Beauty Plus Cosmetics

Soap Story: How the World Cleaned Up Its Act

The earliest reports of the use of soap-like substances come from India where Hindus were obliged to bathe everyday and did so using the powdered Reeta nut (also known as soapbutter and soapnut). This plant contains saponion, a natural detergent (which is also contained by many other plants), hence its use as a cleaning product.

There are also records of ancient Egyptians using combined animal and vegetable oils with alkaline salts to create a soap-like material which they used for bathing and early soaps were also made by Muslim chemists during medieval Islamic times in Palestine, Iraq and Iran - where both solid and liquid perfumed soaps were made.

Though nowadays soap is manufactured on an industrial scale, there are also many small scale producers of handmade soup and there is an increasing interest in these as they are considered to be of a higher quality as well as a more interesting alternative to mass-produced bars. Such is the growing interest in handmade soaps, that in 1998 the Handcrafted Soap Makers Guild was formed by a small group of enterprising soap makers. Their mission is to 'promote the handcrafted soap industry', and make the 'joys of handcrafted soap more widely known to the general public'.

The handmade soap industry is wide and diverse, incorporating a massive variety of original ideas into a single bar of soap. There are an infinite number of shapes, colours and aromas. In fact, when it comes to making soap the only limit is the imagination; from gin and tonic soap, to goat milk soap; from Citrus-Balsam soap to Cucumber-Melon soap - the world of soap-making resembles an ice cream parlour with its endless range of varieties.

You might wonder why you would want to buy handmade soap when you can pick up a generic white bar from your local supermarket for less money. Well, in this age of environmental and ethical concern, there is a strong feeling that handmade soap is more natural and therefore less damaging for the environment and a better product to use on the body too. Industrially made soap tends to have most of the glycerine removed, (glycerine is a moisturising fat) and therefore can leave skin feeling dried out whereas Natural Handmade soap can restore moisture to the skin. Others like the vast choice and individuality and luxury that handmade soap offers and are also keen to support a niche industry.

So, rather than choose a mass produced generic soap, maybe it's time you cleaned up your act and started to explore the wonderful world of handmade soap.

About the Author

Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.

handmade soap of artistic swirls

US Auctions Australian Auctions Austrian Auctions Belgian Auctions Canadian Auctions French Auctions German Auctions Irish Auctions Italian Auctions Dutch Auctions Spanish Auctions Swiss Auctions GB Auctions

Best Match Items Ending First Newly-Listed Items First Price + Shipping: Lowest First Price + Shipping: Highest First

Megascents Hand Made Soap Bars 4 to 5 OZ Each Assorted Scents $1.30 Time Remaining: 2d 4h 11m Buy It Now for only: $1.30 Buy It Now

HandmadeVEGAN OrganicNaturalSandalwood Lime Soap4 oz $4.99 Time Remaining: 1h 3m Buy It Now for only: $5.99 Buy It Now

5 6 oz Oatmeal goats milk and honey soap 100 handmade homemade $1.75 Time Remaining: 1h 38m Buy It Now for only: $3.00 Buy It Now

Megascents Hand Made Soap Bars 4 to 5 OZ Each Assorted Scents $1.35 Time Remaining: 28d 21h 45m Buy It Now for only: $1.35 Buy It Now

5 6 oz Oatmeal goats milk and honey soap 100 handmade homemade $1.75 Time Remaining: 1h 46m Buy It Now for only: $3.00 Buy It Now

Turkish Mocha handmade Goat Milk Soap AMAZING FREE SAMPLES TOO $3.25 Time Remaining: 1h 49m

Cashmere and Cotton HANDMADE GOATS MILK HONEY SOAP 73 oz $8.35 Time Remaining: 23d 17h 51m Buy It Now for only: $8.35 Buy It Now

Puppy face Plastic Molds Handmade soap pudding chocolate dessert mold $4.99 Time Remaining: 3h 2m

Cute shoe lace Molds Handmade soap pudding chocolate dessert mold $13.00 Time Remaining: 3h 3m

Handmade Old Fashioned Lard and Lye Soap $1.85 Time Remaining: 28d 17h 13m Buy It Now for only: $1.85 Buy It Now

LK 7 2oz Bars Handmade Soap Variety of scents 100 Homemade $4.26 (2 Bids) Time Remaining: 5h 33m

Coconut Milk Honey Handmade Soap $3.50 Time Remaining: 5h 42m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 Buy It Now

Handmade Old Fashioned Tallow and Lye Soap $2.00 Time Remaining: 28d 21h 33m Buy It Now for only: $2.00 Buy It Now

Lagerfeld Type Handmade Soap $3.50 Time Remaining: 5h 44m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 Buy It Now

