Etsy Keywords, Tags & SEO Guide for selling soap & bath products

Understanding Your Ideal Target Customer

Before you dive into keywords, you need to understand who your target customer, including their needs, desires, and the language they use. Because when you know what they are looking for, you can target them with the same keywords that they would use in Etsy search. Here’s a closer look at your typical customer in the soap & bath products niche:

‍

The typical customer for handmade soap is either a health-conscious individual seeking natural alternatives to commercial products, or a thoughtful gift-giver looking for a beautiful and practical artisan item.

‍

What problems are they trying to solve or desires are they trying to fulfill when searching for soap & bath products products?

‍

They are dealing with skin issues like dryness, eczema, or acne and are looking for a gentle, moisturising soap with natural ingredients that won't cause irritation like mass-market bars do.

This can lead them to search for terms like: organic goat milk soap for sensitive skin

‍

They need a unique and affordable gift for an event like a baby shower, a wedding, or as a stocking stuffer, and want something that feels special, handmade, and useful.

This can lead them to search for terms like: handmade soap wedding favors for guests

soap & bath products is a pretty competitive niche with high demand and high competition, so it's important to use long-tail keywords to niche down and have a better chance of ranking on Etsy.

Top 10 Broad Keywords for soap & bath products Sellers

Core keywords (also known as short-tail keywords) are the broad, popular terms that describe your main products. While they often have very high search volume and competition, they are the starting points for you to build your long-tail keywords for the next steps.

‍

Here are 10 popular broad keywords for the soap & bath products market:

Handmade Soap

This is a cornerstone keyword that signals to buyers your product is crafted in small batches with care, not mass-produced. It's essential for anyone selling artisanal soap on Etsy.

‍

Bar Soap

A fundamental, high-volume keyword that describes the product's core format. It's a broad term that captures a wide audience and serves as a base for more descriptive modifiers.

‍

Natural Soap

This keyword attracts health-conscious buyers who are actively avoiding synthetic chemicals, detergents, and artificial fragrances. It implies the use of plant-based oils and natural ingredients.

‍

Organic Soap

A premium and highly-sought-after keyword that appeals to buyers looking for the highest standard of natural ingredients. It suggests that the oils and botanicals used are certified organic.

‍

Artisan Soap

Similar to "Handmade," this term emphasizes the artistic quality of your soap. It's perfect for visually stunning bars with complex swirls, layers, or decorative tops.

‍

Moisturising Soap

This is a key benefit-driven keyword. It directly targets customers whose primary problem is dry skin and who are searching for a soap that hydrates rather than strips moisture.

‍

Soap for Men

This targets a large and specific demographic. These buyers often look for scents like pine, sandalwood, and citrus, and may prefer soaps with exfoliating properties like charcoal or coffee.

‍

Soap Gift Set

This keyword is crucial for capturing the gift-giving market. It's used by shoppers looking for a curated collection of soaps, often for holidays, birthdays, or thank-you gifts.

‍

Exfoliating Soap

A function-focused keyword for soaps containing ingredients like oatmeal, coffee grounds, or pumice. It attracts customers who want a scrubby bar to remove dead skin cells.

‍

Soap for Sensitive Skin

A very important problem-solving keyword. It targets a high-intent audience looking for gentle, unscented, or hypoallergenic formulas, often containing soothing ingredients like oatmeal or goat milk.

Top Long-Tail Keywords for soap & bath products

While core keywords are important, long-tail keywords are how you can really get found on Etsy. These are longer, more specific phrases (usually 2-5 words) that buyers use when they have a clearer idea of what they want or are closer to making a purchase. They often have lower search volume than broad keywords but higher conversion rates because they target a more specific need.

