It has been found that transparency and water-white appearance of soap bars is improved by adding a fluorescer at selective levels. Disclosed is a transparent soap bar comprising: (i) 20 to 78 wt % total fatty matter; and (ii) 0.003 to 0.5 wt % fluorescer, wherein (i) CIELAB b* value of said bar at 0° viewing and 75° illumination is less than 0; and (ii) color of said bar expressed as Y+5R on LOVIBOND® scale is 0 to 3 and wherein the soap bar includes 0.05 to 10 wt % C2 to C3 alcohol. Also disclosed is a process for making transparent soap bar comprising the steps of: (i) saponification of oils or fatty acids in presence of polyols to get a molten mass, where after complete neutralization, the free alkali content measured as sodium hydroxide is not greater than 0.1%; and (ii) molding said molten mass to get the bar, wherein 0.003 to 0.5 parts fluorescer and 0.05 to 10 parts C2 to C3 alcohol is mixed with said molten mass.