Will the real Castile soap please step forward?
Traditional Castile soap is revered for its gentle nature because it is made from 3 ingredients: olive oil, water and lye. It originated from the Castile region in Spain. It is believed that Crusaders brought back a recipe for soap from the Middle East originally containing bay laurel oil, and inhabitants of Castile swapped olive oil for the bay laurel oil to create Castile Soap. Check out this article for a fascinating in-depth look at the history of Castile Soap and how it was made.
Olive oil has incredible benefits for the skin. Its pH is similar to the skin, which makes it a very gentle cleanser and highly moisturizing. Because of this, it doesn't strip your skin like synthetic chemicals or other harsh ingredients. Castile Soap is incredible for people with sensitive skin as it is far more gentle than other soaps.
One thing to note when using this soap is that it doesn't lather like modern commercial versions of soap that consumers are used to. That doesn't mean it's not working, it just means that it doesn't produce the same amount of bubbles when you wash with it.
Because we formulate products for people with sensitive skin, we use Castile Soap in three of our products: Liquid Soap, Pure Olive Bar Soap, and our Ultra Simple Baby Wash. This ensures that the soap is extra gentle.
Scent Free Liquid Soap
Pure Olive Bar Soap
Ultra Simple Baby Wash
Castile Soap is traditionally made with 100% pure olive oil, but unfortunately this title is not regulated, and many modern soap making companies now use other vegetable/plant oils alongside olive oil in their Castile Soaps. Two of the main additives are coconut oil and sweet almond oil. These oil blends are typically added to increase the lather of the product. Some may not have an issue with this, but if you have allergies and sensitivities, it is important to be aware of.
The tried and true recipe of the Spaniards for olive oil soap has stood the test of time and has proven itself for hundreds of years to be one of the most effective soaps that are gentle on the skin. Sometimes simpler really is better.
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