The ingredients in a classic Ivory soap bar are: sodium tallowate, sodium cocoate or sodium palm kernelate, water, sodium chloride, sodium silicate, magnesium sulfate, and fragrance.
Here's a breakdown of the ingredients:
- Sodium Tallowate: A soap derived from tallow (animal fat).
- Sodium Cocoate or Sodium Palm Kernelate: These are soaps derived from coconut oil or palm kernel oil, respectively. They contribute to the soap's lathering and cleansing properties. The formula may contain one or the other, or possibly a combination.
- Water: Used as a solvent and essential part of the soap-making process.
- Sodium Chloride: Common table salt; used as a binder and to help separate the soap from the glycerin formed during saponification.
- Sodium Silicate: Also known as water glass, it acts as a corrosion inhibitor and helps maintain the soap's structure.
- Magnesium Sulfate: Epsom salt; used as a stabilizer.
- Fragrance: Added to give the soap its characteristic scent.
It's worth noting that the pH of Ivory soap is approximately 9.5.