How to Brainstorm Your Long-Tail Keywords

A systematic way to build long-tail keywords is by adding descriptive modifiers to your broad keywords. Here are the modifiers I recommend:

Style/Aesthetic Long-Tail Keywords

rustic farmhouse pine tar soap
minimalist unscented white soap bar
whimsical dessert soap that looks like cake
botanical pressed flower guest soaps
witchy crystal infused moon soap

Occasion/Use Long-Tail Keywords

baby shower soap favors for guests
custom wedding soap favors
handmade christmas stocking stuffer gift
hostess thank you gift soap set
spa day gift box with relaxing soap

Target Customer Long-Tail Keywords

natural soap gift for mom
exfoliating soap for men's gift set
gentle oatmeal soap for baby
artisan soap for best friend gift
eco friendly soap for vegan friend

Materials & Finishes Long-Tail Keywords

File Type/Platform Long-Tail Keywords

goat milk and honey soap bar
activated charcoal and tea tree facial soap
shea butter moisturizing body bar
french green clay detox soap
himalayan pink salt exfoliating bar

Technique/Production Method Long-Tail Keywords

cold process handmade soap
small batch artisan soap loaf
whipped sugar scrub soap
hand stamped custom initial soap
all natural hot process soap

Feature/Benefit Long-Tail Keywords

zero waste solid dish soap bar
all natural vegan castile soap
unscented soap bar for eczema
acne fighting facial cleansing bar
plastic free shampoo and conditioner bar

Theme/Subject Matter Long-Tail Keywords

ocean breeze sea salt soap bar
coffee scrub energizing morning soap
pumpkin spice fall soap gift
forest scented soap for men
calming lavender and chamomile soap

Size/Shape/Fit Long-Tail Keywords

guest size mini soap sampler pack
large 5oz bath soap bar
soap on a rope for easy shower use
travel size soap in a tin
imperfect soap ends grab bag

Problem Solved Long-Tail Keywords

gentle soap for dry itchy skin
unscented soap for fragrance allergy
clarifying charcoal soap for oily skin
moisturizing shave soap bar
kitchen soap to remove garlic odor

To speed up the process and get even more relevant long-tail keyword ideas, consider using SEO research tools like Alura which you can get a big similar keyword list with information like estimated search volume and demand. Their free plan is pretty generous and you can sign up for free here.

Analysing Best Selling Listing Titles

One of the best ways to improve your Etsy SEO strategy is to see what's working for other successful sellers. By analysing best selling listings, you can gain valuable insights into what effective keywords they use, and how they structure the titles, so that you can apply to your own listings as well.

‍

Let's look at the listing titles from two soap & bath products bestsellers to see what we can learn from them:

Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 01:

Cinnamon Roll Soap - Cinnamon Bun Soap, Iced Cinnamon Bun, Dessert Soap, Fake Food Soap, Baby Shower, Soap Favors, Bun in the Oven Soap by LoveLeeSoaps

This title is a masterclass in novelty and niche marketing. It uses highly specific, descriptive keywords like "Cinnamon Roll Soap" and "Fake Food Soap" to attract buyers looking for something unique and fun. It then brilliantly targets a specific event with "Baby Shower," "Soap Favors," and the clever "Bun in the Oven," ensuring it's found by highly motivated gift-givers.

Bestseller Listing Title Analysis 02

Soap bar | Handmade Soap | Made in New York | soap | natural soap by CONCREATEdecor

This title uses a minimalist, quality-focused strategy. It relies on foundational, high-value keywords like "Handmade Soap" and "natural soap" to attract a broad audience seeking artisan quality. The inclusion of "Made in New York" adds a sense of local, small-batch craftsmanship that appeals to buyers who want to support small, domestic businesses. The pipe separators are a common and effective way to list core keywords on Etsy.

Click here to see more Etsy bestseller title inspirations

How to Use Keywords to Optimise Your Etsy Listings

Now that you have a list of descriptive long-tail keywords for your soap & bath products, let's see how we can use them to optimise your Etsy listings.

How to Craft Highly Descriptive, Keyword-Rich Titles

Your listing title can make-or-break your Etsy SEO. Write your long-tail keywords to be highly descriptive. For example, compare these two:

Okay Title: Oatmeal Soap

‍

Better Title: Handmade Oatmeal and Honey Soap, Gentle Goat Milk Bar for Eczema, Unscented Soap for Sensitive Skin

Then put your strongest, most descriptive keyword in the front. Separate each long-tail keyword with symbols like commas or dashes so that the title is easy to read.

