I Splurged on This Fancy Italian Dish Soap from World Market — And It’s Worth Every Penny
Imagine you’re wandering through an orange grove in central Italy on a warm spring day, with the fragrance of citrus and orange blossoms wafting through the air. Nice, right? That’s exactly how I felt when I tried out this fan-favorite Deruta Orange Blossom Dish Soap from World Market. Much like an Italian vacation, it’s not cheap — a 21.5-ounce bottle costs $8, twice as much as my usual Dawn Ultra — but it’s worth every penny. Let me tell you why.
Let’s start with the most obvious part: Have you ever seen a dish soap, or any cleaning product, that comes in a prettier package? The design is inspired by the Italian town of Deruta, a hillside escape along the Tiber River known for its distinct style of ceramics called majolica. Now, I’m not a big fan of cluttered countertops, so I normally tuck my cleaning supplies in the cabinet beneath the sink (dish soap included). But this eye-catching dish soap has lived on my counter, right next to my sink, for a few weeks — and it sparks so much joy that I momentarily forget about the growing pile of dishes lying right next to it.
Onto the scent: The orange blossom scent is subtle and not perfume-y, but you can definitely pick up on the fragrance when you’re doubling down on dishes. If citrus isn’t your thing, it also comes in a rosemary mint option. I don’t mind the smell of Dawn (or really any other regular dish soap), but before finding this Italian soap, I never made the connection that choosing a product I actively liked could transform my dish-washing experience. (Standing at the sink now feels like an aromatherapy session!)
Time to talk efficiency! I didn’t know what to expect when I tried the Deruta soap on my dishes. I’m used to powerful, grease-fighting cleaners like Dawn Powerwash. Honestly? This Italian soap does the job and did it well on everything I washed with it. Wine glasses were sparkly, dinner plates showed no sign of last night’s tomato sauce, and even a greasy pan looked good as new (and without a ton of elbow grease).
For baked-on food, I’ll still use Dawn Powerwash because, let’s be honest, it’s magical. And yes, this stuff is not inexpensive. But for smaller jobs throughout the day (a quick wash of a plate and fork after lunch, for example), I’m finding it’s a nice little treat. Which brings me to my last point: This soap would make for a wonderful gift. Bring it as a hostess gift, a housewarming gift, or a “hey, I haven’t seen you in more than two years” gift.
Do you have a favorite dish soap you are in love with? Tell us in the comments below.