The Evolution of Soap

The First Soap

When you think of your favorite soap bar, liquid soap or gel you may think of its wonderful scent, luxurious lather or smooth texture on your skin. However, the soap of centuries past was not quite like the soap of today. Soap was first produced by the Ancient Mesopotamians through a process that is similar to the soap making process that we use today. This process is called saponification. Saponification is the process of mixing animal fats or oils with sodium hydroxide (Lye) which causes a reaction that produces what we know as soap. The Mesopotamians combined animal fats with water and a lye like substance derived from wood ashes. This combination resulted in an oily smelly gloob that could remove dirt. This was a far cry from the solid, scented soap bars, liquid soaps and gels that we use today.

Hygiene Before Soap

During ancient times, soap was not used for human hygiene, rather it was used to clean materials such as cotton and clothing. Instead, people would use plain water to bathe and sometimes sand or mud was used as an exfoliant. Depending on their location and financial status, some would also use scented water or oils to further remove dirt and odor from the body. Over time, people began to realize that the consistent use of soap could remove impurities and reduce the spread of illness or disease. Due to this realization, the demand for soap began to greatly increase causing a mass production until World War I.

The demand for soap was high, however, the materials used to make soap became scarce and new processes of soap making was invented with the use of synthetic by products. The addition of these synthetic materials to soap making helped in classifying soap as "synthetic detergents" which has become the standard labeling of soap within the soap industry to this day.

Natural Soap

Although many of our commonly used soaps today are classified as "synthetic detergents" there is an increasing number of plant-based skincare companies that are aiming to bring natural soaps with natural ingredients to mainstream society. Evolution Now Health & Wellness certainly strives to provide natural skincare for natural skin health with our products. They say cleanliness is next to godliness.