A little Soap History
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The ancient craft of soap making has been handed down through-out the ages. Babylonian tablets, BC 2000 describe a substance involving animal fat and ash for cleaning. The Egyptians were fixated on cleanliness and bathed up to 4 times a day, used a scented paste consisting of vegetable oils, clay with alkaline salts for washing and treating skin diseases. Biblical and Roman text also describe a soap like substance made from tallow and ashes.
As the Silk Route that bridged East and West opened, the most important trade items of Aleppo was their unique soap, manufacturers for thousands of years. Some of these soaps are still produced today!
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It wasn't until 18th century French soap-makers patented a easier method of making lye and developed finer quality, perfumed soaps using vegetable oils such as Olive and Lavender oil. These luxurious soaps' were exported world wide.
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​As the Soap Industry was gaining momentum in England, it became classed as a luxury item thus heavily taxed. Sadly, soap wasn't affordable across society. Early 1900, British medical profession highlighted the necessity of personal hygiene to keep infectious disease at bay, slowly, hygiene and cleanliness standards began to improve.
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Historically, soap was a course affair, made by combining animal fats, saved for months with wood-ash water. This fatty acid/alkaline solution produced a fatty acid salt we call 'Soap'. This 'Soap, although functional at removing dirt and grime, may have been caustic and would not have smelled pleasant.
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​Although our ancestors could not have foreseen it, soap became our most effective defence against invisible pathogens. A drop of ordinary soap diluted in water is sufficient to rupture and kill many types of bacteria and virus.
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World War as resources became scarce, scientists created a new form of 'Soap' made with synthetic compounds, 'Modern Detergents' were born, commercial mass produced soap came into existence.
These bars are actually detergents aren't permitted to be called 'Soap'. If you see a soap called 'Body bar, or 'Moisturising bar it isn't actually real soap.​​​
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Happy Soapers ~ Just add water!
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