Both the companies (commercial soap and bath products) and individuals
(homemade/domestic soap) making olive oil soap were using lower quality
oil in production. The commercial production used oil pressed by chemical
means from wastes purchased from oil mills. People making soap in their
homes used oil pressed at a mill nearby, but it was oil from second
pressings.

I think cost is a factor for both producers mentioned above. There does
not seem to be a great interest in "extra virgin" olive oil soap, as long
as the soap is olive oil soap it satisfies the consumers. Extra virgin is
better used as foodstuffs.

However, having said this, in the western world with our ideas of
"quality", a soap made from extra virgin oil might attract consumers over
an olive oil soap. Much like a label of "New" or "Improved" appears to
attract buyers. I don't think it is necessary to use extra virgin in
making the soap.

The household that showed me their method, which is similar to methods
described by other contacts, went something like this:

Mix olive oil and caustic soda (or lye) together, bring to a boil. Don't
breath the fumes or get the fumes in your eyes. Add some ash (usually
from the pressing wastes used as fuel - pressing wastes tend to burn
completely to ash). Mix well. After it has boiled, test it/rub some on
your skin. When ready, pour it into a wood frame set on a hard surface
(cement driveway). Some of the water will drain off as it hardens. When
firm, cut the soap into blocks.

Again, I think using extra virgin oil would be a waste, unless you want to
attract high end consumers willing to pay extra.

Peter Warnock