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Today we are sharing a great article about the uses of Ivory soap! We will also share the fascinating history behind this soap which I think is what makes it so unique. FYI, this post is NOT sponsored by P&G, I just wanted to share this information with readers. I did reach out to P&G to fact check the history, and they also sent over these great pictures!
Of course, we will also be diving into some soap science which is really important to us on Chemistry Cachet.
I absolutely love vintage and old-fashioned skincare, cleaning, and personal care products.
We have shared posts like old-fashioned skincare tips that work and old-fashioned cleaning products that work amazing!
Not only is the history so incredible behind vintage products, but the science is also amazing! I am amazed how there are many products we use today that were create in the 1800s. These products continue to outshine many other products which goes to show good science-based items never go out of style.
Which brings us to Ivory Soap.
Fascinating History, Science, and Uses of Ivory Soap
All the pictures (aside from the ones we have taken) are courtesy of P&G Heritage Center & Archives. Thank you for providing these for our post!
Why We Decided To Do a Post on Ivory Soap?
There was an old black and white movie playing the other day, and in the movie, she was using a bar of Ivory soap. I know my grandmother loves Ivory soap and has talked about it many times.
Then, I was scrolling through Pinterest the other day checking out vintage ads from the 1940s and an Ivory soap ad popped up.
I have also been dealing with some pretty severe hand eczema, so I had a visit with my doctor. He told me to switch to a gentle bar soap like Ivory soap for hand washing.
This is when I decided to do a post on Ivory soap! It just keeps popping up, and it has been a popular product since the 1800s.
Before we go into some history, I wanted to talk a little bit about soap.
What is the definition of soap?
This term is used constantly in our world today, but the true definition of a soap is “a substance used with water for washing and cleaning, made of a compound of natural oils or fats with sodium hydroxide or another strong alkali, and typically having perfume and coloring added.”
According to this article from Jrank Science website, soap is the result of a chemical reaction between triglycerides and a base (today this is typically lye). This is called saponification where the triglycerides are broken down to fatty acids and neutralized into salts.
Fascinating History of Ivory Soap
This is what I love about vintage products…the history! It is amazing to me that a product created in the 1800s is still in use today. You know it is a good product when it is still being manufactured and sold centuries later.
So, what makes Ivory soap unique? Well, what made it unique in 1879 was it FLOATED.
This was an important property to people back in this time period who bathed in rivers and lakes. If your soap fell, it would sink and you might never see it again. But if your soap floated, you never had to worry!
In 1879, Harley Procter was thinking about this new soap. It was called “White Soap” for lack of a better name and how products were named during this time period, but Procter knew it needed to be something special. As he sat with his family in church one morning, he listened to the 45th Psalm. The 8th verse reads, “All your robes are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia; from palaces adorned with ivory.” He knew that was the name! Ivory! And this was the beginning of brand-named products as we know them today.
Science Behind Ivory Soap
Another fascinating part of Ivory soap history is the science on how it works. The soap machines were set to mix up a batch of soap much longer than the typical requirement, working so much air into the batter, it made the mixture lighter. This made the soap float! After a batch was sent out the first time, they received letters from store owners wanting more of this FLOATING soap!
Many articles state that this floating soap phenomenon was discovered by accident, but it wasn’t. According to information found in James N. Gambles original lab notebook from the 1850s, his notes show he actually invented floating soap over a decade before Ivory soap would launch. James N. Gamble was the son of P&G founder James Gamble, marketer Harley Procter’s cousin, and became known as the “Father of P&G R&D.”
From the beginning, Ivory soap was 99 and 44/100 % pure. As we talked about above, soap is simply made from oil or fat with a caustic substance. What made Ivory soap so superior, was quality of ingredients along with the skill of how it is blended. In fact, Ivory soap established a demand for quality that P&G products must meet.
Continued Quality From Ivory Soap
From the beginning, Ivory soap represented value. People knew when they purchased a bar of Ivory soap it would be good quality each time.
According to P&G , plant personnel make 13 analyses on each incoming shipment of the two kinds of fat used in making Ivory. Representatives from P&G periodically visit suppliers to ensure quality of the basic materials. The remaining eight raw materials used for Ivory must meet more than 20 raw material specifications.