ALMOND SURPRISE 24 GLYCERINE Handmade Soap $1.25 Time Remaining: 5h 44m Buy It Now for only: $3.00 Buy It Now

Patchouli Rose Handmade Soap 45+ oz Homemade Bar $1.95 Time Remaining: 8d 20h 47m Buy It Now for only: $1.95 Buy It Now

Lil Oatmeal and Almonds HANDMADE SOAP 18 oz $0.99 Time Remaining: 5h 46m Buy It Now for only: $1.75 Buy It Now

HANDMADE SOAPS CERTIFIED ORGANIC VEGAN ALL NATURAL $3.24 Time Remaining: 4d 5h 58m Buy It Now for only: $3.24 Buy It Now

Almond Surprise GLYCERINE Handmade Soap 41 oz $1.75 Time Remaining: 5h 53m Buy It Now for only: $4.00 Buy It Now

Lil Guava and Eucalyptus handmade soap 31 OZ $1.50 Time Remaining: 5h 57m Buy It Now for only: $3.00 Buy It Now

Handmade Coconut Milk Honey Almond Soap 45 oz Homemade Bar $2.25 Time Remaining: 7d 54m Buy It Now for only: $2.25 Buy It Now

Guava and Eucalyptus handmade soap 41 oz $1.50 Time Remaining: 5h 58m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 Buy It Now

LIL ALMOND SURPRISE HANDMADE SOAP 22 OZ $0.99 Time Remaining: 5h 59m Buy It Now for only: $2.00 Buy It Now

PREMIUM HandMade RAW UNREFINED African Black Soap ORGANIC NATURAL From GHANA $54.99 Time Remaining: 4d 10h 24m Buy It Now for only: $54.99 Buy It Now

ALMOND SURPRISE handmade soap 45 OZ $1.25 Time Remaining: 6h 2m Buy It Now for only: $4.00 Buy It Now

Apple mint handmade soap 98oz $1.25 Time Remaining: 6h 3m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 Buy It Now

Handmade Pine Tar Soap 45+ oz Homemade Bar Psoriasis Eczema Acne $2.30 Time Remaining: 18d 23h 8m Buy It Now for only: $2.30 Buy It Now

CUCUMBER ROSE handmade soap 87 oz $1.25 Time Remaining: 6h 5m Buy It Now for only: $5.50 Buy It Now

Sea Shell handmade soap 15 oz $0.50 Time Remaining: 6h 6m Buy It Now for only: $2.00 Buy It Now

Neem Tea Tree Sulfur Bentonite Handmade 5 oz bar soap $7.89 Time Remaining: 6d 18h 42m Buy It Now for only: $7.89 Buy It Now

LEMONY SEA handmade soap 61 oz $0.99 Time Remaining: 6h 9m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 Buy It Now

Sour Peppermint Ice handmade soap 94 oz $0.99 Time Remaining: 6h 10m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 Buy It Now

10 Pk Dudu Osun African NATURAL HANDMADE BLACK SOAP Bar $22.99 Time Remaining: 4d 11h 30m Buy It Now for only: $22.99 Buy It Now

Purple Haze handmade natural soap 64 oz $0.99 Time Remaining: 6h 11m Buy It Now for only: $5.25 Buy It Now

Homemade GOATS MILK SHAVING SOAP SANDALWOOD Shave CLAY Handmade 25oz Refill $1.99 Time Remaining: 18d 30m Buy It Now for only: $1.99 Buy It Now

Lemon and Herbs handmade soap 79 oz $0.99 Time Remaining: 6h 12m Buy It Now for only: $4.50 Buy It Now

Lustful Butterfly handmade soap 78 oz $1.75 Time Remaining: 6h 13m Buy It Now for only: $5.50 Buy It Now

Vanilla Sandalwood Handmade Soap 45 oz Homemade Bar Smells Great $1.95 Time Remaining: 28d 22h 51m Buy It Now for only: $1.95 Buy It Now

Five Star Soap HANDMADE 19 OZ $0.99 Time Remaining: 6h 14m Buy It Now for only: $1.25 Buy It Now

Raspberry Apricot Kernel Rosemary Handmade Soap $15.99 Time Remaining: 9h 23m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 Buy It Now

Lily of the Valley Handmade Soap 45 oz Homemade Bar $1.95 Time Remaining: 29d 4m Buy It Now for only: $1.95 Buy It Now

China Rain scented Handmade Soap Vegan Friendly Glycerin Shea Butter 35oz Bar $0.99 Time Remaining: 10h 8m

Blackberry Marmalade scented Handmade Soap Vegan Friendly Glycerin 35oz Bar $0.99 Time Remaining: 10h 8m

