The soap history in Italy.

The Origins, Production, and Spread into Our Homes:

Soap is one of the most common products found in our homes. We use it every day to wash our hands, take a shower, do the laundry, or clean the house. Despite this apparent simplicity, soap has a very long history that spans thousands of years and involves chemical discoveries, artisanal traditions, and social changes.

In Italy, soap has not always been such a widespread product. For centuries it was considered a valuable commodity, produced in small quantities and used mainly for laundry or by people belonging to the wealthier classes. Only with the arrival of industrial production and the spread of new hygiene habits did soap become a fundamental part of everyday life.

An ancient predecessor: Aleppo Soap

Before soap production spread throughout Europe and Italy, there was already a long tradition in the Middle East of artisanal soaps made with olive oil. Among the most famous is Aleppo soap, originating from the city of Aleppo in present-day Syria.

This soap is considered one of the oldest still produced today. Its origins likely date back more than a thousand years, and its production method has remained surprisingly similar over time.

Aleppo soap is made with just a few natural ingredients:

• olive oil, which forms the base of the soap

• laurel oil, known for its beneficial properties for the skin

• water and natural soda

The traditional process involves cooking the ingredients in large cauldrons, followed by pouring the soap into large vats where it solidifies. It is then cut by hand into blocks and left to cure for several months, during which the soap develops its characteristic golden color on the outside and green color inside.

Thanks to Mediterranean trade routes, this type of soap also influenced European production techniques. Many historians believe that the tradition of olive-oil-based soaps, which later spread to several Italian cities, originated from these ancient Middle Eastern practices.

To truly understand its importance, it is necessary to trace the history of soap: from the earliest forms of detergents in antiquity, to medieval production in Italian cities, and finally to the arrival of modern soap.

Blocks of Aleppo soap stacked in large towers during the curing phase in traditional factories. Made with olive oil and laurel oil, the soap is left to dry for several months before being sold.

During this period the soap changes color: the outside turns golden, while the inside remains green, a characteristic feature of Aleppo soap.

The First Forms of Soap in History

The earliest traces of soap-like substances date back to around 2800 BC in ancient Mesopotamia. Some clay tablets discovered by archaeologists show that the Babylonians produced a mixture obtained by boiling animal fats with ashes.

This substance was not mainly used for personal hygiene, but rather for cleaning textiles and wool before processing.

The ancient Egyptians were also familiar with similar cleansing compounds. They used a mixture of vegetable oils and alkaline substances to wash the body and to treat certain skin conditions.

In the time of the Roman Empire, personal cleanliness was very important, but soap was not the main product used for washing. Romans regularly visited public baths, where they followed a very specific cleansing ritual.

The process was simple but effective:

• the body was covered with olive oil

• dirt and sweat were removed using a strigil, a curved scraping tool

• finally, people took hot and cold baths

Soap was nevertheless known, probably introduced by Celtic and Germanic peoples. However, its use remained limited for many centuries.

Medieval miniature. In the Middle Ages, personal hygiene already existed, but soap was relatively rare.

The First Soap Production in Italy

The actual production of soap in Italy began during the Middle Ages, between the 9th and 12th centuries. During this period, several Italian cities became important centers of soap production.

Among the most important were:

• Genoa

• Venice

• several cities in Liguria

• the territory of the Kingdom of Naples

These cities were major commercial and port centers, making it easy for them to import or obtain the raw materials needed for soap production.

Soaps produced in the Mediterranean area were particularly appreciated because they used olive oil, which produced a milder and more delicate soap compared to those made with animal fats.

Over time, specialized soapmakers’ workshops emerged, run by artisans skilled in soap production. In some cities, guilds were also formed to regulate product quality and production methods.

How Soap Was Produced in the Past

Soap production took place through a chemical process called saponification.

Saponification is a chemical reaction between:

• fats or oils

• alkaline substances

This reaction produces soap.

The main ingredients used during the Middle Ages were:

• olive oil

• animal fats

• water

• wood ash

In nineteenth-century factories, soap was produced by heating animal fats or vegetable oils with an alkali, a process that produces soap and glycerin. 

Illustration of workers in a soap factory in the 19th century. Large cauldrons were used to boil fats and alkaline substances until soap was produced.

The process was relatively simple but required experience.

• The ingredients were placed in large copper or iron cauldrons.

• The mixture was boiled for many hours.

• During boiling, the chemical reaction occurred that transformed fats and alkalis into soap.

• The mixture was then poured into large molds.

• After cooling, it was cut into blocks or bars.

The finished soap was then left to cure for several weeks or months, allowing it to become harder and more stable.

