HISTORY OF THE SOAP

22 July 2008

Origin of the soap covers with numerous secrets and enigmas. According to all available data, soap was produced in the ancient Sumer and Babylon (about 2800 BC), and Egyptian papyrus is the evidence of the fact that Egyptians washed with the soap. There is a legend which tells us that the appearance of the soap and the word «soap» is connected with the mountain Sapo. It is the mountain where in Ancient Egypt animals were sacrificed. Near the piedmont people washed their clothes in the river Tiber. Animals’ fat which exuded during sacrificing, accumulated and mixed with ashes from the pile and then rains carried it into the river. Due to this water in the river began foamed and cleaned the clothes better.

People were very attentive and noticed that their clothes became cleaner and washed easier. In this way semi-fluid substance «sapo» were created and used 4 thousand years ago. It is interesting that people paid attention to cosmetic qualities of the soap but not hygienic. Sticky, easily dried mixture was used for hair-styling. Besides, this mixture made possible to color hair in yellow, red or pink. When water touched this mixture dense foam was formed immediately and during washing the hair became clean and silky.
Scythian women made washing powder from the cypress and cedar wood and then mixed it with water and incense. So they got soft aromatic ointment and rub with it their bodies. This ointment made skin clean and smooth. But even though the soap was already created most peoples continued to use lye, legume flour, glue, pumice, clay.

Discovery of the hygienic qualities of the soap joined with antique doctor Galen who lived in the second century AD. After collapse of Holy Roman Empire the custom of washing was lost and soap was forgotten for many centuries. In France and England the soap appeared again only in XIII century but was produced only by skilled druggist and only for noble families.

And only in 1424 the production of solid soap started in Italy. The fats joined with natural soda ash, which was extracted from lakes. It was used beef, mutton, pork, horse fat for soap boiling. Various vegetable oil were also added – linseed, cotton-seed, almond, sesame, coconut and palm oils.

Many centuries ago soap-boiling appeared in Russia where people were very tidy and liked to go to bath-house and steam room. At first soap was boiled at homes and in the workshops, but then – in the soap-boiling factories.
In the middle ages there were main soap suppliers – among them – Naples and Marseilles. In the course of time many people learnt how to boil the soap. The attitude to this craft was very serious. In 1399 in England king Henry IV established the order which had special privilege – washing in the bath-house with the soap. In this country people who made the soap were forbidden to spend the night with other masters in order not to let out a secret. In the XVII century in France the king issued royal decree, which let the soap boiling only in summer and only from ash and olive oil.
In Russia the production of soap started at the times of Petro I, but till the middle of XIX century only noble people could use it.

Little by little the process of soap-boiling became perfect. The factory way of soda ash and hydrate of sodium getting was discovered and made soap producing cheaper.
The production of modern toilet and laundry soap is automatic process. Now there are o lot of aromatic addition and disinfection means. Most soap qualities such as water solubility, foam formation, washing ability, disinfection and moistening depend on its composition. Various dyes and natural products make the soap soft, aromatic, give it medicinal and moistening characteristics revitalize and take care of the skin.

Ancient Romans even couldn’t imagine the production of liquid, glycerin, peeling soap is possible. Today the variety of aromatization meets all consumers’ wishes. Lavender, sandal wood, mandarin, peach, grape, almond, honey and other natural components give satisfaction and good emotions. It is a great pleasure taking a shower to breathe in delicate aroma of favourite flowers and fruits.

Today in the production of soap every fantasy can be realized!


 

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