Global Lather: Exploring Traditional Soaps from Around the World

It's quite weird how a simple bar of soap can tell the story of a culture. As a soap maker, I love learning about these traditions because they’re not just about cleanliness; they’re about history, community, and culture. Before modern chemicals and mass production were a thing, people used what they had to create beautiful and effective soaps that passed the test of time.

Let's take a journey across the globe and discover the rich heritage behind some of the world’s most iconic traditional soaps.

Aleppo Soap: Syria’s Ancient Green Gold

Aleppo soap is considered as the oldest soap in the world, Aleppo soap has been made in the ancient city of Aleppo, Syria, for thousands of years. Its recipe is a symbol of simplicity: pure olive oil, bay laurel oil, water, and lye. The process is a long one, often taking months. The soap is cooked slowly in large cauldrons, hand-cut, and then left to dry for up to a year.

Its Specialty? The high olive oil content makes it incredibly moisturizing and gentle, while the bay laurel oil gives it a clean, subtle scent and antiseptic properties. When you look at an authentic bar, you'll see its distinctive, two-toned appearance: a golden brown exterior from aging and drying, and a beautiful olive green interior.

Cultural Significance: For centuries, the craft of making Aleppo soap has been passed down from one generation to the next, with recipes and techniques remaining largely unchanged. It is a symbol of resilience and a core part of Syria's economic and cultural timeline.

Nabulsi Soap: Palestine's Timeless Creation

From the city of Nablus, Palestine, comes another olive oil marvel: Nabulsi soap. It is much like its Syrian cousin, being known for its purity and simplicity. It's made with just three ingredients: virgin olive oil, water, and lye. The process involves boiling these ingredients in large copper vats, a technique that has been used for centuries.

Its Speciality? Nabulsi soap is recognized because of its exceptional purity and is famous for its almost non-existent scent and ivory color. It’s incredibly gentle and ideal for people with sensitive or dry skin. For many, its minimalist nature is its greatest strength.

Cultural Significance: Nabulsi soap is more than just a product; it is a source of income and a cherished family tradition in Nablus. Even UNESCO has recognized the tradition of Nabulsi soap-making as part of humanity's Intangible Cultural Heritage, engraving its place in the world.

African Black Soap: The Ancestral Lather

African black soap, known by various names like dudu osun in Nigeria and Alata Samina in Ghana, is a renowned soap. The ingredients and process can vary by region, but the core remains the same: it's made from the ashes of locally harvested plants like plantain skins, cocoa pods, or palm tree leaves. These ashes provide the natural lye needed for the soap-making process. The ashes are then mixed with a blend of natural fats like shea butter, coconut oil, or palm kernel oil.

Its Speciality? Unlike the other soaps on this list, African black soap is often a soft, crumbly paste, but it also comes in bar form. Its dark color and unique texture come from the plant ashes. It is rich in iron and vitamins A and E, making it a powerful cleanser that is great for acne-prone skin and can even help with conditions like eczema.

Cultural Significance: The creation of African black soap is tied to West African communities, with the craft often being passed down from mothers to daughters. It's a souvenir of the ancestral knowledge of the people who created it.

Marseille Soap: The French Institution

Originating in the city of Marseille, France, this soap is a cornerstone of French tradition. Authentic Marseille soap, or Savon de Marseille, is made in the Marseille region and follows a strict, traditional process involving cooking olive oil in a large cauldron. The final product must contain at least 72% vegetable oil, a fact often clearly labeled on the bar.

Its Speciality? Marseille soap is incredibly versatile. It’s gentle enough for sensitive skin and babies, yet powerful enough to be used for household chores like laundry and cleaning. Its pure, hypoallergenic nature and lack of added fragrances or colorants make it a practical and eco-friendly choice.

Cultural Significance: The Savon de Marseille is a creation of French craftsmanship and heritage, and holds a lot of significance in French history and culture.

