Brutal and Sad Facts About Whaling That More People Should Know About

20. Soaps Were Once Made From Whales

In a process called saponification, whale blubber was boiled with sodium hydroxide to produce soap.

Not like the average soap used in bathrooms nowadays, soap made from whales was used in industrial-grade cleaning. This was because the soap derived smelled foul and had a tendency to discolor items it was used for washing.

There weren’t many ways to create cosmetic soaps until the process of hydrogenation was discovered and eventually plant and synthetic-based options were found. Though technological advancements have now made it possible.

Demands for blubber-based soaps still retain a niche market share in countries like Canada.