The GOAT of soaps – why goat’s milk is such a luxury
Greatest of all time (GOAT) is a hotly contested debate in a number of disciplines, not least my favourite sport: tennis. However, today, we are talking about a different contender entirely. In the world of soap, there seems to be a soap of humble origins that has unobtrusively managed to attain a royal stamp of approval, while helping folk of all walks of life to relieve symptoms related to psoriasis and eczema, among others.
Goat’s milk for soft skin
I refer to the seemingly nondescript goat’s milk soap albeit lofty credentials elevate it to luxe status. Not Lux, even though it is “for the star in you”. No, this one has a different type of star quality. Research has shown that one of the world’s most endearing and beautiful women, the Empress Elisabeth affectionately known as Sisi of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, used to indulge in a bath of donkey or goat’s milk in order to attain the softest of skin. Accolades related to her beauty amid compliments on her complexion have been generously lavished on her over the years.
It is even rumoured that the storied Cleopatra, Queen of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt, indulged in some milk baths as a part of her legendary beauty routine. Donkey and goat’s milk both scored a mention. In general, milk baths have been proven to be extremely beneficial for skin. Both of these historic beauties cannot be wrong and we may be able to take a page or two from their beauty books.
Bend Soap Company
An Austrian brand famous for goat’s milk soap, Bend Soap Company, has the following to inform us on the topic:
“Milk baths have long been considered a luxurious way to ensure beautiful, hydrated skin. Visions of Cleopatra in a tub filled with milk and honey come to mind and, in truth, milk baths have been used by queens for centuries. Queens of England, Catherine Parr and later Elizabeth I of England used milk baths to make their skin appear more youthful. Historical records indicate that members of the Roman aristocracy regularly indulged in milk baths.”
They the benefits of a goat’s milk baths as follows:
1. Intense hydration
“Goat milk is easily absorbed into the skin and naturally contains vitamins A, D, E, and K. These vitamins are known for their powerful anti-aging capabilities. The biggest advantage of bathing with goat milk is the added moisture it offers your skin. The fats found in the milk deeply hydrate the skin and leave it feeling softer and smoother. Soak deeper into the tub and extend these benefits to dry, over-processed hair as the natural fats found in goat milk can deeply condition damaged hair.”
2. Natural exfoliation
3. Ultra-soothing for sensitive skin
4. Calming effects
Empress Sisi’s beauty secrets
Empress Sisi was no slouch, in fact, she was a legendary horsewoman revered for her equine skills – indeed, she is known for her love of horses and hunting. Her free spirit led her to a life of travel and she had an unrivalled fondness for the sea. When her husband, Emperor Franz Joseph had first clapped his eyes on this beautiful woman, he was bowled over by it and to her dying day, it was this beauty that she tried to preserve.
Metropole described her as “Tall (172 cm) and slender, she was considered one of the most beautiful women of her age and her personal style was often emulated, both within and outside of the empire.
The History site quoted her mother-in-law, Archduchess Sophie, ““Yet despite her somber demeanor Sisi captivated the public, thanks to her stunning beauty and ankle-length chestnut hair. “It is the Empress who attracts them all,” Sophie wrote. “For she is their joy, their idol.”
History, as we reflect back, has endowed Empress Sisi with a mythical, somewhat ethereal appeal – truly, not only a vision to behold, she was a true icon too. It is clearly why many have tried to emulate her beauty regimen, which was by all accounts exhaustive in more ways than one, and she was known for some idiosyncrasies that are frowned upon even today.
Goat’s milk – the elixir
Yet, she left an indelible mark on the annals of history and some precious beauty secrets. Seemingly, goat’s milk was given her stamp of approval, as the woman described as the most beautiful woman of her time in Europe at 38 was known to bath in none other than goat’s milk. This was reportedly done to keep the skin on her body soft.
She even used to travel with a herd of goats to this end. Or if she had had a hard day’s hunting she would bathe in hot olive oil to soothe her aching muscles. If Empress Sisi’s and other royals are to be believed; goat’s milk is the elixir.
While, we may not have a herd of goats at our disposal today, there are some phenomenal brands that do and make soaps fit for any modern-day princess. Modern Austrians have discovered the healing properties of goat’s milk too and Bend Soap Company, mentioned earlier, is a sterling example. The founders stumbled upon goat’s milk soap in an attempt to help a loved one with intensely sensitive skin. Their origin story is a fascinating one, having inadvertently hit on proverbial gold, they find themselves flourishing – growing this goat’s soap brand from strength to strength. The family business describes the journey as follows:
“Each day, our son soaked in a bath of this pure, nutrient-rich soap, and before we knew it, his pain and itching were completely gone! We were so encouraged, not only by the results, but by the pure goodness of the soap, that we made more soap and shared it with family, friends, bank tellers, grocery clerks, business associates… Anyone who was interested.”
