THE ORIGINS OF CASTILE SOAP

The roots of Castile soap can be traced back to the Mediterranean region, where early civilizations developed soap-making techniques using locally available resources such as olive oil and ash. The name “Castile soap” originates from the Castile region in Spain, where soap makers perfected this formula using pure olive oil.
During the Middle Ages, Castile soap became a prized commodity, valued for its quality and gentleness compared to soaps made with animal fats or harsher chemicals. It was often a luxury item, used by royalty and the wealthy. Over time, this once-exclusive product became more accessible, finding its way into households around the world.

What Sets Castile Soap Apart?

Castile soap is unique because of its ingredients, production process, and versatility. Here’s why it stands out:

1. Plant-Based Ingredients
   Unlike traditional soaps made from tallow (animal fat), Castile soap is entirely plant-based. Its foundation is typically olive oil, but many modern variations incorporate other plant oils such as coconut, hemp, almond, shea butter among many others. These oils contribute to the soap’s lathering ability, moisturizing (or rather, drying) properties, and cleaning power.

2. Gentle on Skin
   Castile soap is known for being non-drying and suitable for sensitive skin. Olive oil creates a mild and creamy lather, making it ideal for those prone to irritation. Although, many modern castile soaps are particularly low on olive oil or contain none at all. Our liquid soap's formula is particularly gentle due to it's high olive oil content. 

3. Eco-Friendly and Biodegradable
   Castile soap aligns with today’s sustainability-focused values. It’s biodegradable, free of synthetic detergents, and safe for use in septic systems. Whether you’re cleaning indoors or outdoors, you can feel confident knowing Castile soap won’t harm the environment.

4. Highly Concentrated and Long-Lasting
   A little goes a long way with Castile soap. Its concentrated formula means you can dilute it for various uses, from hand soap to household cleaners, making it a cost-effective choice.

 

How Is Castile Soap Made?

The process of making Castile soap blends traditional techniques with modern advancements. 

1. Saponification
   Castile soap is created through a chemical reaction called saponification, where fats, in Castile soap's case, vegetable oils, are mixed with an alkali (commonly lye, or sodium hydroxide for solid soap and potassium hydroxide for liquid soap). This process transforms the oils into soap and glycerin, giving the final product its cleansing and moisturizing properties.

2. Olive Oil as the Star Ingredient
   Olive oil is the cornerstone of traditional Castile soap. Its fatty acid composition produces a gentle, conditioning soap. Modern variations may include coconut oil for added lather or other plant-based oils to enhance specific qualities. And, some modern castile soaps contain no olive oil at all. Some have gone so far as to say those soaps are "Bastile Soaps". The term "Castile" refers to and honors the region of Spain which was so early on known to make soaps from vegetable fats. Their vegetable of choice happened to be olives due to the abundant olive availability in the region.

3. Curing (for Bar Soaps)
   For bar soaps made with the cold process, the curing process is essential. It allows the soap to harden and ensures all the lye has been neutralized. This process can take several weeks. For bar soaps made with the hot process, like ours, the soaps are made much quicker. Our bar soaps are triple milled making for a homogenous, smooth, long lasting bar of soap. 

Uses of Castile Soap

One of the reasons Castile soap has remained so popular is its versatility. Here are just a few of its countless applications:

1. Personal Care

• Body Wash and Hand Soap: Its mild formula is perfect for everyday use, leaving skin clean without stripping natural oils. Although, castile soaps that are super high in coconut oil or are 100% coconut based can lead to over stripping of the skin's natural oils. 
• Shampoo: Diluted Castile soap can serve as a gentle, sulfate-free shampoo, though it’s best followed with an acidic rinse (like diluted apple cider vinegar) to balance scalp pH. Some people do not need this rinse at all. 
• Facial Cleanser: Thanks to its gentle properties, Castile soap is suitable for sensitive facial skin, especially when combined with hydrating oils like cocoa butter or shea butter. 