The intermediate product, called base soap, contains more than 100 sampling instructions listed in Manufacturing Standards, from every 30 minutes to once a month.
At individual plants, the finished Ivory bar undergoes more than 25 lab examinations including odor, color, bar feel, density, and moisture plus product and wrapper appearance.
There are so many more things that go into the quality of Ivory, but the ones listed above really blew me away!
Uses of Ivory Soap
Now that we know more about what makes Ivory soap so unique and interesting, here are some great ways you can start using it today!
These are ways I have tried out and enjoyed. I also stumbled across this incredible publication from 1916 from Cornell University published by P&G. It had so many neat ways to use Ivory soap. Please refer to this publication if you would like more details on some of our tips below. I am also sharing my favorite ways to use Ivory soap 🙂
1. Wash Your Hands
This is how I am using Ivory soap the most. With all the extensive hand washing I have been doing, my poor hands have eczema pretty bad. I had a visit with the doctor, he said to switch my hand soap to a simple bar soap like Ivory soap (this is what inspired me to do this post today). Anyways, it has been great to use it for hand washing. It is so gentle, but also gets hands clean. I keep this in my bathrooms now!
2. Wash Your Face
If you want a very gentle facial cleanser, you can use a bar of Ivory soap just like you do for hands! People always used Ivory soap for their faces because it was gentle. In the 1950s, women always used Ivory soap as part of their skincare routine. It makes a great, affordable option now too.
3. Clean Outdoor Chairs Like Wicker
You can get a bucket of warm water, grate some Ivory soap in it, and mix it up until it suds. The publication I mentioned above says to also add a pinch of salt. With a cloth or soft scrub brush, clean the wicker chairs. You can also use this for all types of outdoor furniture like metal, even wood.
4. Cleaning Brass or Copper
I thought this tip was awesome from the 1916 publication! Dip a cloth into lemon juice, then rub it on a bar of Ivory. Scour the item really well, adding more lemon juice and soap as needed. When the soap is dry, polish with a soft cloth (buff). Rinse in hot water and dry.
5. Keep Finger Nails Clean Working In Dirt
This tip is so easy, but a great idea. The publication mentions to rub a bar of Ivory soap before going out in the yard to work. It will keep dirt from getting under your finger nails, and make it even easier to clean your hands!
6. Manicure Nails
Since the tip above talks about finger nails, I thought this was another great option from this publication. Finely shave about half of a bar of Ivory soap into 1/2 cup of very hot water. Stir in 2 teaspoons of olive oil, then let it cool. Rub the cream around the cuticles and nails. It will clean and condition your nails! You can buff it off after a few minutes.
7. Cleaning Makeup Brushes
If you check out our homemade makeup brush cleaner post, you can substitute the dish soap with Ivory soap! Make sure the water is really hot and add in about 2 tsp of shaved Ivory soap. When it is dissolved, add remaining ingredients and follow the same directions. This would be a great alternative for anyone with sensitive skin!
8. Clean Sponges
I love this tip from the 1916 publication! When your cleaning sponges smell sour, rub a fresh lemon with the sponge. Rinse it in warm water with some Ivory soap in it several times. It will be like new. I have done this many times with dish sponges and it works great. I like to do this after just a few uses because sponges get so dirty!
9. Remove Stains
Make an Ivory soap paste with half a bar of Ivory soap shaved finely to one quart of water. Heat it up on the stove until it is almost boiling, but not quite for 10 minutes. Remove from heat and allow it to cool. Keep in a glass jar with a screw lid. You can rub this solution on clothing stains, let it sit for awhile then wash as you normally would. You can also spray hydrogen peroxide on top of this solution once it is applied to a stain to enhance the stain fighting!
10. Insecticide
You can use Ivory soap as an insecticide too! You can wash the leaves of a plant with ivory soap to keep insects away or even grate up the soap bar and place around the plant.
11. Sachet Powder
The last tip today is a sachet powder, but more modern. The 1916 version says to grate a bar of Ivory soap and mix with your favorite powder in a sachet to add to linen draws, clothes drawers, or anything like this. Instead of mixing it with powder, you can add in some drops of essential oil. The scent will stay longer due to the moisture in the soap! I have seen people use little cheesecloth for sachets or a piece of fabric works too.
