Care (Solid Soaps and Cosmetics). Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRADANAA, Deodorants & Antiperspirants, with a secondary code of CRABABAB, Conditioners & Hair Masks. Its NAICS code is 32561 and its SIC code is 2840.