Guest Author - Rachel L Webb

Castile Soap was made from olive oil and soon became known as a luxury product. Spain exported this sought-after soap across Europe, and today olive-oil soap is still made in southern Spain, in the heart of the olive growing region.

Castile soap was first produced in the Castile region of Spain, it soon outshone its rivals and very quickly became a top-of-the-range product much sought after by European Royalty. The other soaps that were being made at that time in the north of Spain were using animal fat and tallow, the quality was quickly shunned by the wealthy and apothecaries across Europe began to ask for the best - Castile Soap

What is Castile Soap?

A real Castile soap should contain 100% olive oil, but many people say it can be classed as Castile Soap if it contains at least 50% olive oil. Extra virgin oils contain a lot of emollients; this means that they don’t leave the skin feeling dry when they are used.

Where could be better to produce with olive oil soap than the main olive producing area of Andalucia? And that's what Andalucia Soap Company does. They moved from Wales via France and now to the source of its main ingredient – olive oil - to Spain.

Based in the province of Seville, the hand-made soap company uses other fruits of the land such as oranges, lemons, avocado and aloe vera along with different varieties of vegetables.

Andalucia Soap Company offer their customers the largest range of hand-made soaps in the world, but that's not all they produce. A large range of other products that use only the best ingredients which are packed with natural anti-oxidants to help prevent deterioration of your skin are also made.

Body scrubs, active creams, body butter and bath salts all contribute to a fine selection of a quality eco-friendly skincare range.

Names like Rose & Hibiscus, Berry & Cherry, Mango & Orange for the bath aromatherapy tablets and Eucalyptus & Poppy and Ti-Tree & Seaweed for exfoliating soaps sound quite delicious.

The company uses only the best ingredients to create the best product in a way that works with the planet and doesn't endanger the eco-system. This is also the reason they use more expensive ingredients like olive oil instead of cheaper oils such as palm oil.

Extra virgin olive oil makes a really mild and gentle natural soap, so it's very rare for anybody to have an allergic reaction to these soaps, but for people who are prone to allergies there is a completely fragrance- and colour-free soap which is made from the first pressing of the olives.

Andalucia Soap Company have just introduced a natural dog soap too!