Oct 9, 2013

Octagon Soap Memories







This is an old wooden box that Chuck found in his Grandmother's House. 



The back side & it says:



Octagon Soap, Sales are increasing rapidly because:
First.--It is a high grade soap, simply perfect, made from sweet, pure stock unadulterated, sure to please.  Second.--It is well advertised by the immense list of premiums for the old folks, young people, and children.

Isn't that a hoot?  I love it!!

If you want to read a cute booklet about doing laundry
click picture below for an instruction booklet
From Octagon Soap 1901

Colgate & Company
credit
Hagley Digital Archives



I recently moved the old wooden box into the laundry room






You may not have ever heard of this soap but it has been around since about 1899.  I saw it in my grandparents home and even washed my hands as a child out on their back porch with their old fashioned hand pump for water.  That water was always so cold and tasted so good.  I can still remember my granddaddy priming that pump.  Well, guess I'd better get back to the soap.  Did I like it? Not particularly it stunk to me and was hard.

I also remember my daddy having that and Lava on the sink.  He worked hard was an auto body repairman and in his day was quite talented,( because he would essentially build the car parts not simply order and replace).  Mama would say now that is your daddy's soap don't bother it.  I would pass over it on the store shelf and not think twice about it.  That is my history with this soap.

The last few years I have been making my own laundry detergents/soaps and household cleaners.  Wouldn't you know that of course when I actually stop and buy the soap they quit making it.  I spoke with Colgate Palmolive in May of this year and they told me they stopped making it Summer 2012.  I was told there was not enough demand. I surely don't know how it existed all of those years in between and now that so many are making their own products and were using it then it would go out of business.  They also told me that at this time Colgate Palmolive does not have any other soap to replace this soap.

There are a few bars left out there and they sell for quite a lot:
Ebay: from $9.49 a bar to $640.00 for a case of 60...
Amazon sells it with only 6 bars left there for $23.50 a bar...

We still have Fels Naptha, Castile, Ivory,White Dial and Zote to use for our homemade laundry.



Happy memories and happy cleaning,



 

24 comments:

  1. I have 4 bars. I only paid $ 1.29 at the time I bought they are now.them. I can't believe how expensive

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    Replies
    1. Did you find them lately? We can't find it here at all.

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  2. Dolly, I did not know they didn't make any more... I would love to win a bar I can't believe how expensive they are wow...

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    Replies
    1. Hello Marissa,
      I know I can't believe it. You are entered. I hope you are doing well.

      Delete
  3. I wanted to enter this soap giveaway entry for the email received:

    Hello,
    I remember this soap was always on the sink at my Grandmothers’ house, even though she, like most made her own lye soap from ashes and lard and fresh rose water….
    I had no idea they had quit makin’ it…I would love to be entered into your giveaway… Nice blog to read
    Thanks,
    Marty Terry

    ReplyDelete
  4. I would love to win a bar of soap! Great blog..going to check out your older posts!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Penny,
      Great you are entered! Stay awhile and visit as often as you like. It is a pleasure to have you here.

      Delete
  5. Oh, what a delightful story :) :) :) I haven't made homemade laundry powder in quite awhile, but I need to start doing that again. When I did mke it in the past, I used Fels Naptha, CAstille and ZOTE...not all at one time, but I found that the ZOTE soap was the best deal, plus it's pink and I love pretty pink laundry power ;) :) Love and hugs from the ocean shores of California, Heather ;) :) :)

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  6. Thanks Heather and I'm pasting your email here too for your entry!
    HI Dolly,
    Yes, I would love to be entered to win a bar of that soap. I'm surprised it's selling for so much...but then again, if it's good and it's not being made anymore...well :) :) Thanks :) :) :)

    Love and hugs, Heather :)

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  7. I have never heard of this soap, but love the back story and the crate. I didn't read the entire book on washing clothes, but I did give it a quick gander. Love it!

    Thanks for sharing with us at The HomeAcre Hop!

    Please join us again Thursday at:
    http://summersacres.blogspot.com/2013/10/the-homeacre-hop-41-and-giveaway.html
    ~Ann

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  8. Hello, Dolly! Just happened over here from hometalk. My Daddy also kept the lava and octagon on the back porch sink where he would wash up from his day at the service station or on the farm. Great memories! Your crate find is wonderful-thanks for sharing!

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    Replies
    1. Hi Mary,
      I love that you have some of the same memories!

      Delete
  9. Have you awarded the soap yet? My cousin has been looking for Octagon soap for a few months now.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Will have this giveaway in February so sign up now have a few surprises for all that do. Please follow blog for entry and let me know on this post that you would like to be entered. Leave your email address so that I may contact you.. I have one entry that emailed me but is a no reply so can't enter that one...thanks all!

      Sorry for the delay but lost my mama and just have gotten behind. No I am waiting for more entries please enter and send your friends over because I am making some laundry detergent and also may have another surprise inside this gift package besides that that you could use in your home..Small gifts with sentimental and useful value. Enter today. I will give the package away next month. Thanks for asking and please get friends to enter....I'm grateful to all followers. Thanks!

      Delete
  10. I'm so sorry to hear about your mama. My e-mail address is L_Burney@yahoo.com

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  11. ethel loves octagon soap but cannot find it i hope i win a bar.

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  12. I love Hibiscus House Blog and would love to enter the contest.
    Debbi @ greenshutter@AOL.com

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  13. Lovely blog. I thought I signed up to receive posts once before, probably didn't hit submit! :) I've never heard of Octagon soap before and of course, now that I have, it's no longer available. What a shame

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    Replies
    1. Hi Rhonda Nice to meet you! I'll enter you in the giveaway and thanks! Yes I hate that they have quit making it. To be truthful I walked by it many a day ignoring it with no use for it and now could use all I can get my hands on..Guess that is why it no longer is being made. Too many people ignored. Thanks again!

      Delete
  14. I've never heard of this soap. It's too bad that it was around all those years and now not enough demand. It sounds like it was a good product that their brand team pulled promo support on in favor of one of the more modern bars. The older soaps are so good too. I'd love to try a bar.

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