Domestic soap production using a cauldron over an open fire. The traditional method involved boiling animal fats or vegetable oils with lye obtained from wood ash. Historical photographs from the late 19th century.

What potash is and why wood ash was used

One of the fundamental elements in ancient soap production was potash.

Potash is an alkaline substance composed mainly of potassium carbonate. In the past, there were no industrial methods to produce it, so it was obtained from a very common material: wood ash.

When wood burns in a fireplace or oven, it leaves behind ash rich in minerals. Among these minerals is potassium, the key component for making lye.

To obtain potash, a fairly simple process was followed:

• Ashes were collected from the fireplace

• The ashes were mixed with water

• The resulting liquid was filtered

• This produced an alkaline solution called lye

Lye was the essential ingredient for transforming fats into soap.

This domestic method remained in use in Italian countryside homes until the 19th century. Many families made their own soap using:

• Leftover kitchen fat

• Fireplace ashes

• Rainwater

It was an economical way to obtain a cleaning agent, especially useful for laundry.

Soap in the Renaissance

During the Renaissance, soap began to become an increasingly common product in European cities.

Italian cities continued to be important centers of production and trade, and soap was also exported to other countries around the Mediterranean.

During this period, perfumed soaps also appeared, enriched with:

• Lavender

• Rosemary

• Citrus

• Aromatic herbs

These products were highly appreciated by noble families and European courts.

Despite this, soap remained a relatively expensive commodity, and not all families used it regularly for personal hygiene.

How Soap Was Sold

The way soap was sold in the past was very different from modern practices.

There were no packaging or brands as we know them today. Soap was sold loose, often in the form of large blocks.

The main places to buy soap were:

• City markets

• Soapmakers’ workshops

• Apothecaries

Apothecaries were the old pharmacies. Here, people could also purchase medicinal soaps, made with special ingredients for skin care.

Soap was often sold by weight: the merchant would cut a piece from the larger block and hand it to the customer.

Soap production in a 19th-century factory: workers mix fats and alkaline substances in large cauldrons before pouring the soap into molds. Illustration by Jules Férat (19th century) published in the book Les merveilles de l'industrie (circa 1870). Archive: Old Book Illustrations / Wellcome Library.

The Industrial Revolution

The real turning point in the history of soap occurred between the 18th and 19th centuries.

During this period, the development of chemistry made it possible to produce artificial alkalis, such as soda. This made soap production much simpler and less expensive compared to using wood ash.

Thanks to these innovations, the first soap industries emerged, capable of producing large quantities of soap.

Industrial production brought several changes:

• Reduced costs

• Greater availability of the product

• Widespread distribution

During this period, the first advertising campaigns also appeared, promoting soap as a symbol of hygiene and modernity.

When Did Soap Enter Italian Homes?

Soap began to truly spread into Italian homes between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Several factors contributed to this change:

• Improvement in hygiene conditions

• Growth of cities

• Development of industry

• Spread of public health campaigns

Public institutions began promoting the importance of washing hands and maintaining good personal hygiene.

During this period, soap ceased to be a rare commodity and became an everyday household essential.

The 20th Century

During the 20th century, soap production continued to evolve.

Alongside traditional soaps, new products appeared, such as:

• Liquid soaps

• Synthetic detergents

• Specialized products for hair and body

Companies began investing heavily in advertising, turning soap into a symbol of cleanliness, health, and well-being.

At the same time, many artisanal traditions continued to survive, especially in regions where olive oil production was widespread.

The Return of Artisan Soap

In recent years, there has been a true revival of natural artisanal soaps.

More and more people are looking for products that are:

• Natural

• Sustainable

• Free from harsh chemicals

Many artisanal workshops today produce soaps using simple ingredients such as:

• Olive oil

• Shea butter

• Essential oils

• Aromatic herbs

These soaps are often cured for several weeks, just as they were in past centuries.

Saponificio Zeni has been producing soaps since 1938. In the photo, our Sandalwood soap in 150 g format.

The history of soap in Italy tells much more than the story of a simple cleaning product. It is a story that spans centuries of technological evolution, artisanal traditions, and cultural change.

From the earliest mixtures of fats and ashes in antiquity to modern industrial production, soap has accompanied the evolution of society’s hygiene habits.

Today, it is hard to imagine daily life without soap. Yet behind every bar lies a long history of discoveries and innovation.

Located in the heart of the Italian soap-making tradition, Saponificio Zeni has been producing high-quality soaps since 1938, combining traditional manufacturing methods with the needs of modern consumers. The company uses carefully selected raw materials, vegetable oils, and gentle formulas for the skin, keeping alive the legacy of artisanal soaps that have accompanied Italian daily life for centuries.