Use All 13 Tags with Specific, Long-Tail Keywords

Tags are another important place to tell the Etsy algorithm what your product is about. Use all 13 tags for your listings.

Focus on specific, long-tail keyword phrases
Tags have a 20-character limit
While it's ok for some broad keywords to appear in multiple tags, try to use a wide variety of descriptive terms across your 13 tags

Find Accurate Attributes & Categories

When you list a product on Etsy, you'll select a category and then be prompted to fill out attributes specific to that category (e.g., colour, material, size, occasion). These are just as important for SEO and helping buyers find your items through Etsy's filters.

‍

Be thorough and fill out as many relevant attributes as possible and be accurate for your product category.

Write Description for Shoppers & Etsy search algorithm

Etsy now uses keywords in your listing description for SEO. What I recommend to Etsy seller is to write compelling short paragraph (1-3 sentences) at the very beginning of your listing description that naturally include 3-5 relavant long-tail keywords for the product. Clearly communicate what the product is, its key features, and the benefits it offers the customer.

‍

Let's look at some listing description examples for soap & bath products:

‍

Listing Description Example 01

Soothe and nourish your skin with our calming Lavender and Goat Milk soap, handcrafted in small batches with all-natural ingredients. Richly moisturizing shea butter and creamy goat's milk create a luxurious lather that cleanses gently without stripping your skin's natural oils. This artisan soap is perfect as a relaxing bath bar before bed or for anyone with dry, sensitive skin.

Listing Description Example 02

Detoxify your daily routine with our powerful Activated Charcoal and Tea Tree facial soap, specifically formulated for oily and acne-prone skin. Activated charcoal works to draw out impurities from your pores while antibacterial tea tree oil helps to clarify your complexion. Use this natural soap bar daily to help reduce blemishes and achieve a clearer, more balanced look.

Listing Description Example 03

Surprise and delight someone with our incredibly realistic donut soap, the perfect funny gift or party favor! This dessert soap looks and smells just like a freshly baked treat, complete with soap frosting and sprinkles, but it's a wonderfully moisturizing glycerin soap bar. It's a zero-calorie indulgence that makes a unique stocking stuffer, birthday gift, or a fun addition to your own guest bathroom.

6 Ways to Find More Keywords for soap & bath products

Keyword research is an ongoing process. I recommend these 6 ways to find effective long-tail keywords for your listings:

Etsy Search Bar

Start typing your core keywords into Etsy's search bar and pay close attention to the auto-suggestions that appear (guide here). These are real searches from actual Etsy shoppers.

Competitor Research

Look at the titles of listings that rank on page 1 (especially those with "Bestseller" badges). Don't copy directly, but use their keyword choices as inspiration for terms you might have missed.

Your Own Shop Stats

Your shop stats show you the exact search terms shoppers used to find your listings. Pay special attention to those that you are not directly targeting, and consider targeting them in listing titles.

Alura

One of my favourite Etsy keyword research tools. Alura speeds up the process of giving you a list of related popular keywords, and analyse which ones are the best for you.

eRank

Another popular tool among Etsy sellers, eRank offers robust keyword tools, trend analysis, grading your current listings, and checking keyword strength.

Everbee

Another great keyword research tool. I especially love Everbee's Chrome extension that shows you the estimated search volume directly on Etsy.

Your soap & bath products Etsy SEO Checklist

Phew, that's a lot of information. Let's do a little recap:

‍

Understand My Customer: Do I understand my target customer and their primary search motivations?
Core Keyword Research: Have I identified the top core keywords for the soap & bath products niche?
Long-Tail Keywords: Have I brainstormed a diverse list of long-tail keywords using various modifiers?
Ongoing Etsy SEO: Am I using at least 2-3 methods (from Section 7) to regularly find new keyword opportunities for soap & bath products?
Optimised Titles: Are my listing titles highly descriptive, front-loaded with strong keywords?
Maximised Tags: Am I using all 13 tags with specific, long-tail phrases?
Compelling Descriptions: Does the opening paragraph of my listing descriptions naturally include 3-5 important keywords and clearly state benefits/features?
Analyse & Improve: Am I reviewing my Etsy stats and competitor listings in the soap & bath products niche regularly to improve my SEO strategy?