The new toilet soaps

Toilet soap bars have undergone few major technical changes in the last century. Noteworthy improvements were floating soap, the development of effective deodorant and antibacterial soaps, the so-called “hard water” bars, and advances in packaging technology. The trends in these areas toward product and process improvement will accelerate in the 1970’s. New raw materials are becoming available which will give greater formulation flexibility, with emphasis towards greater mildness and effectiveness. Among these products are the synthetic fatty acids which could partially replace coconut acids, more effective broad spectrum antibacterial agents for better control of skin microorganisms, and mild detergent additives with good physical properties and less defatting tendency. In processing, the move is toward continuous soap-making equipment in place of the old kettle processes which are still widely used. More powerful and specialized plodders are available; these will facilitate the development of new product types. Presented at the AOCS-AACC 1968 Joint Meeting, Washington, D.C., April 1968.