The origin of soapmaking and the difference between natural, industrial, and syndet soaps

What is saponification?

Saponification is a natural occurrence between vegetable oils and an alkaline base, resulting in the formation of soaps and vegetable glycerin.

This is the process that underpins natural soaps and is one of the main contributors to the quality of the skin experience.

Soapmaking has ancient roots.

Civilizations like Mesopotamia, around 2800 BC, already produced a primitive form of soap by combining fats with ashes, a natural alkaline base.

Centuries later, the Arabs perfected this process by using lye, giving rise to saponification as we know it today.

The principle remains the same to this day:
oils transform into soap… and naturally create glycerin in the process.

And it is precisely this structure that makes saponified soap so different in practice.

How has soap evolved throughout history?

With industrialization, especially from the 19th century onwards, production began to prioritize scale, standardization, and durability.

It was in this context that mechanically molded industrial soaps emerged, such as pressed and extruded ones, developed to maintain a uniform shape and a longer shelf life.

In the 20th century, during World War I, a shortage of natural fats led to the development of what are called syndets. Cleansing bars formulated with synthetic detergents.

They were created to meet specific industry demands.

But it follows a completely different logic from traditional soapmaking.

What is the difference between natural, industrial, and syndet soap?

Not all soap is the same; texture, feel, lather, and ability to disperse aroma vary, and this difference starts with the process.

Natural saponified soap is produced from vegetable oils and an alkaline base. In this process, vegetable glycerin is naturally formed and remains in the formula.

This results in a more balanced cleanse, with a richer texture, creamier feel, and greater skin layer.

Furthermore, the combination of vegetable oils with natural active ingredients, such as premium mineral clays, used in De La Terre soaps, contributes to a cleanse that goes beyond the surface, helping to purify, balance, and respect the skin's natural function.

Industrial soaps, such as pressed and extruded ones, undergo refining, heating, and mechanical molding processes to ensure uniform shape, greater durability, and large-scale production.

In this process, glycerin is often removed, and the formulation then relies on synthetic agents for texture, lather, and stability.

Syndets, on the other hand, do not undergo saponification. They are formulated with synthetic detergents, developed for pH control and standardization.

They fulfill their cleansing function.

But they operate with a different logic.

While saponified soap preserves the integrity of oils and glycerin, industrial systems prioritize shelf-life behavior.

And this is directly reflected in the experience.

A cleanse can be merely functional
or it can be a self-care experience.

Why is saponification still relevant today?

When you understand the origin of soap, you realize that it has always been a natural transformation.

Oil + alkaline base → soap + glycerin.

In traditional saponification, this glycerin remains in the formula, contributing to a more comfortable and balanced cleanse.

When combined with noble vegetable oils and well-selected natural active ingredients, this structure allows for a more sophisticated formulation, with better feel and greater respect for the skin.

It's not about nostalgia.

It's about formulating with coherence.

The resurgence of tradition in modern cosmetics

Today, cosmetics have evolved... a lot.

But that doesn't mean that everything modern replaces what is essential.

The resurgence of ancestral soapmaking is not a step backward.

It is a technical choice.

A way of preserving a process that works, respects the skin, and maintains the integrity of the formulation.

At De La Terre, this choice is fundamental.

We unite tradition, science, and modern control to bring saponification into current reality, with performance, feel, and sophistication.

Summary: what is the difference between types of soap?

Natural saponified soap retains the glycerin formed in the process, uses vegetable oils, and can be enriched with natural active ingredients such as clays and activated charcoal (as in our case), resulting in a more balanced cleanse and a more sophisticated feel.

Industrial pressed and extruded soaps prioritize standardization, durability, and scale, where most of the glycerin is removed and there is a dependence on additives.

Syndets, in turn, do not undergo saponification. They are formulated with synthetic detergents and therefore do not produce glycerin.

These are different formulation approaches, with distinct propositions and experiences.

Conclusion

The history of soap shows that there are different paths.

Saponification is the oldest of them, and it remains one of the most consistent when the goal is to respect the skin, raw materials, and the user experience.

More than a trend, it is a principle that has endured for centuries.

And when well formulated, it transforms the simple act of cleansing into a ritual of care.