What Is Castile Soap Made From?

Original Castile soap was first made from 100 percent olive oil in the Castilla region of Spain in the 13th century. Today, to be considered "Castile," soap must contain at least 80 percent olive oil. Castile soap is considered by many to be the mildest, most moisturizing soap available on the market.

History

Soap makers claim that for hundreds of years Castile soap was exported from Spain to royalty throughout Europe because of its superior quality. It became known as the "queen of soap."

Quality

True castile soaps are very expensive to make because of the high cost of quality olive oil. It is even more costly for producers that use extra virgin quality oil in their castile soap. Many soap makers actually use low grade olive oil or extract oil from the pomace using chemicals and heat.

Versatility

Castile soap is biodegradable and is considered an environment-friendly product. You can use castile soap to wash both the hair and body, and animals. The unscented soap is great for babies and people with allergies. You can also use it for disinfecting and household cleaning.

Types

Castile soap is available in scented or unscented solid and liquid forms.

Imposters

Many castile soaps on the market today have little or no olive oil in them at all. They are vegetable-based soaps that are typically made from coconut or jojoba oils. Read the labels carefully to be sure you are getting the real deal.

References

• Castile Soap
• Pure Castile Soap
• The Soap Factory