Olive Oil Is the First Ingredient in Every Bar

Olive oil is the first ingredient in every soap we make. It is not an add-in or seasonal. Is in the base of every batch with no exceptions. 

Ten minutes, water running, before the days starts making demands on you or right after it finally lets you go. A different kind of ritual that does not involve 15 steps, candles, or the perfect mood lighting. Just a bar that does something the second it touches your skin so you can settle into yourself once again, no matter what time of the day this is. 

When it comes to how olive oil is stored and packaged, we are very selective about how it is kept and the traditions behind it. 

Glass, not plastic

Olive oil is a great ingredient for cleansing. It works well at removing makeup because it is good at pulling oil-soluble stuff off your skin. That exact same trait is effective at pulling chemicals out of plastic. Same mechanism, way worse audience.

This is one of the reasons why we use olive oil that stored in glass or tin before it even goes into our soaps. Plastic is an open invitation for light, air, and heat. Heat kills the antioxidants and fatty acids you pay for at your next trip to Sephora. It an oils sits in a plastic bottle under supermarket light for months, I am not saying it is ruined but no matter how many organic labels they slap on that container, chances are it has already lost its potency.

People figured this out a long time ago

Olive oil has been doing the work for a while. Ancient Greeks used it in body care, skincare, and soap, centuries before it touched the cast iron skillet in your kitchen. Often called "liquid gold", a term usually credited to the Greek poet Homer, who valued it on the same level as treasure. A glowing complexion was peak status then and still is now.

Side note and an entirely necessary plug: The same instinct that Homer and them had is still at work at The Ancient Olive. This gourmet olive oil company also makes a body care line, which we private label using their own olive oil.  Check them out if you are local to Winter Park, St. Augustine, and Winter Garden, Florida. 

If you've used a bar from us, you have already used this. Shop the soaps and if you want something to layer on top, our body oils pick up where soap leaves off.

Quick hits, if you are skimming

• Why is olive oil the first ingredient in your soap? It is the ingredient doing the actual work. Every bar starts with it.
• Why store olive oil in glass instead of plastic? Olive oils pulls chemicals out of plastic. Glass and tin doesn't.
• Does storage actually affect olive oil's potency? Yes. Light, air, and heat can break down the antioxidants in olive oil over time. 
• Is olive oil actually good for skin? Yes. Antioxidants and fatty acids soften and moisturize. This is why it is the base of soap and not an add-in.