The earliest history of soap use goes back to antiquity, although, of course the form of soap at that time very different from today. The Hindus of India used a natural substance with the qualities of soap made from Reeta nut powder. They used this when they bathe every morning, as required in the Ayurvedic way of life. In addition to this, a Babylonian soap recipe on clay tablet dating back to 2200 BC was found containing the ingredients cassia oil, alkali and water. Egyptians also made their own soapy substances mixing alkali salts with vegetable and animal oils.
The history of soap as we know it today started in the Arab world. It was the Arabs who mixed vegetable oils with aromatic oils to make soap. They were also the first people to use lye or sodium hydroxide. According to the history of soap, the Arab’s ancient soap recipe has not changed much and is essentially how commercial soaps are made today.
Traditional soaps made by the Arabs contained fragrances and dyes, just like modern-day soaps. The Arabs made not only hardened soaps but liquid soaps as well as special shaving soaps. A look at the Arab history of soap, one would discover that the “melt and pour” method of soap-making also came from the Arabs as evident in a 13th century soap recipe that detailed the process.
In Europe, the notable part of the history of soap that developed here is the production of Castile soap in the 16th century, which uses only vegetable oil as opposed to animal oil or a combination of animal and vegetable oils.
The modern-day history of soap shows that soap use became widespread in industrialized regions because people understand better the importance of cleanliness e in controlling pathogenic diseases. In the late 19th century, the first commercial bars of soap were manufactured. There were also advertisements of soap shown all around America and Europe to boost the awareness of people about hygiene and health. Around 1950’s, everyone considered soap as essential to personal hygiene.
The commercial history of soap began in the Industrial Revolution. Large scale and high-quality soap production emerged such as the one in late 18th century London by Andrew Pears, whose transparent soaps were known to be of such good quality that he and his grandson, Francis, were able to open a soap factory in Isleworth several decades after the success of their business. Soap powder was introduced to the market by Robert Spear Hudson in 1873. Around 1850s, a fellow named William Gossage was manufacturing good quality but affordable soaps. William and James Lever started what would be one of today’s largest soap enterprises, Unilever, in a small soap factory in Warrington in the late 19th century. These businesses were the first in the history of soap to utilize massive campaigns to advertise their products.
