Oldest known soap recipe

An approximate translation of the ancient Babylonian soap recipe.

Ingredients:

Instructions:

  • Collect the ash from a fire and mix it with water.
  • Boil the mixture to create a concentrated liquid.
  • Melt the animal fat or vegetable oil in a separate container.
  • Mix the concentrated ash liquid with the melted fat or oil.
  • Allow the mixture to cool and solidify.
  • Cut the solidified mixture into bars for use.

Note

This recipe is approximate, as the original recipe was written in ancient cuneiform script and may have included additional instructions or ingredients that have been lost over time. The exact proportions of the ingredients and the specific method of preparation may also have varied depending on the individual soap maker.