Windsor soap is one of a very old line of foreign soaps not found much in the U.S., even when its recreated. Like everything I do for each product, I have researched this type of soap extensively. Not many know that the Windsor line consists of 3 different soaps. Brown, White and Violet and each soap is different in look and aroma. The Violet Windsor or just plain Windsor Soap is a rare soap that isn’t made in the U.S. but can be found in the UK and other European Countries. The essential oil blend is called Essence of Portugal that can be recreated, but the problem is finding the exact ratio. Every soap I make, regardless of scent, I use less than 1 ounce of essential oil. This leaves my soaps pleasant, not overpowering or too light. Violet Windsor also is misleading in its name since there is no violet coloring, though a certain palm oil that is used brings forth a scent of violet. The original recipe was found in a book dated 1884, called The Art of Soapmaking and the original can be found at the library of Cornwall University. The scent combo is Jasmine, Lavender, Sandalwood, Cedar and Patchouli. Who used this particular soap is beyond me, but it is one of the sisters to Brown Windsor.
The second in line is White Windsor. This soap is usually all white or cream. No color is added like that of Brown. The history behind this soap is that during the Napolean era, Brown Windsor was outlawed by Napolean so that no commoner was able to make, use or have in possession. The commoners then retaliated by making their own Windsor soap, called White Windsor. The scent combo in this soap is more floral with Thyme, Anise, Clove, Rosemary and Lavender.
Brown Windsor is the big brother to the other 2 soaps. This is one historical soap that goes back to the days of Lewis & Clark (1804 Expedition) and to this day is a popular soap that many try to recreate but they fall short because they make up their own recipes to copy the look and screw the scent completely. It’s a very difficult soap to recreate and to get the ratios exact can be mind boggling. I worked at getting the ratios as accurate as I could and did a lot of this work at 2- 3am in the morning for a few weeks. Others who have used this soap back in time was Winston Churchill, who, during the Second World War, collected 78 pounds of Brown Windsor Soap and kept it in the cellar of 10 Downing Street. Napolean outlawed it and Queen Victoria who reigned for 63 years from 1837 to 1901, refused to bathe with any other soap. The scent of this soap is more masculine, spicy, woody, though women do love the scent as well. Bergamot, Caraway, Cinnamon, Clove, Lavender and Petitgrain round out the original scent. I had to mix up the scents just a little since Caraway and Petitgrain are breathtakingly expensive. However, I kept with the original recipe as closely as I could. Bergamot is temporarily being replaced with Jasmine simply because I have Jasmine and no Bergamot. Caraway is replaced with Anise, and Petitgrain is replaced with Sweet Orange. These alternative scents are close seconds to the original scents.
The original recipe of ingredients also was changed by 1 ingredient, not including the essential oils. All three soaps, in fact, all historical soaps were made with Palm Oil. Since I don’t use palm for anything and my products are certified Palm Oil Free, I changed this to using Coconut Oil. So, the full list of ingredients for all three soaps is Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, Lard, Lye & Spring Water which makes glycerol and essential oils. Only the Brown Windsor is colored brown with Cinnamon. Cinnamon powder is abrasive if used too much and in history soap was made out of all sorts of abrasive material because abrasive was thought to get rid of grime and dirt better than anything else. This is the complete opposite since abrasive material hurts and harms which goes against my motto, To Help, Not Harm. As much as I had wanted to recreate an exact historical soap, I unfortunately fall short by a few ingredients.
Later this week I will do a write up on the other historical soaps I’m making. These will have a few French Soaps that can’t be found in the U.S., a couple U.S. soaps made in the early 19th century and 2 soaps from the early 20th century. In total I will be offering 9 different soaps from history.
