Dublin Core

Title

Toilet Soap (No Caustics)

Subject

tallow

sal soda

borax

gum camphor

citronella

salt

Description

Toilet Soap
(no caustics)
2 lbs. tallow - 1½ lbs. sal soda
1 lb. borax - 1 oz. gum camphor
½ oz. citronella - 4 tbsp. salt
Boil 1½ hrs., slowly, stir often. Take
from stove & place container in cold water,
stirring as soap thickens. Pour into molds.
Cut when firm.

Back: blank

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# Toilet Soap (No Caustics)

## Ingredients

- 2 lbs. tallow
- 1 1/2 lbs. sal soda
- 1 lb. borax
- 1 oz. gum camphor
- 1/2 oz. citronella
- 4 Tbsp. salt

## Instructions

1. Combine all ingredients and boil slowly for 1 1/2 hours, stirring often.
2. Remove from stove and place the container in cold water, stirring continuously as the soap thickens.
3. Pour into molds.
4. Cut when firm.

## Editor's Notes

- **"sal soda"** — Washing soda (sodium carbonate), a common household alkali used in pre-lye soap recipes of this era.
- **"gum camphor"** — Solid camphor resin, historically used in soap-making as an antiseptic and fragrance agent.
- **"citronella"** — Citronella oil, used here as a fragrance and insect-repellent additive.
- **"tallow"** — Rendered animal fat (typically beef or mutton), the primary base fat in this soap formula.
- **No water quantity specified** — The card lists no water; it is likely that the tallow is melted and the dry ingredients dissolved into it or a small amount of water, but no quantity is given. This is a significant omission for replication.

Source

RCA0007 - Vintage Handwritten Recipe Card Collection w/ Metal Recipe Box 60+ Recipes (eBay)

Date

1950s

Rights

Personal/Family

Format

Printed pamphlet page

Identifier

RCA0007-20260618-0056

Coverage

Idaho, US