A History of Soap

Sep 8, 2025

Discover the intriguing history of soap, tracing its evolution from ancient rituals to modern hygiene. The podcast dives into soap-making techniques from the 7th century and celebrates the contributions of Islamic chemists. Learn how soap's accessibility has impacted public health and explore the cultural significance behind this everyday item. Engaging anecdotes highlight soap's intertwined role with cleanliness and personal care, alongside discussions about contemporary skincare trends and the social implications of the soap industry.

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INSIGHT

Ancient Cleaning Used Soaplike Plants

People worldwide used high-saponin plants and scouring methods long before chemical soap existed.
These preparations cleaned effectively but are chemically distinct from alkali–fat saponified soap.

INSIGHT

Soap Is A Chemical Product

True soap forms only when an alkali reacts with fats in saponification.
Accidental mixtures like fat dripping into ashes likely produced proto-soaps in prehistory.

INSIGHT

Earliest Texts Hint At Proto-Soap

Ancient texts mention fat-and-ash processes but often lack clarity on whether they produced true soap.
Sumerian and Babylonian records hint at early soaplike practices yet differ in composition and intent.

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All over the world, for all of human history – and probably going back to our earliest hominid ancestors – people have found ways to try to keep themselves clean. But how did soap come about?

Research:

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