Origins of Soap and Why the Resurgence of Artisan Soap Crafting

Ancient Origins

• Babylonians: Around 2800B.C., Babylonians created a rudimentary soap by boiling animal fats with ashes. This was used for cleaning textiles and for medicinal purposes.
• Ancient Egyptians: Used soap-like substances made from animal or vegetable oils mixed with an alkaline salt called "trona".
• Greeks and Romans: The Roman physician Galen recommended soap for medicinal use, and the word "sapo" (soap) appears in the writings of the Roman naturalist Pliny the Elder.

Medieval and Renaissance Periods

• Medieval craft: Soap-making became a specialized craft in Europe with monasteries helping to refine the process.
• Renaissance luxury: In the Renaissance, soap transformed from a basic necessity into a luxury item, often used by the wealthy.
• Marseille and Castile soap: Soap-making centers emerged in places like Marselle, France, and Spain, with the development of high quality soaps using olive oil such as the famous Castile soap.

Industrialization and the Modern Era

• The Industrial Revolution: The 18th and 19th centuries brought the invention of steam-powered machinery and chemical processes that started the mass production of soap.
• Rise of brands: Companies like Lever Brothers (now Unilever) and Procter & Gamble began producing soap on a large scale, making it more accessible and affordable.
• Synthetic detergents: Unfortunately, during World War I, shortages of traditional soap making ingredients led to the invention of synthetic detergents, which are now the basis for most common cleaning and soap products.
• Modern comeback of traditional handcrafted soaps: In recent years, artisan natural soaps have experienced a resurgence in popularity, driven by environmental concerns and the benefits found in handcrafted natural soaps, which are made using traditional methods and containing quality ingredients that offer better advantages to the care of the skin.