Wash your hands in style.

Since hand-washing has become the national pastime, we set out to find Chicago’s top soap shop. Meet Merz Apothecary, the Lincoln Square shop that’s been selling natural lotions and potions since 1875 and stocks over 700 specialty soaps, most of which aren’t household names.

Sure, good old Ivory still does the trick. But if you want to shake things up — think Dr. Theiss Naturwaren’s Marigold Soap, Icelandic moss soap, Spanish fig, and nutmeg wash bar or Hungarian paprika soap — Merz is the place for you.