Originally named after the olive-oil based soaps from Castile, Spain, liquid castile soap is made via the traditional process of saponifying plant based-oils. This is when you turn a fat or oil into a soap by mixing it with an alkali (in this case, Potassium Hydroxide or Lye). The result is a multi-purpose gentle yet effective plant-based soap concentrate that we absolutely love!
How is it made?
"We heat the organic coconut oil and Australian olive oil gently and then add the perfect ratio of potassium hydroxide (lye) which, when mixed with the oils, creates soap molecules. Mix that soap with distilled water and it creates charged atoms that capture dirt and other grime." - quote from our supplier.
By diluting our castile soap with water and adding various essential oils, you can easily create many different products all from the one bottle. Great for DIY beauty and personal care products, non-toxic natural home cleaning, pet washing and can even be used in the garden.
What are the ingredients in ours?
We have kept our Castile Soap really simple! It only includes the following few ingredients:
- Saponified Coconut Oil (Organic)
- Australian Olive Oil
- Filtered Water
- Potassium Hydroxide (Lye) - this is used to make the castile, but is not present in the final product.
And.....That's it!
In addition, our Honest to Goodness Castile soap is made here in Australia.
What makes ours special?
NOT all Castile soaps are created equal! Many Castile soaps on the market are not made traditionally (as ours is), often containing high amounts of filler oils such as vegetable oil or animal fats. Ours is made traditionally and uses high quality Organic Coconut Oil and Australian Olive Oil. It is free from artificial surfactants, parabens and sulphates and synthetic colours and fragrance. It contains no mineral or palm oils or any ingredients derived from animals.
What can I do with it?
- Hand or body wash - Small amount onto hands/washcloth and apply to wet skin. Scent with your favourite essential oils - we like our uplifting blend.
- Shaving soap - Lather onto legs/underarms and shave.
- Dog wash - Squirt a small amount into hands and work into wet pet hair. Leave unscented to avoid irritation. Rinse.
- Dishwashing liquid - Add 2 squirts of the concentrate into hot water (won't bubble like synthetic dishwashing liquids, but degreases and shines dishes).
- Make-up brush cleaner - Wet brush, use 1 squirt of castile and swirl in palm of hand, running under water until it runs clear. Repeat 2-3 times if needed.
- Laundry liquid - Add 1/4 cup for a small load and 1/2 cup for a large load.
- Fruit & veg wash - simply mix 1/4 teaspoon Castile Soap into a bowl of water, wash dirt & debris off then rinse in cold water. Our Castile Soap, being so pure, is perfectly safe and non-toxic.
- Shampoo - Dilute 2 tbsp into 1 cup water and pour over wet hair. lather, rinse and follow with conditioner!
- Bubble bath - Add a squirt of Castile plus a squirt of glycerin to your bath along with your favourite essential oils.
- Make-up removing cleanser - Mix 1 tbsp melted coconut oil with 2 tbsp Castile soap. Apply to damp face in circular motions and then rinse or towel of with washcloth. Skin is cleansed and makeup free without being dried out.
- Multipurpose house cleaner - Mix 1/4 cup Castile Soap to 1L water in a spray bottle. Optional: Add 5-10 drops of your favourite Essential oil, we love peppermint or sweet orange for cleaning *caution- essential oils can degrade some surfaces, so use with care or leave out completely.
- Tough cleaning cleanser - Add 1/4 cup bicarb soda to 2 tbsp Castile soap. Add water 1 tbsp at a time until you get a paste. This cleaning is abrasive but non-scratch. Great for ceramic, ovens and soap scum.
- Non-toxic bug spray for plants - 1tbsp to 500ml water. Mix and spray onto plants daily. If using on edibles, rinse before eating.
With so many different uses, why not buy our 5L refill size? You can decant into various jars or bottles or spray bottles you have at home, depending on what usage you have in mind, from kitchen to bathroom to garden!
Also make sure to label your containers clearly, so you know what's what!
Things NOT to mix Castile Soap with:
- VINEGAR: Combining vinegar with castile soap can also leave behind a white film. This is because the alkaline nature of the soap reacts with the acid vinegar, and they cancel each other out. This changes the soap back to its original oils.
- LEMON JUICE: Castile soap shouldn’t be combined with lemon juice for the same reasons it doesn’t combine well with vinegar.
- HAIR COLOUR: Don’t use castile soap on colour-treated hair as it may strip away some of the colour.