2. Household Cleaning

• All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix Castile soap with water and a few drops of essential oil  (or just use one of our soaps that already contains essential oils) for a non-toxic cleaning spray. A ratio of somewhere between 1 - 4 to 1 - 8 soap to water ratio works well. 
• Dish Soap: Use it as an effective alternative to traditional dish soaps—just a small amount cuts through grease.
• Laundry Detergent: Use about 1/4 to 1/3 cup per load. Ours is fine for HE washers. There are tons of home made Laundry detergent recipes on the inter-webs that involve combining Castile Soap with other ingredients such as baking soda or washing soda.

3. Outdoor and Pet Care

• Plant Spray: Diluted Castile soap can be used to deter pests on plants. Consult your plant professional before using our soap on your plants.
• Pet Shampoo: Its gentle formula is safe for pets, leaving fur clean and soft. Consult your veterinarian before using any of our scented versions on your pets. Some pets should not be exposed to some essential oils and fragrance ingredients. It's usually best to stick with Unscented if you're unsure. 

4. Specialty Uses

• Makeup Brush Cleaner: Castile soap is excellent for cleaning brushes and sponges.
• Shaving Cream: Its rich, creamy lather makes for a smooth shave. Our Castile bar soap works great as well as our liquid soap for shaving. When using the bar soap, it's best to work up a lather using a shaving brush before applying the soap to your face. 
• Baby Care: Unscented Castile soap is gentle enough for babies’ delicate skin. However, NEVER EVER get Castile Soap in your baby's eyes, or anyone else's eyes for that matter. It really stings the eyes. 

How to Choose the Right Castile Soap

When shopping for Castile soap, there are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Ingredients
   A. High Oleic Soaps - If you're going to use your Castile Soap primarily for body care, it's best to look for soaps with a high percentage of olive oil or other oils high in oleic acid such as Sunflower Oil. Note, if the first oil listed on a soap's ingredient list is coconut oil (or Potassium Cocoate), there is a high likelihood that there is very little other oils in the formula. Coconut oil is cheap and makes lots of bubbles, but if it's presence is so high that it leaves little room for other ingredients, it usually tends to lend itself to being more drying to hair and skin. 
   B. High Coconut Oil Soaps - these soaps are great if you're going to be primarily using your soap for things like surface cleaning and laundry. 
   
   While both soaps can be used for all the purposes mentioned in A & B above, each one just does one thing or the other better. 

2. Scent Preferences
   Castile soap comes in various scents, often derived from essential oils and other fragrances. For sensitive skin or those who prefer no fragrance, unscented options are available.

3. Liquid vs. Bar Soap
   Both forms are equally effective, so the choice comes down to personal preference and intended use. Liquid soap is convenient for diluting, while bar soap is ideal for hands-on applications like direct skin cleansing. Many prefer bar soap for its sustainability since it doesn't require much, if any, plastic. It also doesn't require the energy involved with shipping the weight that goes along with the water that liquid soap contains. 

Why Choose Carolina Castile Soap?

At Carolina Castile Soap, we take pride in crafting soaps featuring high amounts of oils that contain plenty of oleic acid; in our case, olive oil. This provides unparalleled gentleness. We're also working to bring the best possible scents to our soaps. Instead of staying on the same, tired old path of peppermint, citrus, almond, lavender, etc., we're working to bring new, one of a kind scents you'll love. Although it's hard to pass up the classics that have worked in Castile Soap for so long, we'll keep carrying those too. 

Furthermore, all our liquid soaps start with our Unscented Castile Soap which is Oregon Tilth Certified Organic and EWG Verified for maximum ingredient transparency. 

Similarly, all of our bar soaps are made with our Unscented bar soap as it's basis. Our unscented bar soap is EWG Verified and made from organic oils. 

Whether you’re looking for a soap that’s kind to your skin, your home, or the planet, our Castile soap delivers. We invite you to explore our range of liquid and bar soaps, available in a variety of scents.