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In the world of natural personal care, not all “premium” soaps are created equal. Some soaps are formulated primarily for cleansing efficiency, with fewer moisturizing oils to balance shelf life and cost. While these soaps can clean effectively, they can leave your skin feeling dry or stripped if used without dilution.
At Natural Soap Outpost, we take a different approach. Every ingredient is carefully selected and thoughtfully balanced to create a soap that cleans thoroughly while keeping your skin soft, hydrated, and comfortable.

Understanding the Ingredients

Take a look at a typical castile-style soap’s ingredient list:
Aqua, Coconut Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Other Oils, Fragrance, Tocopherol Acetate
Based on INCI rules, ingredients are listed in order of predominance by weight, and this order reveals a lot about how a soap behaves. If the primary two ingredients are coconut oil and potassium hydroxide, this implies that the "soap" portion of the formulation is primarily a potassium cocoate. This is highly effective as a cleanser but some consumers may perceive it as drying. To counter-act this property, oils listed later provide ‘superfatting,’ which can reduce the harshness of the potassium cocoate. However, these oils are added in small amounts because leaving free oils in soap requires careful formulation as it can impact shelf life.
By reading the ingredient order, consumers can get a sense of whether a soap will clean aggressively or cleanse gently while caring for skin. Taking another example, soaps that are primarily potassium olivate may feel gentler but will not produce such a light and bubbly lather.

Why Natural Soap Outpost is Different

We combine multiple oils in the right order to create a luxurious, creamy and bubbly lather that gently cleans while supporting skin’s natural moisture. This makes our soap suitable for hands, body, and face, and may be suitable for individuals with drier skin.
Rather than minimizing moisturizing oils for cost savings, we intentionally select premium ingredients to provide gentle cleansing and lasting hydration. Every wash is designed to be a pleasant, skin-loving experience — not just a cleaning step.

We Aim Higher

Even in a crowded market, we aim to deliver more value and a better experience. Our formula balances cleansing and hydration, giving you soap that feels indulgent, works effectively, and treats your skin with care. We’re committed to continuous improvement, always exploring ways to make our soap even better. With Natural Soap Outpost, you’re not just washing; you’re choosing a soap that respects your skin, enhances your daily routine, and prioritizes quality over shortcuts.

Natural Soap Outpost was recently featured in Voyage Houston Magazine's "Spotlight on Local Businesses" series. Here is a link to the article:
Voyage Houston article

Our story has roots in Kenya, where our love for nature and the environment inspired us to create a business that harmonizes with the earth. With these values at heart, we sought the help of a family-owned and operated business that uses time-honored soap making methods and locally sourced ingredients, crafting each batch by hand with care and dedication. Surrounded by the beauty of Kenya’s rich landscapes and vibrant ecosystems, they learned early on the importance of sustainability and the value of working with what nature provides.
Our soap is manufactured in Kenya, where our supplier collaborates with local merchants who use sustainable farming methods. By sourcing natural ingredients directly from our community, such as shea butter, and coconut oil, we not only ensure the highest quality but also support local livelihoods and promote biodiversity.
At Natural Soap Outpost, we believe soap should do more than just cleanse—it should tell a story, uplift the spirit, and honor the environment. That’s why every batch reflects our deep commitment to quality, authenticity, and eco-consciousness. From our zero waste practices and our unique refill system that reduces single-use plastics, sustainability is woven into every part of what we do.
We also take pride in making natural, premium soaps accessible to everyone. Our products are thoughtfully priced to ensure that you can enjoy the nourishing benefits of nature without stretching your budget.
At our filling stations, you can take your experience a step further by customizing your soap with our diverse selection of scents, including refreshing Citrus Garden, Herbal Serenity, and the earthy notes of Forest Walk. By blending tradition with personalization, we create a product that’s uniquely yours.
When you choose Natural Soap Outpost, you’re not just supporting a business, you’re supporting a family’s dream and helping to uplift a community. Join us in embracing nature with every wash, and be part of a movement that values sustainability, quality, and a love for the planet.

The Accidental Discovery of Soap

Legend has it that soap was first discovered by accident during a long-ago cookout. Imagine this: globs of animal fat dripping from roasting meat into ashes from the fire. The result? A slippery substance that turned out to be excellent at lifting dirt and grime from skin. This unintentional concoction became the foundation of soap as we know it.
Ancient Babylon is credited with the earliest evidence of soap-making, dating back to 2800 BCE. Archaeologists have uncovered clay tablets inscribed with instructions for mixing fats and ashes to create a cleansing agent. Similarly, ancient Egyptians around 1500 BCE combined animal and vegetable oils with alkaline salts to treat skin diseases and wash themselves. In fact, the Ebers Papyrus, a medical document from that era, details soap-like substances used for hygiene and medicinal purposes.

