Added: 01/26/2006 |
Amusing facts about ordinary things. What you did not know about soap historyNowadays soap has become part of our everyday lives. Thousands of soap products are known, which help us not only stay clean, but also look appealing, cheerful and successful. It is amusing that soap history dates back to early days of civilization, and that 150 years ago, soap could be the most precious present for a birthday.
Soap history began several thousands years ago. The Romans were the first to mention it in their records. They knew how to make soap, and interestingly, were aware of recipes for both solid and soft soap, which are known to us as bar and liquid soap. The Romans not only washed faces and bodies with soap, but also used it for hair-dyeing. They learnt it from Gaels who traditionally had long hair and used oil and coloring ingredients to make their hair look beautiful. As the Gaels bathed and swam, they noticed that the substance began to foam in water. That was the discovery of earliest soap. Until the mid nineteenth century, however, soap remained very expensive. So, even kings could not use it frequently, to say the least of the common people.
The modern soap history began almost two centuries ago, when people learnt to produce cheaper soap. Most soap was made by using the animal fat called tallow, though sometimes vegetable fat was used. Soap produced from tallow was less expensive and contained elements which allowed to manufacture more soap from less amount of fat. Soap produced from vegetable fat was softer and could be used for cleaning as well as softening the skin.
As already mentioned, both bar and liquid soap were known already in the Roman times. Bar soap contains a higher amount of alkali; therefore, it is not recommended for sensitive skin, as it may damage the thin protective skin layer. Liquid soap was re-invented at the end of the twentieth century. It cleans the skin tenderly and can be filled up with healthy ingredients, such as vitamins, or smoothing elements. Besides, it has become common to add aroma oils to the soap, which makes showering more pleasant and invigorating. Aromatic additives often include aromatic oils of tea tree, citrus, bergamot, mint, sage, rose, and geranium. And most frequently used oils include coconut and palm oil. The coconut oil has a softening and moisturizing effect on the skin. Modern soaps also include shower gels, which can be used as soap, shampoo, and a detergent (e.g. to remove stains from your favorite silk dress).
The latest invention in soap history is a hand-made soap. It cleans skin especially tender and is rich in nutrients. Besides, it can be shaped in beautiful forms. Today, it is not uncommon to find nicely wrapped soap in gift shops. The history thus repeats itself, often making soap a dear present for a birthday.
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