#10 SOAP FACTS THAT’LL CHANGE HOW YOU SEE YOUR SHOWER – #5 IS INSANE!
Soap. That everyday MVP of your showers, hand washes, and self-care moments. You use it constantly, but have you ever stopped to think about where it comes from? How it’s made? Or if it’s ever been at the center of historic feuds? Get ready, because these 10 soap facts are about to scrub your brain clean.
1. SOAP WAS DISCOVERED BY ACCIDENT
Legend has it that ancient Romans at Mount Sapo noticed that animal fat from sacrifices mixed with ashes from bonfires and rainwater… and somehow, this magical sludge made things cleaner. The rest is (very bubbly) history.
2. SOAP WASN’T ALWAYS A “GUY THING”
Back in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, soap ads were exclusively targeted at women. Men? They weren’t the intended audience, so many avoided using it altogether. It took decades (and a lot of social pressure) for men to get on board—kinda like skincare today, right? 😉
3. HUMANS LOVE BREAKING SOAP RECORDS
Someone out there made a 5,200 kg (11,500 lb) bar of soap in Saudi Arabia in 2014. No clue how long it lasted, but that must have been one epic bath. And the priciest soap? A luxury Qatari bar with gold flakes, selling for a casual $2,800 per 100g.
4. MORE BUBBLES ≠ MORE CLEAN
If you think extra foam means better cleaning, think again. Bubbles are just a visual trick; they don’t actually do the cleaning. Some of the best soaps barely lather but still get the job done like a pro. 💨
5. PEOPLE IN THE MIDDLE AGES AVOIDED SOAP—BUT NOT FOR THE REASON YOU THINK
Soap was a luxury that only the rich could afford, but there was also a wild belief that bathing weakened the body or even reduced fertility. So, whether rich or poor, most people weren’t reaching for a bar of soap unless it was a special occasion.
6. VIKINGS WERE CLEANER THAN YOU THINK
Forget the stereotype of dirty, unkempt warriors—Vikings were all about hygiene. They made their own soap, which they also used to bleach their hair blonde. So next time you see a Viking with perfect hair in a show, it’s historically accurate.
7. SOAP IS A HUGE SYMBOL IN POP CULTURE
From The Great Gatsby (to “wash away” moral corruption) to Cinderella (transformation) to Psycho (that iconic shower scene), soap is often a metaphor for purification, renewal, or something intense about to go down. Next time you see soap in a movie, pay attention.
8. SOLID SOAP CAN LAST FOR CENTURIES
Ever found a rock-hard soap bar at your grandma’s house? It probably still works. Bar soaps, especially old-school laundry ones, can last decades without losing their cleaning power—just getting tougher over time. The oldest soaps ever found? Dating back to 2800 B.C. in Babylon.
9. SOAP HELPED KILL SILENT FILMS 🎥
Well, sort of. The first TV ads were for soap, and thanks to the massive budgets behind them, “soap operas” were born. As these sponsored radio and TV dramas took over, silent films started to fade away. 🎭
10. YES, SOAP CAN CATCH FIRE (DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME) 🔥
Since soap contains fats, if you heat it enough, it can actually catch fire. So yeah, throwing a bar of soap into the microwave for fun? Not the best idea.
Now that you know all this, next time you lather up, show some #Respect to that soap bar—it’s got a pretty wild history.
P.S.: Ready to take your shower game to the next level? Siwon just dropped a body soap line designed to awaken your senses while keeping your skin on point. Mintastic energizes and fights breakouts, while Chill&Tea relaxes and leaves your skin crazy soft. Grab both—your shower will thank you.