Lavender Peppermint Handmade Soap 45+ oz Homemade Bar w Shea Butter $2.50 Time Remaining: 8d 20h 40m Buy It Now for only: $2.50 Buy It Now

Hot Apple Pie scented Handmade Soap Vegan Glycerin Shea Butter 35oz Bar $0.99 Time Remaining: 10h 8m

LOT OF 5 HANDMADE OATMEAL MILK AND HONEY SOAP GOOD FOR ACNE TREATMENT $10.00 Time Remaining: 12h 6m Buy It Now for only: $20.00 Buy It Now

Handmade Oatmeal Soap 45 oz Homemade Bar $2.00 Time Remaining: 29d 14h 50m Buy It Now for only: $2.00 Buy It Now

Lavender Vanilla handmade soap $3.50 Time Remaining: 12h 31m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 Buy It Now

Swagger Type Handmade Soap $3.50 (1 Bid) Time Remaining: 12h 32m

Homemade Old Fashion LARD LYE SOAP Handmade All American Crafts Laundry $2.00 Time Remaining: 22d 19h 54m Buy It Now for only: $2.00 Buy It Now

Victorian Violets Handmade Soap $3.50 Time Remaining: 12h 33m Buy It Now for only: $5.00 Buy It Now

Smart Soapmaking: The Simple Guide to Making Traditional Handmade Soap Quickly, Safely, and Reliably, or How to Make Luxurious Handcrafted Soaps for Family, Friends, and Yourself Sale Price: $12.50   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description  Maybe you've made melt-and-pour soap and want to move on to something more challenging and rewarding. Maybe traditional soapmaking appeals to you, but you figure that working with lye is too difficult or dangerous...

Maui Tropical Soaps Traditional Hawaiin Soap 8 Bar Gift Bag, 12-ounce List Price: $19.99 Sale Price: $12.37 You save: $7.62 (38%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours See Reviews For This Product Description Maui tropical soaps' traditional line is the connoisseur choice, and is a product of evolution, not revolution. each bar is made with only the finest raw ingredients; loaded with essential fatty acids for healthy radiant skin and exotic oils to lift your spirit...

The Handbook of Soap Manufacture List Price: $3.55 See Reviews For This Product Description For text: A word surrounded by a cedilla such as ~this~ signifies that the word is bolded in the text. A word surrounded by underscores like _this_ signifies the word is italics in the text. Greek letters are translated into English and are in brackets, e...

Magnetic Soap Holder - saver for handmade soap Sale Price: $5.99   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description It's a great soap saver. Save upto 30% of your Homemade Natural Soap Eliminate the need for a soap dish and the associated build up of soap scum Like magic, soap suspends in space. (Holds soap size upto 6 oz...

Betina Handmade Soap - Black Orchid Sale Price: $4.00   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description A luxurious soap enriched with moisturizing and skin softening shea oil and shea butter. The beautiful floral fragrance is enhanced by a woods and musk background blend.

Baby's 1st Soap in Calendula Oatmeal Sale Price: $4.50   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description A vegan alternative to our goats milk Baby's 1st Soaps. This bar contains a touch of finely ground skin soothing oatmeal and olive oil infused with the skin nourishing goodness of calendula blossom petals

Heart Soap on a Rope - Luxury Handmade Rose Soap Sale Price: $16.02   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product

New Cain and Able Soap-on-a-Rope Oatmeal Bone Shaped in in Holiday Stocking Handmade Oatmeal Soap List Price: $19.66 Sale Price: $9.83 You save: $9.83 (50%)   Eligible for free shipping! Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days See Reviews For This Product Description Ingredients: Saponified Vegetable Oils (coconut, palm, castor, safflower), Vegetable Glycerine, Oatmeal, Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Honey, Purified Water, Vitamin E Oil, Peppermint Essential Oil, Tea Tree Essential Oil, Sorbitol (natural moisturizer taken from berries; not the synthetically produced sweetener by the same name), Sorbitan Oleate (natural emulsifier), Titanium Dioxide (mineral whitener), Peppermint Leaves.

Olive Oil Soap Homemade 2.2 Lbs Sale Price: $28.00 See Reviews For This Product Description Pure organic homemade olive oil soap made with extra virgin olive oil and mineral salts

Handmade Soap: Recipes For Crafting Soap At Home ( Country Living) List Price: $19.95 Sale Price: $11.00 See Reviews For This Product Description There are really just two ways to make soap -- the cold process and glycerin -- but there are literally thousands of ways to make that soap delightful. Beautifully colored and shaped soap is a joy to use; grainy soap is studded with sand or poppyseeds in an amazingly effective hand cleaner; and pure translucent glycerin soap is as gentle as it is clear...