Castile soap is a great option for those who prefer natural products. It’s incredibly versatile and can replace many of the chemical-heavy cleaners you might be using now. Originally, “castile” referred to a hard white soap made from olive oil, named after the Castile region in Spain where it was first produced using only olive oil.
Nowadays, the term has broadened to mean any pure vegetable-based soap, free of animal products. While pure olive oil soap is moisturizing, it doesn’t lather well, so many soap makers mix different oils to enhance the soap’s properties. Most castile soaps today are a blend of olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, or other vegetable oils, and they come in both bar and liquid forms.
There are several reputable brands available, with Dr. Bronner’s being the most popular. You can often find it at a discount. Bar soaps are made by combining oils or fats with sodium hydroxide (lye), while liquid soaps use potassium hydroxide (caustic potash). Some people worry about these caustic ingredients, questioning how a product can be “natural” if it contains them.
However, chemistry allows us to combine substances to create new, safe compounds. For instance, sea salt is made of sodium and chloride. On their own, sodium is a reactive metal, and chlorine is a toxic gas, but together they form salt, which is essential for life. Similarly, when soap is made correctly, it’s a safe and gentle cleaning tool for your skin and home. You’re not applying a harsh chemical to your skin any more than you’re trying to clean dishes with plain olive oil.
You can find this versatile soap in many grocery stores and online. I personally use Dr. Bronner’s, often purchasing it at a discount from membership sites or Amazon. Have you tried any recipes with it? How do you use liquid castile soap?