As you can see, there are so many great ways to use Ivory soap. Everything in our post is referring to bar soap, but you can also purchase liquid Ivory soap! My mom uses it for dishes and cleaning (as shown in the pictures).
I hope you enjoyed this post today!
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Essential oil right on top of the grated soap, then It can go right in the drawer, or closet, how about for shoe smells?? Great used this when I was a young girl…loved when it floated. ?
Going out to buy a bar,. Hands rashing like yours and cannot use alcohol on my skin… THANKS ALEXIS…
You’re. The best…..
You can put in shoes too! This has been so helpful for hand washing too especially with all the rashes I’ve had with the harsh soaps! I hope you enjoy using it too 🙂
My mom would whip the detergent with water and put on trees to emulate snow. I have done it several times myself. The house smells clean the entire season. Love Ivory soap.
That’s so cool! It’s really great stuff 🙂
Back in the day, 1950’s – 1960’s IVORY soap was used for babies…..does it burn there ‘eye’s’….how long will the sachets last, as far as fragrance goes,,,,using essential oil….
8-18-2020
It depends, but usually a few weeks!
What a bloody great post I found it very interesting
Thank you! So glad you enjoyed it!
What a trip down history lane with Ivory. I did not know it has been around so long! Thanks for the household tips! When I was a preteen my atopic dermatitis flared up badly. We washed my clothes separately in Ivory Snow detergent.
I have not used the detergent before! The bar soap has been very helpful for my bad hands though 🙂
I was/am an Ivory baby. My mom believed in it and it was all we had in the house. It is still the only soap I use on my face and body. I’m 65 and receive compliments on my skin all the time. I do not use makeup remover or expensive creams etc. Lucky genetics but I also think it is the Ivory.
Wow that is so cool Gail!! Thanks for sharing!
I loved reading this post. Now in my late 60’s, it brought back some good memories. I used to make sailboats out of ivory soap. My boys loved playing with them in the bathtub.
That’s so neat! I love memories like that !
I did that too for my kids!
I was brought up using Ivory soap!
That’s so cool!!
Before, Ivory soap was widely available throughout the Philippines. But now, since P&G stopped its production for the said country, we find it hard to distinguish the true or genuine Ivory bar soap available in the market since it has different packaging… The ones we always buy has this sticker saying “Imported and Distributed by RPG Distribution Services, Inc….” Can you help us identify which Ivory-labelled soap is true? How does it smell and look? Has P&G put any mark or seal to indicate it’s genuinely from them? Hope to get a helpful reply from you.
Hi! I am not sure how to answer this question, but I am sending an email to P&G now to get some answers for you. I will reply back once I get some details.
As a teen, I got patches of
little oily pimples/blisters, on my face. A
paste of Ivory suds, left on it overnight,
would dry it up, in no time.
That’s awesome!!
I still use Ivory soap. I kind if miss the box of Ivory flakes they used to have I used it under the Christmas tree for snow. I believe they discontinued it years ago.
I remember my grandma talking about using that for snow too! I believe it was discontinued just a few years back
I’m curious if Ivory Body Wash is as pure/natural as Ivory Bar Soap. I would like to avoid any chemical additives and when I read the Body Wash ingredients I’m not sure what all of them are. Bar soaps can be so messy which I why I switched to body washes but I’m concerned about using any chemicals and artificial fragrances as more information has come out they are harmful to our endocrine system. Thank you!
I have not researched the body wash in-depth yet, but I can reach out to the manufacturer and get some ingredients to look at for you! I will get back to you soon after I hear back
I grew up using Ivory soap and my mom used it for various other reasons. I had forgotten all the wonders it holds. Thanks so much for the reminder.
It is such a great and unique product! With a fun history too!
What are your thoughts on using this in DIY laundry soap (instead of Zote of Fels Naptha)? Since it’s “fluffed”, I would assume you’d need to use more of it.
I prefer using this in hand washing methods versus in a machine because it won’t hold us as well during a full wash. We have a post next week about laundry bar soaps by the way 🙂 It will be published on Tuesday.
