KAKIORA Japanese persimmon soap, 3-bar pack

Where to buy persimmon soap in New Zealand: pharmacies, Trade Me and online

Japanese persimmon soap, also called kaki soap, is made with extract of the kaki fruit. Its tannins, known in Japan as kakishibu, have a long history there, and many people now reach for persimmon soap as a daily wash because of nonenal, the compound associated with the musty smell some people notice on skin and bedding from middle age. So where can you buy it in New Zealand? On 7 October 2026 we searched the websites of the main pharmacy chains, supermarkets and marketplaces. Here is what we found.

Pharmacies

We searched four pharmacy websites: Chemist Warehouse, Life Pharmacy, Unichem and Bargain Chemist. None of them listed a persimmon soap.

  • Life Pharmacy and Unichem: no products for "persimmon soap" or "kaki soap". Searching "persimmon" alone showed only a herbal supplement and, at Life Pharmacy, a men's fragrance.
  • Bargain Chemist: no products for "persimmon soap", "kaki soap" or "persimmon".
  • Chemist Warehouse: "persimmon soap" and "kaki soap" returned ordinary soap bars, none with persimmon in the name. "Persimmon" on its own showed fragrances, a nail polish and a supplement.

Online ranges don't always match what each store carries, so if you would rather buy in person, ask your local pharmacist.

Woolworths and Farmers

Woolworths' online shop found no results for "persimmon soap" or "kaki soap", and a search for "persimmon" showed only fresh pears. We could not check Farmers: its website showed us an error page instead of search results, and a web search limited to farmers.co.nz found nothing for persimmon soap. If you want to be sure, check the Farmers website or ask in store.

Trade Me

On Trade Me, persimmon soap does turn up. A search for "persimmon soap" returned 55 results, nearly all in the Health & beauty category and all from marketplace sellers. Many of the bars we looked at had no brand name. "Kaki soap" returned no results. Each seller sets its own shipping and returns, so read listings carefully.

Amazon

Amazon has the widest choice. On Amazon.com, with the delivery location set to New Zealand, "persimmon soap" returned more than 400 results from many brands and sellers. Some listings were marked "Ships to New Zealand" and others were not, so check delivery before you add anything to your cart.

How to choose a genuine persimmon soap

Wherever you buy, and especially on marketplaces, a few checks help:

  • Look for persimmon extract, usually listed as Diospyros Kaki, in the ingredients. A soap that only smells of persimmon won't contain it.
  • Make sure the full ingredient list is shown, or ask the seller for it.
  • Pick a lightly scented bar. Strong fragrance covers a smell rather than washing it away.
  • Check the seller's name, contact details and returns policy.

Buying KAKIORA direct

KAKIORA Japanese persimmon soap is a gentle cleansing bar with Japanese persimmon (kaki) extract, coconut-derived cleansers and glycerin. The full ingredient list is on the product page. Used daily, it helps wash away the oily residue that carries the smell. We sell it on our own website and deliver to New Zealand. Prices in New Zealand dollars:

  • One-time purchase: 2 bars NZ$73.24, 3 bars NZ$89.52 or 6 bars NZ$125.57, plus NZ$5 flat delivery.
  • Subscription, 14% off: 2 bars NZ$62.99, 3 bars NZ$76.99 or 6 bars NZ$107.99, with free delivery every 4, 6 or 8 weeks. Skip or cancel any time.

Orders ship within 2 working days, and you will see the delivery estimate at checkout. Every order is covered by our 60-day money-back promise.

How long does a bar last?

About two weeks with daily use. A 6-bar subscription therefore covers around 12 weeks, which works out at about NZ$18 a bar, or roughly NZ$9 a week, with free delivery.

Before your first bar arrives

That musty smell also settles into fabric. Wash pillowcases, sheets and shirt collars regularly and let your bedding air out. Our guide to getting nonenal out of clothes, sheets and pillows has the full routine.

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