S...is for
Following on again with Toni's A-Z "a...is for" meme, this week's letter is S
S...is for.....
Soap. And Soapwort. and Soap making.
(Disclaimer: A lot of what you are about to read is taken from the wikipedia
pages and other googled sources).
Soap making history goes back many thousands of years. The most basic
supplies for soap making were those taken from animal and nature; many people
made soap by mixing animal fats with lye.
Today soap is produced from fats and
an alkali. The cold process method is the most popular soap making process
today, while some manufacturers still use the historical hot process.
There are many tutorials and classes available these days for people
wishing to learn to make their own soap, either for their own home use, or to
start a small business.
They are quite popular with those wishing to use a more natural product
free from modern chemicals and artificial fragrances.
Soap and Soapwort
Saponaria is a genus of about 20 species of flowering plants in the family
Caryophyllaceae, native to southern Europe and southwest Asia and commonly
known as soapworts. They are herbaceous perennials and annuals, some with woody
bases.
Soapwort plant, mixed and agitated with water, gave early civilization its
first cleaning agents.
Saponaria Officianalis
I first came across references to Soapwort in the fictional novel "The
Clan of the Cave Bear".
(following slightly edited passage taken from the book)
"Iza dug up the red-rooted pigweed.......and soaproot."
"Finding a round stone she could easily hold in her hand, Iza pounded
the soaproot with water in a saucer-like depression of a large flattish rock
near the stream. The root sudsed into a rich, saponin-filled lather."
"Ayla was delighted when Iza took her hand and led her into the
stream. She loved the water. But after a thorough wetting, the woman picked her
up, sat her on the rock and lathered her from head to foot, including her
stringy, matted hair."
"After a second rinsing in the cold stream, Iza crushed the pigweed
roots together with its leaves and lathered it into her hair. A final dunking
followed, then Iza performed the same ablutions on herself."
The history of soap reaches the most distant reaches of our modern
civilization and the shiny example of such a long journey is Aleppo Soap, a
true relic of an ancient time that bridged millenias and traditions, and
provided a solid foundation for the creation of all modern soaps.
Aleppo Soap originated from the Syrian city of Aleppo, one of the oldest
continuously inhabited cities in the world.
Formula and manufacturing process for this highly prized soap has not
changed over time and it is still today pre-formed in its original form, from olive oil,
sweet bay oil and water mixed with sodium hydroxide (lye), heated and then
left to cool.
Soap is cut from the form, then left to age in the shade for a
minimum of seven months, during which time it will change its colour from green
to its trademark brown.
The exact origin of Aleppo soap is lost in time, with the earliest written
mentions coming from the 8th century AD.
The first recorded evidence of the manufacture of soap-like material dates
back to around 2800BC in Ancient Babylon.
The Babylonians discovered the basic
method of making soap: -fats boiled with ashes and water.
From the 16th century, finer soaps were produced in Europe using vegetable
oils as opposed to animal fats.
Due to a better understanding of the role of hygiene and the promotion of
popular awareness of the relationship between cleanliness and health,
industrially manufactured bar soaps became available in the 18th century.
Andrew Pears began manufacturing a high quality transparent soap in 1789 in
London, which is still available today.
Another well known soaping centre was the Castille region of Spain,
responsible for making the first, hard, white, bars of Olive Oil soap.
Castille
Soap is still available today.
Many soaps of modern times are made following a basic recipe, with
different manufactuers adding their own touches with oils, colours and fragrances.
this one looks like it would be strawberry scented, or perhaps rose.
Other soaps now available are liquid detergents for dishwashing, and liquids and powders for laundering
clothes.
and let's not forget shampoos
My daughter K uses whatever shampoo is on special and always has the softest, shiniest hair I've ever seen.
If I use any-old-brand, I get a head full of straw.
We've certainly come a long, long way from bashing a wet plant against a rock to get lather.
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Funnily, the other day I was surprised to see that transparent Pears soap is still available. I think my father used to use it to wash his hair. Did it smell funny?
ReplyDeleteAt least it didn't come in a plastic bottle that ends up in the dump.
ReplyDeleteMy great grandmother and her bathroom always smelled like Sweetheart Soap. I wonder if it's still manufactured.
ReplyDeleteRiver that is such an interesting post and thank you for the story of soap.
ReplyDeleteI remember Lifebuoy soap and Pears was also a favourite too.
My skin specialist told me years ago not to use too much soap on my face or body as water is the best cleanser.
Andrew; yes it does smell funny. I used it for a while on my youngest but couldn't stand the smell so switched.
ReplyDeleteDelores; way too much stuff comes in plastic bottles. I think bar soaps are just about the only soaps that don't. And laundry powder.
Joanne Noragon; Google it and find out. I've never heard of it.
Mimsie; I remember Lifebuoy soap too. I didn't like it much, nor Pears. I prefer a Castile style soap, which I get from a soap and gifts shop. It comes without any packaging and a per bar price so you buy how many you want.