Soap vs Body Wash

One question that comes up fairly often when people stop by my table at a market is whether there’s really much difference between soap and body wash.

At first glance they seem pretty similar. Both are used in the shower and both are meant to clean your skin. But the way they’re made — and the ingredients they rely on — are actually quite different.

Traditional bar soap is made through a process called saponification. Oils and lye combine through a chemical reaction and transform into soap and glycerin. Once that reaction is complete and the soap has cured, the finished bar is a relatively simple product made from oils that have turned into soap.

Body wash works differently. Most liquid body washes are not technically soap at all. Instead, they’re usually made with synthetic detergents, which are designed to create foam and break down oils quickly. Because body wash contains a large amount of water and stays liquid in the bottle, it almost always requires preservatives to prevent bacteria, mold, or yeast from growing over time.

That’s one of the main reasons ingredient lists for body wash tend to be much longer. Preservatives, stabilizers, thickeners, and complex fragrance blends are added so the product stays shelf stable and performs the same way every time.

Traditional soap generally doesn’t need those same additions. Because bar soap is solid and has already gone through the saponification process, it is naturally resistant to microbial growth. That’s one of the reasons soap has been used for centuries as a simple and effective cleanser. Many people who start paying closer attention to ingredients eventually find themselves drawn back to traditional soap. The recipes tend to be simpler and easier to understand, often made from oils like olive oil, coconut oil, or goat milk.

Lastly, a true liquid soap, created through the same soap-making chemistry rather than synthetic detergents, is also possible. When made properly, liquid soap doesn’t rely on the same types of preservatives used in conventional body wash due to its concentration and pH levels. Instead, it’s a true soap concentrate that has hundreds of uses (maybe that will be next weeks article!) Liquid soap is something I’ve been working on here on the farm as well, and I’m excited to introduce a liquid Castile soap soon.

For many people, the difference between soap and body wash ultimately comes down to ingredients. When the goal is to simplify everyday routines and reduce unnecessary chemicals, traditional soap and simple liquid soaps like Castile, tend to be the direction people go.

Sometimes going back to the basics really is the easier option.

Ok, bye!