Hey everyone,
It’s Luca here again… and today, I want to dive into something a little different, but still close to the heart (and hands!):
Real olive oil soap.
If you’ve only ever used commercial soap bars that leave your skin feeling dry or tight, buckle up — you’re about to find out why real olive oil soap is a game changer.
What Is “Pure” Olive Oil Soap?
When we talk about authentic olive oil soap — whether it’s solid (bar soap) or cream soap — we mean soaps made with 100% olive oil as the only fat source. No coconut oil, no palm oil, no tallow. Just pure extra virgin olive oil (or sometimes virgin olive oil, depending on the method and tradition).
The most famous traditional example?
Castile soap — originally made in Spain’s Castilla region, using local olive oil. True Castile soap was and still is one of the purest soaps you can make.
How Olive Oil Turns Into Soap (Saponification 101)
Soap is made through a natural chemical process called saponification — where a fat (oil) reacts with an alkali (like lye/sodium hydroxide for solid soap, or potassium hydroxide for liquid/cream soap).
In simple terms:
Fat + Alkali → Soap + Glycerin
When you use 100% olive oil:
- You get a soap that is extremely gentle, low-foaming, and deeply moisturizing.
- The natural glycerin produced during the process stays in the soap — helping your skin retain moisture.
Bonus:
Extra virgin olive oil brings along its natural antioxidants, like polyphenols and Vitamin E, into the final product. These can offer additional skin-soothing benefits.
Solid Soap vs. Cream Soap: What’s the Difference?
| Solid Soap | Cream Soap | |
|---|---|---|
| Made with | Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) | Potassium Hydroxide (KOH) |
| Texture | Hard, solid bar | Soft, whipped, almost frosting-like |
| Feel | Dense, silky lather | Rich, creamy lather |
| Storage | Cures over time, gets harder | Softer, needs sealed containers |
Both are amazing when made properly from 100% EVOO - but they behave slightly differently depending on personal preference.
Why Olive Oil Soap Is Different (and Better)
- Extremely Gentle: Perfect for sensitive, dry, or mature skin.
- Low Irritation Risk: Fewer people are allergic or reactive to pure olive oil compared to coconut or palm oil soaps.
- Real Moisture: Thanks to natural glycerin and olive oil’s fatty acid profile (especially oleic acid).
- Mild Cleaning: Doesn’t strip your skin’s natural oils aggressively.
Heads up though:
True 100% olive oil soaps don’t foam like crazy.
You’ll get a creamy, lotion-like lather — not the big fluffy bubbles you might be used to with other oils.
That’s not a flaw — that’s purity.
What to Watch Out For
Lots of soaps claim to be “olive oil soap” but aren’t truly 100%.
Here’s what to check:
- Ingredients list: Look for “Olive Oil” (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil) as the main or only oil.
- Beware of blends: Many brands add coconut, palm, or other oils to create more lather because pure olive oil soap takes longer to cure and sell.
- Curing time: True olive oil soaps need 4-6 months to cure properly for the best hardness and quality. (Yes, really — it’s slow magic.)
Luca’s Tip:
If you’re new to real olive oil soap:
- Start with a traditional Castile-style bar.
- Expect a different, more “creamy” washing experience.
- Stick with it for a couple of weeks — your skin’s barrier needs time to adjust from harsher detergents.
And if you’re into DIY? Making your own pure olive oil soap at home is incredibly rewarding (and I’ll post a simple guide soon if there’s interest!).
Just like with olive oil itself, when it comes to soap - purity matters.
No shortcuts, no fillers, no weird chemicals.
Just real extra virgin olive oil doing what it does best: taking care of us.
Have you ever tried a real olive oil soap? Or even better — made your own?
Drop your experiences, tips, and questions below.
Talk soon,
Luca
Tags:
tag:olive-oil-soap tag:castile-soap tag:soapmaking tag:olive-oil-beauty tag:olive-oil-uses tag:skin-care tag:natural-products