Monday, January 16, 2012

10 Interesting and Fun Facts About the History of Soap



Want to know more about the soap that you use to wash your hands clean? Here are 10 fun facts about the humble “cleaning bar”.

1. The earliest users of soaps were the Celts who referred to it as “saipo”. Not much of a difference in its name, huh?!
2. The first soaps were made by boiling oil from the olive plant or tallow {animal fat} with lye water leached from ashes of wood fire to dryness.
3.       Early soaps were mainly used for cleaning clothes and not so much on the bodies.
4.       The first civilization to use soap on the bodies were the Romans who, then, spread the soapmaking and using skills all through Europe.
5.       Soap making was concentrated around Marseilles and later spread to Genoa and Venice.
6.       Around the 13th and 14th centuries, soap was considered a revenue source by the British government and it was taxed.
7.       The manufacturing of good quality soap started only around the 18th century when it was discovered how to make large quantities of caustic soda.
8.       Pears Soap dates back to 1789 and by 1700, there were over 63 soap companies in London.
9.       By 1890, there were many types of soaps available and the 5 big soap companies included Colgate, Albert, Morse Taylor, Pears and Bailey.
10.   According to a 2009 survey conducted by Soap magazine(yes, there is a  magazine named Soap), the world production of soap is around 10,000,000,000 Ib. per year (of which the U. S. makes and uses about one-third).


Keen to know more about soaps? Check out  this post that offers trivia about soaps andsoapmaking  including why Palmolive is called Palmolive!

Want to know what makes Wett Giggles soaps super fun and sudsy too? A careful process of making each bar by hand, with natural glycerin, essential oils and shea butter that makes them perfect for children’s sensitive skin.

With scents as appealing as blackberry, coconut banana, watermelon and more, these fun, natural soaps come with a nail brush and are super-affordable at just $10 a piece.

Plus, this month, we’re offering 20% discount on all orders and a flat $4.99 shipping rate as well, so go ahead and get yourself a fu, animal or planet soap that cleans and entertains as well!

Don’t forget to sign up for the Wett Giggles Newsletter to get more special offers and fun tips and ideas.