BATHHOUSE Soapery & Caldarium — Attraction in Hot Springs

Editing my original review as the actual owner responded and explained some of the issues, and we re-visited and the staff was exceptionally helpful and accomodating. They were, however out of my favorite bathsalt again (oatmeal and honey), but I will be back. :)

I’m sad that I’m even having to write this review, but I feel like they need to know. I have been coming to this shop every six months for at least four years now. My in-laws live in Hot Springs Village and I found this shop the first time I came to downtown Hot Springs, and have been coming ever since.

I was immediately in love with this shop the moment I stepped in. My husband even knows it’s tradition now that we make a stop for me at the “bath store”. Their products are quality and I haven’t found another store that I like- although I haven’t really had a reason to look. I mostly buy their bath salts- and they have always had large tubs of each scent so you can smell them. When I first started coming here, the staff was extremely helpful and would tell you about the products and the different combinations that go well together. If you wanted a scent that they didn’t have made up, they would get out their funnel and ask you what size and make it for you right then and there. They would also combine two scents together if you asked, and were happy to do do so. I really liked the sleep and milk together so they would make it for me the first couple of years I went there (if they didn’t have one already made up).

Last October, when my husband and I went to the store- We had an abnormal experience.... we started looking at the bath salts and deciding which ones we wanted and I didn’t see any combo’s made up. I politely found an employee and asked if they would make me up a large sleep/milk mix. She looked at us like we were stupid and said “we don’t do that”. I looked at her surprisingly and very nicely told her that they have done it for years.... she appeared annoyed by this and went to ask another employee about it and the other employee said “oh ya we don’t do that anymore”. I clarified that they can no longer mix to scents together and they again stated “no”. This really turned me off, but I let it go and just bought both scents, along with several other items. We usually spend about 100-150 there.

We came in again this past Saturday, and the owner was there- she has been there a lot of times that we have shopped so we had met her before. She asked us where we were visiting from and was very nice. She even got me a basket to put all my things in. Oatmeal has been my favorite scent thus far and I always get the largest one they have-however this time all they had was two small sizes left. But I didn’t fret because they had a ton left in the large bin up front. So I asked the owner if I could get a large oatmeal bath salt made up and she yelled at an employee in the back to help us. The employee came out and told us that if there were not any then that means they are all out. My husband responded and told her that they did have some in the large jar and asked if they could fill a bottle up from that (like they have always done) and the employee said “no”. Then she said that the big jars were just to smell and that they were “not fresh”. She said they got complaints that it was too loud in the store when they filled up bottles. Okay ...wait -so people complained that it was too loud when they were putting bath salts in a plastic container using a funnel? In a bath store??? She then apologized and told us we could have the last two small sizes. Gee thanks.

I’ve been a very loyal customer to this place and have told several people about it. I’m shocked that they would not try to help out a customer when they have the product in the store! I don’t get it.... It seems like they have gone from a small business with great customer service to the exact opposite. This review is not a reflection of their products but the customer service. I can find another store that appreciates...

I had purchased a room spray last week that gave my family hives. I emailed the soapery no response( until AFTER I'd already wasted my gas driving 45 minutes to HS), and so I called and they said yes I could bring it back, with NO mention of their " gift card" policy, which by the way is not posted up anywhere near or in their business. I paid cash for the spray, so you would think they would do the right thing and refund my cash. WRONG. I had to wait more than half an hour awkwardly while the cashier had to contact someone else, who then had to contact the owner, and took forever to call back,only to say she couldn't get whole of the owner and told the cashier they'd have to give me a gift card, which is basically useless to me, so technically I never really received my money back and was cheated out of 13.80,which I probably could have used for the waste of gas driving there AND back.( by the way this is not a reflection on the cashier who was very sweet and did everything she could within her power...thank you Missy) This review is a reflection of the business, the policies, and whoever creates these policies. DONT shop here if you are not okay with this refund policy. They will not give you your money back. I would have come back and left a great review had I not had this experience, but bc of it I will NEVER go here again. Very weird and terrible policy. What a waste of time. I will spread the word. I do not recommend you spending your hard earned money here bc the policy proves they don't appreciate it. Sad sad, bc I do like the products myself ( despite the fact it gave my hubby hives). The conclusion to this lovely story. I have a husband with hives, a depleted gas tank, and 13.80 less in my wallet. The soapery? They have MY 13.80 AND the product I returned. This was not handled well, and this customer is highly Unsatisfied.**update sent an honest, professional email to regional manager with absolutely no apology in response or acknowledgement of their error. Not in response to this review or the email. ZERO EMPATHY. From now on, I will only go to happy tree health foods on Hwy 7 bc they make whole products, and they treat their customers with empathy. The owner there worked as a waitress for twenty years to save the money to open up her business and she is kind and puts herself in the shoes of her customers. Also metaphysical connection and provenance are great places downtown HS. UpdateThank you for reaching out to me Miss Charlene. I appreciate the explanation and your sincerity, and I can understand where you are coming from. I am still disappointed in the outcome of this situation, and hope that you guys will potentially consider revising your current policy to include an addendum that considers the specific circumstances of each of your customers. Thank you....

I visited this place on a recent trip and loved it. The products are amazing. I still swear that their facial tonic is what’s helped me overcome stubborn stress acne I’ve had for over a year.

It’s unfortunate that many of their products I can’t use. Let me start my saying: I do not have sensitive skin. I’ve been able to use some pretty shady makeup/soaps in the past with no I’ll effects. I picked up a canister of their whipped soap (boss babe) and fell in love with it. However... three weeks and $300 worth of antibiotics and steroids I finally got over a terrible skin infection from it. I did a spot test on my hand after everything had cleared and had some redness and irritation, just to confirm it was the soap and not coincidental. I had picked up some other canisters of whipped soap for friends as gifts and one (I believe her scent was wine something) also had some irritation with the product. A review of the ingredients showed some of the same chemicals (such as DSL) that you find in commercial products. A little disappointing to see a small scale soapery not using more alternative ingredients for the price you pay.

I will still use their face toner because (hallelujah) that stuff is magic. Would still recommend this place because their fragrances...