The Origin Of Soaps: The History And History Of Soaps

1813 Words4 Pages

History of Soap
The history of soaps dates back to as far as six thousand years ago. In the beginning, soaps were not necessarily used to wash the body but to clean fabrics such as wool and cotton in the textile industry before being weaved into cloth. Furthermore, soaps were also used for medicinal purposes for threatening sores, skin aliments as well as washing wounds. The importance of soap for personal washing was recognized during the later centuries of the Roman era (Soap History, n.d.).
In the beginning, soap was produced by mixing ashes with animal fat. However, Arabs were the first ones to produce soaps from vegetable and aromatic oils and lye. Their soaps were perfumed and colored and both solid and liquid. Later on, Marseilles, …show more content…

They can feature glycerin, or special oil blends.
2. Anti-bacterial Soaps
Antibacterial soap is made to prevent bacteria and viruses from spreading. Chemicals such as activemicrobial ingredients are added to antibacterial soaps which can kill bacteria and microbes.
3. Medicated Soaps
Medicated soaps and original soap are very similar. Unlike original soap, medicated soap has the addition of antiseptics and disinfectants.
4. Laundry Soaps
Laundry soaps are formulated to eliminate grease, solid particles and organic compounds from clothes.
Global Soap Manufacturers & Brands
The global soap market is dominated by a small number of multinational companies and soap is only one segment of their entire product range. Five big players dominate the global soap market: Unilever, Procter and Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, Johnson and Johnson, and the Kao Corporation of Japan (DataMonitor, …show more content…

• Experts estimate this rate to go up to 3.3% in the upcoming years.
The industry is said to have acquired the mature stage in its lifecycle where it faces consolidation and stability. Not much is expected to change over the next few years; however there are some factors that need to be looked at for the future (Palmolive, September 2011).
An Overview:
Soap is generally classified as a staple commodity alongside detergents category in the personal care markets. A survey conducted by the Euromonitor in 2010 shows that soap (detergents) has 15 % of consumer expenditure on household goods in industrialized countries and between 2.6 % to 5 % in the developing world. (Euromonitor, 2010)
The world market for Soaps
GLOBAL SOAP CONSUMPTION (2010)
EUROMONITOR
Region Consumption
Asia 35%
Western Europe 31%
North America 21%
Latin America & Caribbean 4%
Middle East

More about The Origin Of Soaps: The History And History Of Soaps

Open Document