I paced around the supermarket trying to compare handwash soap prices.
But also as an informed scientist versed in chemistry, I took a keen interest in ingredients that make up these soaps.
Most companies that produce soap en-masse don’t put much consideration into disclosing ingredients transparently.
If they did, then they would be in large fonts.
But more often than not, we have to turn the bottle and squint our eyes to get the little detail of the ingredients.
Still, that’s not enough for many of us.
Most of what we see – if we manage to see at all – are a barrage of chemical names that mean nothing to us.
But we shouldn’t stop at that.
AGE OF AI
Tell you what…
Next time you want to know more about a consumer product, just engage the conversational side of ChatGPT – or any generative AI model you’re used to.
Once you zero in on the chemical gibberish, read the word as is to the AI model and ask what it means if included in soap.
Why?
You see, more often than not are we concerned with the aesthetics of soap.
The fragrance…
The colors…
The texture…
But always remember that detail is always hidden in the fine print.
Infact, the cheaper the soap, the more interested you should be.
I don’t dispute that mega FMCG companies have the financial muscle.
They could procure some of these expensive ingredients at a bargain giving them a financial advantage.
But always remember this: synthetic substances are almost always way cheaper than natural, natural derived or biodegradable ones.
That’s why cheap soap fragrances should concern you.
Reason being that most aren’t as pure as we think.
CASE IN POINT
Ever sampled the sweet smelling soap scents that make out world go wild?
The berries…
The rose scents…
The citrus scents…
Lavender…
Name them.
Tell you what, if these scents are from nature won’t they be unashamedly displayed in the ingredient section – in large font?
But more often than not, we see the term ‘fragrance’.
Now let’s breakdown this simple word.
ESTERS
No, I’m not referring to a lady’s name.
Esters are chemicals easily synthesised in a chemical laboratory through the reaction between an alcohol and a carboxylic acid.
Don’t worry. I’ll not complcate things any more.
The reason why I mention esters is because of their ‘sweet smelling’ aroma.
But that’s not the most interesting part.
Esters could be chemically ‘engineered’ to mimic the most common scents we know of.
Talk about citrus, bananas, mangos, flowers..
Name it.
But things get even more complicated as we ride down this rabbit hole.
COLORS OF SOAPS
I know most of us are startled by the colors of many handwash soaps.
But what really are these colors composed of?
A look into the ingredients could unearth words like ‘colorant’, ‘dye’ etc.
Again the lack of transparency here leaves all options on the table concerning the composition of these colorants.
Colorants and dyes – just like scents – are easily synthesised in the lab using starter materials.
But it’s important to note that not all these colorants are safe to use and infact some have been linked to health complications.
But the story doesn’t just stop at this.
We have a barrage of other additives like sulfates – which strip our skins of oil leading to irritation
Parabens – which prevent contamination but are associated with cancer…
Triclosan – which is a broad spectrum anti-bacterial agent used in many soaps labelled as ‘antibacterial ‘.
Triclosan is referred to as an endocrine disruptor that interferes with the hormonal functions of the body.
And I’ve not gone deeper into foaming agents like SLES (Sodium Lauryl Ether Sulfate), which not only leave our skins high and dry but may contain an impurity called dioxane which is probably cancer-causing.
MY POINT IS…
I’m sensitizing us all to become active consumers of safe products.
But this won’t come cheap at times.
Natural and biodegradable alternatives may cost twice as much as the cheapest brands.
But they are safer for our bodies than colorful products that use unknown chemical concoctions.
When we talk about sustainability, it’s not just about the environment.
It’s also about how we can sustain our own healthy lives.
And if our lives count, then we must be prepared to make informed choices on the supermarket aisles.
Otherwise, we and our children shall remain exposed.
The choice is ours.
