Olive Oil: The Backbone of the Bar

Olea europaea. The first ingredient on every one of our labels, and the oldest soap oil in the world.

Where it comes from

Olive oil soap is the original. The city of Aleppo in Syria has been making it for well over a thousand years, and by the Middle Ages the Crusaders had carried the idea to Marseille, where "savon de Marseille" became a protected product by royal decree in 1688: at least 72% olive oil, or it couldn't carry the name. Castile soap from Spain followed the same rule. For most of history, if you were washing with something gentle, it was olive oil.

The oil is pressed from the fruit of the olive tree, and ours is virgin and certified organic. On the label it appears as Sodium Olivate, which is simply the name for olive oil once it has been turned into soap.

What it does for skin

Olive oil is rich in oleic acid and naturally occurring squalene, both of which are close to the oils your skin makes for itself. That's why olive oil soap feels mild rather than stripping. It makes a soft, low, creamy lather that conditions as it cleans, and it's the reason our bars suit sensitive skin without any added moisturizers.

Why it's first on the label

Olive oil is the largest single ingredient in every Goodlather bar. It's the conditioning backbone. The coconut oil brings the bubbles and the butters bring the hardness, but the gentleness comes from here. If you only remember one thing about our recipe, remember this one.

Every bar we make starts with it: shop the collection.