Handmade Soap Dreaming

In fact, the Latin word sapo simply means "soap"; it was borrowed from a Celtic or Germanic language, and is cognate with Latin sebum, "tallow", which appears in Pliny the Elder's account. Roman animal sacrifices usually burned only the bones and inedible entrails of the sacrificed animals; edible meat and fat from the sacrifices were taken by the humans rather than the gods. Animal sacrifices in the ancient world would not have included enough fat to make much soap. The legend about Mount Sapo is probably a hoax.

Historically, soap was made by mixing animal fats with lye. Because of the caustic lye, this was a dangerous procedure (perhaps more dangerous than any present-day home activities) which could result in serious chemical burns or even blindness. Before commercially-produced lye was commonplace, it was produced at home for soap making from the ashes of a wood fire.

Castile soap, made from olive oil, was produced in Europe as early as the 16th century.

In modern times, the use of soap has become universal in industrialized nations due to a better understanding of the role of hygiene in reducing the population size of pathogenic microorganisms. Manufactured bar soaps first became available in the late nineteenth century, and advertising campaigns in Europe and the United States helped to increase popular awareness of the relationship between cleanliness and health. By the 1950s, soap had gained public acceptance as an instrument of personal hygiene.

Handmade soap

Some individuals continue to make soap in the home. The traditional name "soaper", for a soap-maker, is still used by those who make soap as a hobby. The most popular soap-making processes today is the cold process method, where fats such as olive oil react with lye. Novice soapmakers sometimes use the melt and pour process, where no actual soap is made, but where industrial soap base is molten and poured in individual shapes. Some soapers also practice other processes, such as the historical hot process, and make special soaps such as glycerin soap.