Soap may seem like an everyday staple. We find its story particularly remarkable. With roots stretching back thousands of years, soap has served as so much more than a mere tool for cleanliness. It symbolized luxury, art, and culture. From ancient Babylon to modern Paris, soap can do more for you than washing. It connects to the past, indulges in beauty, and transforms a daily ritual into something functional and profound. Read on to look at how this modest bar has evolved into something truly everlasting.
Ancient wisdom: soap’s beginnings and enduring methods
Has hygiene become an obsession in modern times? Quite the contrary. Soap-making spans nearly 5,000 years, connecting us to a rich historical tradition. Archaeologists have found traces of soap in ancient Babylonian clay artifacts, complete with recipes etched into the surface. In Aleppo, artisans crafted their version by blending olive oil, laurel berry oil, and lye and cooling it underground into avocado-green sheets. Remarkably, we still use this method today, a testament to the enduring legacy of ancient wisdom.
Legend even links Cleopatra to the legacy of Aleppo soap, with stories of the Egyptian queen bathing in milk and using the olive oil blend to nourish her skin. Fast-forward to 13th-century Florence, where Santa Maria Novella, the world’s oldest pharmacy, began as a convent where Dominican monks hand-crafted remedies and soaps using natural ingredients. They produced creations like buttery milk soaps, a tradition that continues today. Infused with patchouli, verbena, or left neutral, these luxurious bars combine ancient monastic craftsmanship with timeless elegance. Experience the legacy of Santa Maria Novella at boutiques in Seoul, Sydney, Miami, or Bangkok, or order online to enjoy this Florentine heritage at home. Their luxurious creations also make perfect gifts for any occasion!
Nostalgia and luxury: soap in the 20th century
The mid-20th century brought soap into the cultural spotlight in surprising ways, sparking nostalgia and appreciation for its influence. Brands like Pears and Cussons sponsored radio and TV programs, giving rise to the term “soap operas.” Even the world of high fashion took note—when photographer Cecil Beaton was asked to define elegance, he replied without hesitation: “Soap and water!” It’s easy to imagine Beaton’s muses—Maria Callas, Barbra Streisand, or Baroness Fiona Thyssen-Bornemisza—relaxing after a long day with a rose-scented Dior soap bar. Dior continues this legacy today with its Prestige Le Savon line, a reimagined nod to mid-century luxury.
Around the same time, Diptyque began elevating soap to an art form. Their smooth, glossy bars, embossed with elegant typography, look almost too beautiful to use. Watching the lettering fade with each wash feels bittersweet and poetic—a reminder of life’s fleeting beauty.
Meanwhile, Yardley of London emerged as a quintessential symbol of British refinement. Famous for their lavender soap, Yardley became synonymous with sophistication, gracing the vanities of post-war households. The brand’s floral-scented bars and elegant packaging reflected an enduring charm that bridged nostalgia and modernity.
Modern artistry: design and functionality in soap
In recent years, soap has seen a renaissance as a functional product and a design statement, intriguing and appreciative of its versatility. Even artists have explored its potential. In Thomas Barnthaler’s 2015 book Do It Yourself: 50 Projects by Designers and Artists, John Baldessari provided instructions on soap carving in a work titled A Large Piece of Soap Becomes a Small Piece of Soap Eventually. His playful approach reflects the ephemeral nature of soap while elevating it to an art form.
At Salone del Mobile 2024 in Milan, architect Nicolas Schuybroek collaborated with Aesop to create an installation called Form Follows Formulation. Using Aesop’s cleansing slabs as building blocks, Schuybroek crafted a monolithic structure that celebrated simplicity and elegance.
Fashion brands have also embraced soap’s artistic side. Loewe’s Scent of Marihuana bar, for instance, pairs exfoliating red algae with a soothing sativa aroma, complete with a linen rope for decorative display. Meanwhile, French brand Provendi has reimagined wall-mounted soaps as rotating sculptures, combining charm with practicality.
From ancient traditions to modern reinvention, soap transcends serving as a mere cleanser. We marvel at it as a piece of history, a canvas for artistry, and a small luxury that enriches daily life. Symrise, too, drives innovation in the soap category—explore the latest breakthroughs here. Next time you lather up, pause to appreciate its journey, craftsmanship, and the simple joy it brings. While soap may vanish with each use, its allure and impact remain timeless.