I love using it I even make a liquid laundry detergent I use the bar ivory and washing soda and baking soda and water too works great or if washing by hand or great to get stains out I scrub the wet t shirt sock whatever with the bar untill I think it has enuph soap and with my hands or laundry wash board either way it’s amazing I scrub the cloth together real good rinsing and it’s great for handeashing out all my stains too. Sometimes I add boarx to my recipe for detergent but other times I dont
I use ivory soap to soak hand and or feet for onycholysis this condition is where the skin separates from the nail . I am a licensed nail technician and I recommend this as a home remedy to some of my clients when applicable. I am in my 60’s and as a child I remember the doctor prescribing this home remedy to my mom. weeks later her skin under her finger nail was normal again. I was wondering is there is some written information to support this home remedy. It works great for my clients but just to add it to my skin home remedies binder I put together from tips I have gotten through the years. Just for my personal use.
That is a great tip! Thanks for sharing
Good to see that others are still using bars of Ivory soap!
I began using decades ago when I decided that I didn’t need all the extra chemicals being added to push fake claims about how a brand was different; “improved.”
My mother bought Zest when it came out and it irritated my skin, just as many others. They’re still at it. I’d best leave that subject alone.
When I got my own apt., I decided that Ivory would be my only bath soap and it still is—50 years later, though sometimes it can be difficult to find, but I do find it.
Here’s a tip I discovered by chance buying bars by the dozen. The individual bars are wrapped in a sort of coated paper and plastic wrap. Without the plastic, they will lose water over time, but this is a good thing. One will notice the paper shriveled as the bar shrinks slightly and hardens. Still a good thing, because the soap is still as good as ever, but the bar being harder will cause it to last longer and still lather and clean just as well.
Just to jump back a bit, when I was in my late teens I found that gently scrubbing my face with Ivory and “degreasing” the trouble areas with Witch Hazel easily took acne out of my life. It also helps to avoid sunburn and/smoking.
I know this is more than a “comment,” but this something that should be shared at every opportunity, so here I am.
Hi! THanks so much for sharing your story about Ivory soap, it really is unique and has such a great history
I remember making soap balls a million years ago when I was in Girl Scouts and wanted to do it with my daughter. I remembered it being Ivory snow, but I can’t find anything online about soap making crafts for kids that use ivory snow or flakes. I bought some ivory snow gentle care laundry detergent, but am confused as to its chemistry; is it the same as ivory bar soap? Can it be used to make hand soaps? Thanks in advance!
Hi! Ivory soap now has many products in their line including liquid detergent, dishwashing liquids, and hand soaps. It has a different composition than the bar soap, but similar scent and gentleness. If you want to create a hand soap from the bar soap, here is a simple recipe:.
Forgot to add in, I would not make hand soap from the detergent though.
You didn’t mention how great it is for carving, especially for beginning carvers. In college, 1960’s, I carved a horse head out of a bar of ivory for my beginning sculpture class. I got an A on it and gave it to my father, a huge horseman. I inherited it back when Dad died and I still have it, about 60 years later. It still looks good but it lost an ear somewhere in the past. It started as a pure white horse, but, with age, it is now a Palomino. 🙂
I also heard of friends carving a bar into a boat shape for their toddlers to play with in the bathtub.
That’s cool! Thanks for sharing !
Hahaha like Bob Belcher’s (from Bob’s Burgers) childhood toy soap dog.
I like it because it leaves the bathtub cleaner than other soaps I’ve used.
That’s cool!
Great article! Curious where did you obtain that picture/information of all the old ivory soap bars with the year it was made underneath it? I have a few older bars that I was trying to figure out what year it was made, but there is a big gap between 1898 and 1917. I suspect the ones I have may be between that gap as the label (moon logo) appears slightly differen than the ones in the pic. Seems like I can’t find any other sources online! Thanks
Hi! Thank you! I got all these photos from the brand directly, Proctor and Gamble. They sent me several of these archived photos. Unfortunately, I do not have a contact anymore with their historical department as the person is no longer with the company. I am not sure where to find information about your older bars. I can try to reach out to them if you would like?
Yes that would be great, if isn’t too much trouble!
I will be in touch with someone and see if I can get anywhere! If I hear back, I will reply to this comment 🙂
Hmm…Looks like no one reached back to you, huh?
No, I have not heard anything back for this. I have reached out to several different people
can I buy Ivory snow flakes in bulk or 5 gal buckets
I am not sure, I have never seen it for purchase in bulk sizes