Brief History of Soapmaking

There are many versions on the history of soap making. A common thread that seems to run through most of the stories involves a certain Sapo hill, washer women and mixing of ash with animal fats.

So here goes...

Based on Wikipedia, the earliest recorded evidence of soap like materials dated back to around 2800 BC in ancient Babylon where a recipe for soap using ash, cypress oil and sesame oil was found.

In addition, a formula for soap consisting of water, alkali and cassia oil was written on a Babylonian clay tablet around 2200 BC. Moving on from there, it was discovered that Egyptian documents mention a soap-like substance used in the preparation of wool for weaving.

A popular belief encountered by some claims that soap takes its name from a supposed Mount Sapo, where animal sacrifices had supposedly taken place. It was believed that fat/ tallow from these sacrifices would have mixed with ashes from the sacrificial fires and water, thereafter being converted to soap. However, Mount Sapo DOES NOT EXIST. In fact, the Latin word Sapo simply means "soap"

The Chemistry of Soap Making

Soaps are salts of fatty acids. In general, it can be obtained by treating plant-based oils or animal fats with a strongly alkaline solution.

Quick science class revision.

Fats and oils are composed of triglycerides. This means that 3 molecules of fatty acids are attached to a single molecule of glycerol (alcohol).

The alkaline solution, often sodium hydroxide or commonly called lye, brings about the chemical reaction known as saponification.

In saponification, the fats are first hydrolysed and will liberate the fatty acid chains. The free fatty acids would then react with lye to form soap.

Glycerol, or often called glycerin(e) is liberated during soap making. This precious humectant is either retained in handmade soaps or washed out and recovered as a useful by product in commercial soap making.