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The History of Tallow in Soapmaking

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Tallow has a long history of use in soap making, dating back to ancient civilizations such as the Babylonians, Egyptians, and Romans. These cultures used a mixture of animal fats (including tallow, which is the fat from sheep and cattle) and plant ashes to create basic soap-like substances for cleaning purposes. It was in medieval Europe that soap making became more refined. Tallow was a common ingredient due to its widespread availability from animal slaughter and its ability to create a firm and stable soap bar. However, the quality of soap varied greatly depending on the source of tallow and the soap-making techniques used.


The next significant development in soap making came in the 19th century with the introduction of a method to produce hard soap using sodium hydroxide (lye) and fats like tallow. This method allowed for more consistent and predictable results in soap production, leading to the mass production of soap. Tallows’ continued utilization in soap production was driven by its abundance, availability, and the desirable qualities it brings to soap formulations. These desirable qualities include its ability to produce a rich lather and provide moisturizing properties. In addition, a pure tallow soap is a “hard” bar that is long lasting.


As industrialization progressed, soap making became a large-scale industry. Tallow remained a primary ingredient due to its cost-effectiveness and desirable soap-making characteristics but again, the quality of soap varied depending on the quality of the tallow used. In the mid-20th century, the shift towards using vegetable oils in soap making gained momentum for several reasons including availability, cost and the movement away from using animal by-products in skin care. Palm oil, coconut oil, and olive oil started to replace tallow in many soap formulations.


In recent decades, there has been a resurgence of interest in traditional and artisanal soap making which has resulted in a return to animal fats. Soap makers choose to use tallow in their formulations for a variety of reasons; for some it is used because it is a traditional material, while others want to avoid waste by utilizing more of the animal. It becomes a sustainable choice when it is sourced locally as a by-product. For others still, they are interested in the desirable properties it imparts to the soap.


For us here at Borderlands Farm, all of these reasons apply but perhaps most importantly, we really like the soap we can make when tallow is used! Brody is perhaps the biggest critic when it comes to soap, so we knew when it became his preferred kind that we had found a winning recipe. He expects a good lather even in our hard water, he wants it to be a hard bar so it doesn’t “melt” or get mushy and he wants it to last a reasonable amount of time. And of course, it has to actually work to get you clean!


Our rendered sheep tallow.
Our rendered sheep tallow.



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