The Timeless History of Castile Soap – The Most Natural Cleaner

The Origins of Soap

"Soap" is a very loosely used word these days, often referring to many different products that are not actually soap. The word “soap” is now generally used for personal skin cleaning, but “soap” has had a long and interesting history of development to get to where we are today.

Soap got its name from an ancient Roman legend about Mount Sapo. Mount Sapo is a mythical mountain that was supposedly located somewhere near Rome, presumably in Italy. It appears in the history of soap and is often cited to explain the origins of the name itself. The story goes that when it rained, the rainwater would wash down the mountain, mixing with the remains of ancient open-fire cooking — animal fat and alkali ashes — resulting in a clay-like mixture that was found to make cleaning easier.

The Art of Soap Making

By the seventh century, soap-making was an established art in Italy, Spain, and France. All soaps of this time were manufactured from animal fat. Note that bar soaps today can be vegan or derived from animals. You should always be aware that hard bar soap contains animal-based ingredients unless the label says otherwise. Don’t expect soap companies to be forthcoming about their use of animal fats, as many are still manufactured this way today.

Soap is made through a simple chemical reaction process. Take a fatty acid, generally animal-based, and blend it in a vat of hot water with caustic soda (also called potassium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide). As these two ingredients are boiled together in water, the blend will finally give off "soap." It also creates “glycerine.”

This glycerine is then siphoned off from this chemical reaction and used in several areas, including skincare products.

The Birth of Castile Soap

The first “new” vegan-based soaps were prepared in Spain, in a region called Castile. That’s how Castile soaps get their name — from the Castile region of Spain, a soap-making centre for centuries. Castile soap contains only vegetable oils, and no animal fats, making it vegan, nontoxic, and biodegradable.

By substituting animal fat with vegetable fat, and following the same soap-making process, you make "soap" plus you still obtain glycerine in the reaction, but now the glycerine becomes part of the “liquid” blend. This is now a pure organic soap, made with the fatty acid from olive oil.

Castile soap naturally has glycerine in the blend, making Castile a far softer product for the skin than bar soaps. Castile is environmentally friendly, animal-friendly, biodegradable, and, dare we say it, as natural as you can get in a cleaner these days.

The “other soaps” we see today are more or less petroleum-based. These “soaps” should actually be called detergents or surfactants, not soap at all. They are used as everything from industrial cleaners to cleansing your skin in the shower or even as shampoo. They are labelled as “soaps,” but these modern so-called “soaps” are synthetic cleaners at best.

Castile Soap - Its Many Uses

Here are 11 amazing uses for Castile soap that show just how versatile this eco-friendly cleaner is.

1. Hand and Body Wash

Castile soap is gentle enough for daily use on your skin. It's perfect for an all-natural hand and body wash that leaves your skin feeling fresh and clean without any harsh chemicals.

2. Hair Shampoo

Got oily hair? Castile soap works wonders as a shampoo to cleanse your scalp and hair. Just dilute a little with water, and you're good to go!

3. Dishwashing

Ditch the commercial dishwashing liquid – a few drops of Castile soap will cut through grease and leave your dishes spotless.

4. Pet Shampoo

Keep your furry friends clean and fresh with this gentle pet shampoo. It's safe and chemical-free, so it's perfect for pets with sensitive skin.

5. Floor Wash

Add some Castile soap to a bucket of water, and you’ve got a natural floor cleaner that works on tiles, timber, and more!

6. Shaving Soap

Rich and foamy, Castile soap makes a fantastic natural shaving soap that leaves your skin soft and irritation-free.

7. Laundry Liquid / Soap

Just a little Castile soap in your laundry cycle will help keep your clothes clean and fresh, while being gentle on fabrics.

8. General Surface Cleaner

Mix Castile soap with water and a little vinegar, and you’ve got yourself an effective, non-toxic cleaner for countertops, sinks, and most household surfaces.

9. Fruit and Vegetable Wash

Want to remove dirt and pesticide residue from your fresh produce? Simply dilute Castile soap in water to create a safe, natural wash for your fruits and veggies.

10. Ant and Insect Pest Spray

Castile soap can even help keep your home bug-free! Mix it with water and spray it on areas where you find ants or other pests to naturally deter them.

Euca Castile Soap - The Most Natural Cleaner

Euca Castile Soap is the most natural cleaner you’ll find, made right here in Melbourne with an authentic 1770s formula. Infused with natural Eucalyptus BP Grade for that unmistakable Australian fragrance, it’s 100% organic and free from animal-based ingredients, unlike traditional tallow soaps. 

Crafted using Eucalyptus, olive, and coconut oils, it’s gentle on all skin types, making it perfect for sensitive skin. You can use it on everything from clothes to pets and dishes. Plus, it’s safe for septic, bio, and greywater systems, so it's eco-friendly too. Best of all, no animals are harmed in the making of Euca products—we love all creatures, big and small.

Ready to experience the natural power of Euca Castile Soap? Try it today and discover why it's the cleaner you can trust for your home, skin, and the environment. Our 500ml and 1lt range are on a special 25% off until 06 Jan 2025 only.