"...Olive Oil has some of the same lipids and compounds as human skin and has been used for centuries on hair and skin for just that reason...."
One can say pretty much the same thing about any fat, including lard or tallow. The kinds of soap made and used by any given culture that uses soap is more about making do with what's available than it is about any particular magical properties of a given fat. It's only been in the last 100 years or so that people have had a wider choice of fats with which to make soap.
Traditionally, Mediterranean people used olive oil to make soap because that was what they had to use. Scandanavians used animals fats and linseed oil. People in tropical countries made coconut and palm soaps. People in the British Isles and pioneer America traditionally used tallow, horse fat, and lard. I suspect plenty of British and American people from babies to elders have washed with old fashioned lard soap and lived hale and hearty lives. People in the African continent have used goat and pig fat, shea, and other fats indigenous to their regions and I suspect they survived just fine and had lovely skin without castile.
I suppose they did.
It is wonderful to know that humans continue to grow and evolve, both vibrationally and spiritually. These days we are blessed to make choices. And many choose not to kill animals, or use them in any way.
100s of years ago, using palm was cool, cause it was only sourced by the local tribe who was hand making and hand picking.
The industrial age has seen a raping of the rain forest and her inhabitants for the palm oil, to offer it to those abroad.
I remember my great grandmother, telling me about working in the coal camps in WVa. She was a midwife for her community and lived among many immigrants as it was a dirty, dangerous job and prejudice was high. (Think 20s - 30s)
She recounted to me many times about the Italian children and how they always seemed to have the shiniest hair among all the other cultures. And how they hardly ever had blemishes or dark marks.
She said one day she just had to know, so she pulled up her skirts and just asked a momma she had delivered for. "what do you use on your skin and hair? You seem to have such healthy skin." And the lady replied "olive oil only". From the time they are born.
Since then, I have used it on my babies, their first wash down is with olive oil. I make lotions and salves with it and use it in many of my soap recipes.
It makes sense, to me, to make a soap I hope is very mild and nourishing, from olive oil.
We all need a little magic in our lives.