These traditional soaps are living proof that the best things are often those made with natural ingredients, time-honored techniques, and a lot of heart.

You can watch a video of Nabulsi soap being made in Palestine here.

Let us know in the comments any traditional soap stories you may know of!

Happy Soap-Making and Free Palestine!

Soap for the Home: A Guide to a Cleaner, Simpler Life (Room-to-Room Edition)

Today, overconsumption is a pressing issue, and as we examine our own homes, we realize that we have far more items in our cabinets than we actually need. At that point, you feel like your cleaning cabinet is about to burst. You have a spray for the kitchen, a foam for the bathroom, and a separate bottle for the floors... it can all get a little overwhelming. What if I told you that a single, humble bar of soap (or two) could replace most of that cluttery mess?

It’s true. The world of natural, handcrafted soap has expanded far beyond just what you use in the shower. By understanding the properties of different soaps, you can simplify your cleaning routine, save money, and make your home feel less chemically cluttered, and even indirectly contribute to the environment this way!
Ready to get started? Let’s take a tour of your house, one bar of soap at a time.

The Kitchen:

The kitchen is where the magic happens, but it’s also where the grease and grime love to hang out. For this area, you need a soap with a lot of degreasing power.

What to Look For: A soap bar high in coconut oil. Coconut oil is known for creating a big, bubbly lather and is excellent at cutting through stubborn grease. Look for a soap specifically labeled for dishes or kitchen use.

How to Use It: Keep a solid soap bar by your sink on a good-draining dish. To wash dishes, simply rub your wet sponge directly on the bar until it lathers up. You can also make your own liquid dish soap by grating a portion of the bar and dissolving it in hot water. It's a great zero-waste way to get your dishes sparkling clean.

The Bathroom:

In the bathroom, the focus shifts from fighting grease to caring for your skin. You'll want two different kinds of soap here.

For the Shower: Go for a moisturizing bar. Look for soaps rich in nourishing oils like shea butter, avocado oil, or mango butter. These ingredients leave your skin feeling soft and hydrated, not tight and stripped. But if you love a gentle scrub, look for soaps with natural exfoliants like oatmeal and coffee grounds.

For the Sink: A gentle hand soap is key. Since you're washing your hands multiple times a day, you want something that cleans effectively without being too harsh. A simple, creamy olive oil-based Castile soap is a perfect choice here. It’s mild enough for the whole family, and the best part is, you can even craft your very own bar.

The Laundry Room: 

This might sound like a boomer thing, but using a solid soap bar for laundry is an incredibly effective and affordable hack.

How to Use It: Keep a laundry bar next to your machine. For stubborn stains on clothing (like grass or a food spill), just wet the stained area, rub the bar directly onto the spot, and then toss the item into the wash as usual. The soap will help lift the stain right out. You can also make your own DIY laundry detergent by grating a bar of soap, mixing it with borax and washing soda, and storing it in an airtight container.

The Guest Room: 

When you have guests, you want to make them feel welcome and pampered. This is where soap can be less about function and more about creating a welcoming experience.

What to Look For: Choose a soap that is as pleasing to the eye as it is to the nose. A beautifully crafted, small bar with a delicate, calming scent like lavender, rose, or chamomile is a perfect choice. Place it on a decorative dish with a fresh towel. It's a small, simple detail that speaks volumes about your hospitality.

The All-Purpose Hero: 

If you're looking for one soap to rule them all, the answer is hands down: liquid Castile soap. Its versatility is unmatched. You can use a small amount for a natural floor cleaner, a surface spray, or even to wash your fruits and vegetables.

A Simple DIY All-Purpose Cleaner:

• 1 tablespoon of liquid Castile soap

• 2 cups of water

• A few drops of your favorite essential oil (like lemon for a fresh scent)

• Mix it all in a spray bottle. Done!

By choosing the right kind of soap for the right job, you will not only simplify your cleaning closet but also bring a new sense of intention to the products you use every single day. Go ahead and give it a try. You might be surprised at just how much a simple bar of soap can do.

