Back to Basics: Bar Soap
The centuries old product that's back in style
The history of soap dates back as far as ancient Babylon. Archeologists discovered the ancient Egyptians bathed regularly, mixing animal fats and alkaline salts to create a soap-like substance for treating skin diseases and washing. By the 7th century, soap making was an art across countries like Italy and France, where raw materials were abundant. It wasn't until 1850 that the patented process of making soda ash catapulted American soap making into one of the fastest growing industries. Now it's estimated that 13 billion bars of soap are sold annually in the US. With so many options on the shelves, understanding the ingredients becomes paramount to choosing a bar soap that fits your needs.
Basic soap making requires three key ingredients- fats or oils, water and sodium hydroxide, more commonly known as lye. Fragrances, dyes and other additives can be used to enhance the final product. So let's take a closer look at those key ingredients and how they come together to make this household staple.
Fats and Oils
The first important distinction in bar soap is whether the fat used is animal or vegetable based. Beef tallow is the most commonly used animal fat and can be listed simply as "tallow" or "sodium tallowate" in the ingredients list. Being a by product of the meat industry, it is a readily available and cheap ingredient. Soaps made with animal fats tend to be harder, don't dissolve as quickly and are tough on dirt. But that also means they are tougher on your skin. Generally, it's best to stay away from animal based soaps if you have sensitive, dry skin or contact allergies.
The other fat option is vegetable based. Usually a variety of vegetable oils are used, such as coconut, palm and olive oils, to create a sudsy bar. These soaps are generally softer and gentler on the skin, making them perfect for those with easily irritated skin.
All soaps at Sensorium Emporium are vegetable based, with unscented options available for those with allergies or sensitivities.
Lye
Lye is an absolutely necessary ingredient in soap making. The chemical process that happens between the lye and oils, "saponification," is what creates the soap. The finished product doesn't contain lye as it is transformed into soap. There are two different types of lye- sodium hydroxide for bar soap and potassium hydroxide for liquid soap.
Scents, Colors and Others
Plain soap will do the job but it's just not as fun as a bright purple, lavender scented bar! Soaps scented naturally with essential oils have a multitude of benefits. Other than smelling great, certain essential oils help with a variety of skin conditions, from acne to fungal infections. Soaps scented with fragrance oils tend to be more strongly scented and there are endless options to choose from. However, fragrance oils may irritate those with sensitive skin. Mica powder or liquid dyes can be used to create vibrant colors. Other additives like shea butter or goat's milk can add moisturizing properties. For example, our plain goat's milk bar is our most moisturizing bar soap, with no added fragrance for those with sensitivities.
So what's "glycerin" and why is it in my soap?
Stay tuned for our next post where we'll talk about glycerin, other humectants and their role in keeping skin healthy!
Check out our full list of soaps and ingredients here
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