Türkiye: a delight
My first real encounter with goat’s milk soap was from a vendor of Turkish origin. As someone who was decidedly not a fan of goat cheese and the rather smelly goat in general, I was sceptical about the “fragrance”. Delightfully, it did not have a pungent smell, but I knew that I had also stumbled upon a secret and gained some insight into the regimens of Türkiye’s women whose beauty I absolutely admire.
A cursory search revealed that the best goat’s milk soap brand in Turkey is Olivos, and its soaps do not contain harmful additives or chemicals.
The benefits of using this soap are described as follows: “Thanks to the proteins goat milk contains, it helps to repair the skin and with its natural moisturising feature, it helps to shrink pores. With its natural and special peeling effect, it eliminates impurities and acne on the skin, offering youthful and supple-looking skin.”
Türkiye’s storied soap tradition has a rich history as it borders Syria – home of Aleppo soaps that had really taken soap-making mainstream. In addition, anyone considering a trip to Türkiye will surely come across the concept of the hammam, where locals go for some vigorous scrubbing. It is also rumoured to be the secret of some Turks’ youthful looks. Intrigued, I understood that soap would naturally be an inherent part of this cleansing ritual.
Historical account
The company Modest Fashion Designers reveals that, “Soapmaking is an integral part of the Anatolian culture for thousands of years even before the rise of the Ottoman Empire who later popularized the ‘hammam’ or public sauna from within and across their neighbouring countries.”
“The first soap was made for household sanitation purposes but as soap making became popular and handy, the craft traveled across the Levantine regions which include Palestine, Syria and present-day Turkey. Other countries like Rome and China, only discovered soap hundreds of years later when trade expeditions and conquests began. During the Islamic Golden Age, soap making became an established industry as new techniques were discovered by a Muslim scientist Al- Razi named with the use of glycerine which was extracted from olive oil. Before that, lime and other fats are mixed together to make soap.”
Türkiye’s soap-making tradition
Meanwhile, according to the Daily Sabah had this to say about the roots of Türkiye’s soap-making tradition.
“Soap production in Turkey had its roots in fruit soaps much sought after by the Emperor of the day.” … It further revealed that “Fruit Soap production in Turkey has a history of over 400 years. It started in the early 1600’s in the city of Edirne, the former Ottoman Empire. The soap was produced by mixing musk, ambergris and rose’s essence, adding the ingredients to the soap which was then mixed same as dough. At the end, fruit shape was given to the soap and the soap was dyed with food coloring to give the last touch.”
The article proceeded, “Not all of the ‘Mis Soaps’ produced in Edirne were sold, most of them were sent to Topkapı Palace in İstanbul on the request of the Emperor to be used as gifts to Emperor’s family as well as gifts for foreign visitors. Ottoman Emperors had a passion for aesthetic and luxurious products. This passion resulted in the growth of ‘Mis Soaps’ production and its development. In that period of time, the quality of the products reached its highest point. This made the production of the soaps very popular and very well-consumed ‘handcraft’.
Popularity of goat’s milk soap
Although goat’s milk soap, per se, is not at the heart of Türkiye’s soap-making tradition, it certainly has grown in popularity and been responsible for introducing me to its renowned qualities.
In a SPY article titled, Is Goat’s Milk Soap the Soap of the Future?, its popularity is explained.
“Soothing irritated, upset, and even dry is the main reason why goat’s milk soap has become so popular. Other important reasons are that it’s an eco-friendly product, uses sustainable ingredients, and has a smaller carbon footprint than the regular stuff. Not to mention that it lathers up really well in the shower, providing both fun and a dose of self-care.”
Furthermore, the article confirms, “Goat’s milk contains lactic acid, a natural humectant that literally draws moisture from the atmosphere and delivers it to your skin, moisturizing and plumping it up. Lactic acid also increases the production of ceramides, which are fatty lipids that help skin retain said moisture, prevent dehydration, and act as a shield protecting skin against environmental stressors. ‘It can also help) to prevent fine lines and wrinkles, reduce redness and inflammation, fight dullness and restore hydration,’ adds Ridge.”
For every one of us
SPY describes itself as “A not-so-secret service for inquisitive and acquisitive men, SPY provides newly prosperous readers the intelligence they need to spend money smartly.” Certainly men are on to the benefits of goat’s milk and it is truly great for the whole family. Therefore, it seems fair to conclude that goat’s soap is emerging as a contender in the soap stakes for a variety of reasons.
As for me, I will be on the lookout for the perfect goat’s milk brand as wrinkles and fine lines have made their appearance. I also battled acne for most of my adult life, so giving it a skip at this stage could only add to my delight. I hope that this has shed some light, perhaps even provided Turkish delight of sorts on the topic.
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