Happy soaping!

Castile vs. Glycerin Soap: Which One is Right for You?

Have you ever found yourself in the soap aisle, or searching online, staring at a dozen different labels and feeling a little lost? You see words like "Castile," "Glycerin," "hand-milled," and "natural," and it can all start to feel like a foreign language. 

Which one should I choose?

Today, we're going to get to the bottom of two of the most popular types of natural soap out there: Castile soap and Glycerin soap. Let's explore what makes them unique, how they’re made, and most importantly, help you figure out which one is the perfect fit for your skin and your home.

Let's go!

Castile Soap: The All-Purpose Wizard

Think of Castile soap as the old-school soap. Its history goes all the way back to Spain, where it was originally made with olive oil, and that's its defining feature. Authentic Castile soap is made from plant-based oils, with olive oil being the star ingredient.

Why Is It So Beloved?

• Gentle and Hypoallergenic: Since it’s made from a single, simple oil, it’s incredibly gentle. It’s a fantastic choice for people with sensitive skin, allergies, or even babies.

• Multi-Purpose: Castile soap can be used for anything! You can find it as a liquid or a bar, and people use it for everything from a body wash and shampoo to a household cleaner and even a natural dish soap. 

• Environmentally Friendly: Since it's made from biodegradable plant oils, it's an excellent choice if you’re trying to be more green.

The one thing to remember about Castile soap is that it doesn't create a big, bubbly lather like many commercial soaps. Instead, it has a rich, creamy lather that feels incredibly silky. It’s a different experience, but one that many people grow to like once they try it.

Glycerin Soap: The Moisture Magnet

Now, let's talk about Glycerin soap. This one is often known for its clear, translucent appearance, which is pretty cool to look at. Here’s the big secret: all soap, even Castile, naturally contains glycerin.

Glycerin is a humectant, that’s a fancy word for an ingredient that attracts and locks moisture into your skin. In commercial soap-making, this valuable glycerin is often removed to be sold for other purposes (like lotions). But with Glycerin soap, the maker keeps that glycerin right where it belongs. Sometimes, they even add more!

Why Is It So Popular?

• Super Moisturizing: This is the show stealer. If you have dry, thirsty skin, Glycerin soap is your best friend. It helps prevent that tight, stripped feeling you sometimes get after a shower.

• A "Clean" Feel: The rich, moisturizing lather rinses off easily, leaving your skin feeling clean and soft.

• Great for DIYers: Because it's often sold in a melt-and-pour base, it's super popular with hobbyists who want to add their own colors, scents, and fun shapes without dealing with lye.

The only real downside is that because it's so good at attracting moisture, a bar of Glycerin soap can get a little soft and mushy if you leave it in a puddle of water. Make sure to use a good draining soap dish to help it last longer!

Quick Comparison

	Castile Soap	Glycerin Soap
	Olive oil and other plant-based oils	Natural glycerin (which is in all soap) is left in or added back.
	Creamy, low-to-medium lather	Rich, often bubbly lather
	Sensitive skin, allergies, babies, all-purpose cleaning	Dry skin, moisturizing, fun DIY projects
	Opaque, off-white to yellowish color	Often translucent or clear

So, Which One Should You Choose?

The answer really comes down to what you need.

• Choose Castile Soap if... you have very sensitive skin, you want a truly multi-purpose cleaner for your home, or you're looking for the simplest, most minimalist ingredients possible.

• Choose Glycerin Soap if... your skin is on the dry side, you want a luxurious and moisturizing lather, or if you’re a DIY enthusiast who wants to easily create your own custom bars.

In the end, you can't go wrong with either. Both offer a natural, gentle, and effective way to clean that’s miles away from the harsh detergents found in many commercial products. The best part? You can always have both on hand and use them for different purposes. Explore to your heart's desire.

Happy washing!