Let's dig into what’s known about soap’s use in the past

June 10, 2020 9:55 PM

Even wonder about the story of suds? Then join Judith Ridner, Professor of History at Mississippi State University, for a look at the the dirty history of soap (The Conversation), full of links to research on different products and periods. Soap History (dot net) also has extensive information, but without the citations. If it's citations you want, the lengthy Wikipedia article on soap may be what you want. Bonus link: history of hand-washing (The Conversation), from medical historian Leslie Leighton.
posted by filthy light thief (11 comments total)

Then read Gain by Richard Powers
posted by chavenet at 1:42 AM on June 11, 2020 [3 favorites]

Clean and White, written by a friend of mine. Search the 'more inside' previews for "soap," and check out the section that starts on page 89.
posted by jon1270 at 4:34 AM on June 11, 2020 [2 favorites]

Hmm: Aleppo soap … brought to Europe by Christian crusaders (emphasis mine) — quite the understatement there. Let's just say there wasn't much choice in the matter. “Looted” might be a better term.
posted by scruss at 5:30 AM on June 11, 2020 [3 favorites]

Clean and White, written by a friend of mine. Search the 'more inside' previews for "soap," and check out the section that starts on page 89.

Would love to hear what your friend has to say about this Ohio state senator's recent comment about what might be behind the spread of COVID-19 in communities of POC.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 6:00 AM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]

EmpressCallipygos, I brought this to attention. He’s on a tight deadline at the moment but might be able to comment after tomorrow evening.
posted by jon1270 at 8:42 AM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]

No rush, I was just struck by the symmetry.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:45 AM on June 11, 2020

I do enjoy the old-timey Kirk's castile soap bars (with helpful recipes) and the Method soap offerings (started in San Francisco, strong design aesthetic and unusual scents/flavors). These two American soap companies are at least trying to improve past the surface-level "greenwashing" and marketing-driven quirkiness.
posted by JDC8 at 9:56 AM on June 11, 2020 [1 favorite]

So is soap cancelled now?
posted by grumpybear69 at 11:16 AM on June 11, 2020

The best face soap I ever found came from University of California Davis (UCD)'s gift shop. It's an agriculture sort of campus and they grew their own grapes and olives. After a conference where there was a wine and olive oil tasting feast (after presentations of course) I went to the gift shop and bought a couple bottles of olive oil and a bar of soap. Both the oil and the soap were just awesome. I still use a basic green Aleppo type green soap that's just soapified olive oil on my face and hair (when it's short enough). Nice and simple.
posted by zengargoyle at 6:36 PM on June 12, 2020

The most mundane things are frequently the most interesting. I didn't know Colgate was 200+ years old
posted by Sassenach at 10:41 AM on June 13, 2020

So is soap cancelled now?

Back in the day, weren't there some guys on the Blue who claimed that bathing was unnecessary and wrong?

I also remember back in the 90s in Santa Barbara, seeing long rants nailed to telephone poles about how soap and deodorants were a conspiracy to cover up the "natural perfume" of people. You can probably see similar ranges now on Incel and MRA forums.
posted by happyroach at 1:56 PM on June 22, 2020