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       Alkaline Solutions

      At the same time, ancient people had to gather additional ingredients such as alkaline substances that assist with breaking down skin oils. Alkaline solutions used to make soap are called lye that actually is sodium hydroxide. The combination of lye and fats creates a chemical reaction that hydrolyzes the fats to make a solid soap. Making soap with these methods during ancient times required individuals to use open fires while carefully watching the mixture before placing it in molds to harden. Because making soap was a long and difficult process, many people learned to barter or sell soap for other goods.

       Adding Scents

      Eventually, inventive individuals learned how to make special soaps with fragrances, emollients and other ingredients. People enjoyed using scented soaps that moisturized the skin or added fragrance to fabrics. A popular ancient soap had the ingredient cassia made from the buds of a tree. This light cinnamon scent was helpful for deodorizing the skin during a time before there were deodorant products. The soap was also helpful for cleaning wool from sheep and goats before the fibers were used to weave fabrics. When cassia was not available, people used alternate ingredients such as sesame seed or cypress oil. Wood ashes left over from hot fires were also an alternative ingredient for making soap. Delicately scented soaps were also devised using fragrant oils from lavender or rose flower petals.

       Specialized Soaps

      In China and other countries, soaps were made from local wild spices and plants. Many groups kept the art of soap making a secret to avoid sharing recipes with others. This made certain varieties of soaps valuable for trading purposes. Factories in Europe began to make specialized or fine soaps during the 1600s that were desired by royal or wealthy individuals. In Italy, hard soaps made with olive oil were popular to soothe and moisturize dry skin. In Spain, delicate and white Castile soap was created using oils from the locally grown laurel and olive plants.

       How Soap Products Became Popular

      Entrepreneurs opened factories in several geographic regions to manufacture specialized soaps such as Pears Soap, a translucent variety with a unique and delicate scent. Ivory Soap is popular because it is a gentle soap that floats on the surface of water.

      Because people also wanted laundry soap, manufacturers began to grind soap with a mortar and pestle to make flakes that dissolved quickly in warm water. By the late 1800s, soap making became a big business with large factories opening in major cities. Many of these factories still exist today, making numerous varieties of soap and laundry products. Intensive advertising of soap products in newspapers and magazines quickly made individuals want to buy soaps in local stores.

       The Invention of Liquid Soaps

      During the late 1800s, liquid soaps were also invented for washing dishes or fabrics. Companies also developed stronger liquid soaps for household cleaning purposes such as washing floors, bathroom fixtures or kitchen countertops. Liquid soaps were popular with homemakers because it quickly mixed with water while sanitizing household items. This allowed individuals to complete chores such as washing clothing much faster. Liquid soaps also left less sticky residue on clothing and surfaces while ensuring items were cleaned thoroughly. Today, there are hundreds of liquid soap products available in a variety of scents for specialized cleaning purposes.

       How Soaps Get to Stores

      Most modern soaps are made in large factories in big batches with either hot or cold chemical processes. Hot processes for soap making vary in temperature such as boiling, warm or normal formats; cold processing of soaps is the most popular method using old-fashioned mixing of lye and water to create hard soaps.

      After soap is prepared, it is placed in molds of different shapes and sizes to dry. The average drying time for hard soaps is three days. When soaps are completely dried and hardened, the products are packaged in paper, plastic or cardboard packages. Large boxes of packaged soaps are delivered to warehouses and stores by trucks or trains. Today, individuals shopping for soap expect to find an aisle filled with product choices.

       Development of Modern Soaps

      Each manufacturer of soap uses specialized formulas with particular ingredients. This specialization makes a unique product that is desirable by different customers. Companies have devised formulas using pumice grains that make a strong soap that removes heavy dirt such as grease. Alternatively, there are delicate soaps created for the sensitive skin of babies. There are soap formulas that are designed to deodorize or medicate the skin. Medicated soaps might help prevent acne or relieve itchy dermatitis. Recently, antibacterial soaps have become popular to prevent the spread of infections. Both hard and liquid antibacterial soaps are commonly used in bathrooms and kitchens to destroy bacteria.

      Chapter 2- What Are Popular Soap Making Methods?

      If you are confused about the whole soap making process, you're about to find out about it. You probably hear people talking about cold process, hot process, melt and pour, rebatching, and possibly mentioning soap-making kit. To serious soap-makers, soap making refers to the actual production of new soap. That is, you start with soap making ingredients, lye and oils, mix them together, and produce soap that did not exist before.

       Why Make Your Own Soap

      There are people that just aren't interested in making soap from scratch. For them, they enjoy decorating soap rather than cooking up soap. They like to focus on the appearance, colors, scents, and swirls,

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