Laurie Longs To Know:
Why does Ivory soap float?
The Right Brain Responds:
Your question reminds us of that old joke: How do you make Ivory soap float? Take two scoops of ice cream and add a bar of Ivory soap. Ha!
But seriously, for years Ivory has built it’s reputation on the tagline “so pure it floats.” The reality is, it has less to do with purity and everything to do with air bubbles. Ivory has a whipped texture that traps air; the air makes the soap less dense than water so it floats.
The Ivory website has some interesting background on the product if you want to learn more. It’s good clean fun. Ha!!
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I can verify this. I’ve been learning how to make my own soap, and one of my soapmaking books says that Ivory soap was an accident. The guy left to take a break and forgot to turn off his mixer. That caused too much air to get trapped in the mixture, and created floating soap – or Ivory as we know it today!
Good comment Christina. Although now the folks at Ivory are claiming that Mr. Gamble (the creator of Ivory soap) really meant for it to float all along. We may never know the truth. But, hey, good luck with your soap making!
Right Brain
Actually, I hear that they dont even call Ivory a soap because they dont put whatever harsh, skin drying ingredients in it….
Actually, Ivory Soap is very drying to your skin. In fact, in clinical studies of moisturizers, they use soap (often Ivory) to make the skin really dry before adding the lotion!
The Right Brain
this is so cool but weird. im actually using this as an idea for my science fair project at school.
“Me” What are you ideas for the science project? I was thinking about this also. Thanks