The History of Sapoon-Soap
Soap making history goes back around 5000 years. The first recorded archeological evidence of the manufacture of soap-like materials is dated to around 2800 BC in Ancient Babylon. Babylonians had discovered the basic method of making soap, using Cassia oil (the tree that cinnamon is extracted from) boiled with ashes and water. Soap was used mostly in the textile industry but also, in sores and skin diseases treatment and beautification.
Description of a fabrication process of a product similar to soap has been found in papyrus from the ancient Egyptians (~1500 BC) that mentions how animal and vegetable oils were mixed with alkaline salts. That soap was used for treating sores, skin diseases as well as washing.
The ancient Greeks were known to wash without soap. They preferred to wash with water, blocks of clay, pumice, sands and ashes and then to anoint themselves with oil.
According to the myth, soap was devised in the island of Lesbos or Mytilene in Ancient Greece, where animals were sacrificed to the Gods. Animals at sacrifice were often incinerated and thus, wood ashes (alkali source) were mixed with animal fat. It was after a heavy rainstorm that in the water of the local creek, where women were washing clothes, a yellowish liquid tumbling from the mountain of sacrifice was observed and made clothes cleaner.
The ancient poet Sappho wrote about those times that the cleaning action of yellowish liquid in the water was observed.
With time it was found that the addition of salty water in the mixture facilitates the removal of glycerol and excess water, which makes the soap harder. Later, around 200 BC, the ancient Greeks used the soap to clean the amphorae and the statues, while at the same period the Greek physician Galenos recommended washing with soap, as preventive measure for skin diseases.
The Gauls and Romans also used goat’s tallow and beech tree ashes to produce both hard and soft soap products. Regardless of its end uses, soap became popular throughout the Roman Empire and promoted its production. Worth noting is that an entire soap factory has been revealed at the ruins of Pompeii, which was destroyed by a volcanic eruption of Mt. Vesuvius in 79 AD.
Arab chemists in Syria and Palestine were the first to prepare soap using a mixture of vegetable oils (such as olive oil), aromatic herbal oils (such as laurel or thyme oil) and potash. Around the 7th century AD, the first soap industries were established in the Middle East, in Nablus and in Aleppo, whose fame quickly spread in Mediterranean areas. In addition to the aromatic solid soap, were also devised the colored and the liquid soaps and some more particular soaps, like the shaving soap. The effect of soap-making art of Middle East in the European people and communities was even greater during the first crusade (late 11th century), where Arab craftsmen transferred their knowledge and set the foundation for the manufacture of soaps that are still famous today, like those of Castile (Spain) and Marseille (France).
Noteworthy is that since 600 AD the recipe of natural olive oil soap has remained untouched.
Today Sapoon continues the ancient Greek tradition with respect for the consumer and sensitivity to the environment, and prepares natural soaps from Greek organic virgin olive oil. Our outstanding quality soaps are made from 100% natural ingredients with no dyes or other chemical additives.
Original site: https://www.sapoonstore.com/en/flashbacks-questions/sapoon-story
Cold Press Olive Oil
The nourishing effect of olive oil is significantly affected and determined by the anti-oxidants content in the oil, especially vitamin E and poly-phenols, which are prone to thermal dissociation at temperatures as high as 40oC, which can be reached during the hot elision and press method for the extraction of oil by olive paste. The cold elision and press method ensures the high quality of oil, but unfortunately at higher production cost.
The excellent quality olive oil is usually produced by small-scale producers. The time period for the collection of olives is critical and affects the quality of the produced oil. During collection, only the best olives are selected; neither the overripe due to the slightly higher acidity of their oil, nor the unripe since they add a bitter taste in the oil. The delay between the collection and the pressing of olives is also of significant importance for the acidity and quality of the oil and it should not exceed 48 hours.
Cold press olive oil is characterized by the strong aroma, the golden color and the distinctive taste. Its acidity lies at very low levels. A chemical analysis of the oil could convince anyone about its magnificent nature due to the plethora of the nourishing ingredients.
It is rich in fatty acids, mainly oleic, linolenic and linoleic acid or Ω9, Ω3 and Ω6 respectively that penetrate deep into skin and offer intensive nourishing and protection of the hydrolipidic layer. Οlive oil is also rich in vitamin Α, C and Ε, which counteract the free radicals and protect skin against aging.
Moreover, olive oil is rich in minerals like potassium and sodium that also nourish and stimulate skin, but also iron that strengthens hair. Another intensive anti-oxidant action is offered by the carotenoids, polyphenols and chlorophyll. The mentioned plethora of ingredients in virgin olive oil offer human body and hair intensive care, nourishment, moisturizing, revival, restoration and protection from dryness, resulting in improved look and texture.
As Hippocrates mentioned, olive oil therapeutic nature was used against skin ailments. Nowadays, it is well known that Ancient Greeks did not use soap for their personal hygiene, but olive oil that they applied over their body and hair. The overall appreciation for olive oil is also depicted by the entire picture as a precious agricultural product. Referring to mythology, it was Hercules who brought and planted an olive tree in Ancient Olympia after completing his 12 labours. All the wreaths for the Olympic Games winners were made by branches from that symbolic olive tree. Until our days the olive branch is a symbol of piece.
In Sαpoon we have decided to adopt and follow the traditional cold saponification method, where olive oil and the rest of soap ingredients are blended and react under ambient conditions. In this way all the ingredients of olive oil, but also of other cosmetic natural oils, are maintained unaltered and add their beneficial properties for human body and hair into our unique, outstanding quality soaps.
Original Site: https://www.sapoonstore.com/en/flashbacks-questions/the-benefits-of-virgin-olive-oil
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