Soap’s Role in Ancient Civilizations

The Sumerians, Egyptians, and Babylonians weren’t the only ones using primitive soaps. Early Greeks and Romans also adopted cleansing methods, though soap was initially reserved for tasks like preparing wool for dyeing rather than personal hygiene. Sumerians boiled fats and oils with alkalis to produce effective cleaning solutions, while ancient Roman bathhouses used a mix of essential oils and abrasives like fine sand.
An intriguing Roman legend credits the word “soap” to Mount Sapo, a mythical site where animal sacrifices took place. Rain would wash a mixture of animal fat and ashes down into the Tiber River, where locals discovered its cleaning properties. Roman historian Pliny the Elder also documented soap-making recipes, indicating its uses for treating skin ailments and even dyeing hair. Though bathing habits declined after the fall of the Roman Empire, the knowledge of soap-making was never entirely lost.

The Middle Ages: Soap’s Survival and Evolution

During the Middle Ages, soap became a luxury item largely reserved for industries like cloth dyeing rather than personal hygiene. However, soap-making flourished in regions like Italy, Spain, and France, where olive oil and plant ash created high-quality soaps. Castile soap, made from olive oil, became especially popular and remains a classic to this day.
In Britain, soap-making centered in towns like Bristol and London. Artisans guarded their recipes closely, passing them down from master to apprentice. Interestingly, the production of certain soaps, like speckled soap made from animal tallow, was restricted due to the foul odor and the potential strain on tallow reserves needed for candle-making. As a result, soap was heavily taxed, making it a luxury for the wealthy.

The Renaissance of Hygiene

The Renaissance brought renewed interest in cleanliness, partly driven by advances in plumbing and the development of soap-making techniques. Chemists and soap manufacturers in the 17th and 18th centuries refined the process, experimenting with ingredients to create milder, more fragrant soaps. Perfumed soaps became a hit among the upper classes, with innovations like Andrew Pears’s gentle soap catering to delicate complexions.
In the United States, soap-making began as a household chore in the 1600s but quickly evolved into a commercial industry. The repeal of Britain’s soap tax in 1853 made soap more accessible, contributing to improved hygiene standards. During the Industrial Revolution, mechanization and steam power enabled mass production, transforming soap into an everyday necessity.

From Soap to Detergents: The Decline of Natural Soap

For centuries, the basic chemistry of soap remained unchanged: fats or oils combined with an alkali (like lye) through a process called saponification. This reaction produced a thick slurry that solidified into soap.
By the mid-20th century, German chemists discovered detergents during World War I, when shortages of animal and vegetable fats forced them to seek alternatives. Unlike traditional soap, detergents used synthetic surfactants to lift dirt and grease. These new products cleaned more effectively in hard water and didn’t leave behind soap scum.
Corporate giants saw an opportunity to cut costs and maximize profits by replacing real soap with synthetic detergents, concocted from petroleum byproducts and harsh chemicals. Unlike traditional soap, these artificial cleaners strip the skin of its natural oils, contribute to water pollution, and are often laced with irritants and toxins.
Thanks to aggressive marketing and mass production, chemical detergents became the norm, while the superior, time-tested benefits of real soap were buried under layers of industry-driven misinformation.
Today, many products labeled as “soap” are actually detergents. They may contain some traditional ingredients, like sodium tallowate (from animal fats) or sodium cocoate (from coconut oil), but they’re often mixed with chemical surfactants, brighteners, and other additives.

Soap’s Chemistry: How It Works

The magic of soap lies in its ability to reduce water’s surface tension. Soap molecules have a hydrophilic (water-attracting) head and a hydrophobic (water-repelling) tail. When you rub soap on your hands, its molecules surround dirt, grease, and even bacteria, forming tiny droplets called micelles. These micelles are then rinsed away with water, leaving your skin clean.
Interestingly, soap doesn’t kill germs. Instead, it lifts them off your skin and sends them down the drain. This mechanical action makes soap and water more effective than hand sanitizers, which rely on alcohol to neutralize bacteria and viruses.

A Testament to Tradition

The history of soap is a fascinating one and a testament to human creativity and the pursuit of cleanliness.
Today, while detergents dominate the market, artisanal soap makers like the ones at Natural Soap Outpost still work hard to keep the ancient, time-honored traditions alive.
At Natural Soap Outpost, we don't believe in harsh chemicals or artificial additives — just the wholesome, handcrafted quality that has cleansed generations before us.
Visit our store today and join us in the enduring human quest for a cleaner world.