Tallow & Clay | Dead Sea Mud & Pine Tar Soap

Some soaps are made to be trendy. This one is made in the tradition of how soap has been made for thousands of years. We’ve brought together three ingredients with genuinely old histories: tallow, pine tar and Dead Sea mud.

Why you’ll love it 

This is a soap built on history, not trends. Tallow is the original soap-making fat, used since the earliest recorded soap-making in ancient Babylon. Pine tar has been valued in traditional skincare and soap-making for centuries in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe. Dead Sea mud has been part of bathing traditions since antiquity. Together, they make a bar that’s straightforward, mild, and made with a deliberately short ingredient list, no synthetic fragrance and no unnecessary fillers.

Who is it for 

For anyone who wants a simple, traditional soap without a long list of synthetic ingredients, and who doesn’t mind - or actively loves - the distinctive smoky, earthy scent pine tar gives this bar. It’s a straightforward, mild soap rather than a highly foaming, heavily fragranced one, so it suits people looking for an old-fashioned alternative to modern commercial soap. We’ve had this soap trialled by a range of people with different skin sensitivities, with consistently positive feedback and no reported irritation.

Key ingredients 

Tallow 

The traditional soap-making base, producing a hard, long-lasting bar with a creamy, non-bubbly lather

Pine tar 

Made by slowly heating pine wood (a process called destructive distillation), confirmed creosote-free, giving the bar its smoky scent and contributing to its dark, rustic colour

Dead Sea mud 

Naturally mineral-rich mud associated with long-standing bathing and spa traditions

Full ingredient list 

Sodium Tallowate, Pinus Sylvestris Wood Tar, Aqua, Glycerin, Maris Limus (Dead Sea Mud).

Sodium Tallowate is the saponified (soap-formed) tallow - once lye (sodium hydroxide) fully reacts with the tallow, it becomes soap and isn’t present in the finished bar, so it isn’t listed on the label. Glycerin is a natural byproduct of that same reaction, not a separate additive.

Why we chose these ingredients 

Tallow has been used in traditional soap-making for centuries and produces a hard, durable bar with a rich, creamy lather. It’s often chosen by people looking for a simple, uncomplicated soap without a long list of synthetic ingredients.

Pine tar has an especially long history in traditional skincare and soap-making, produced by slowly heating pine wood and used for centuries in Scandinavia and other parts of Europe. Our pine tar is confirmed creosote-free, sourced through traditional wood distillation rather than blended with coal tar substitutes sometimes found in lower-quality tar products. It’s long been valued in traditional skincare for dry, itchy and irritated skin, and remains a valued ingredient in old-fashioned soaps today.

Dead Sea mud comes from the mineral-rich shores of the Dead Sea and has been associated with bathing and skincare traditions since antiquity. Naturally rich in minerals, it’s traditionally used in skincare for its cleansing and skin-conditioning (helping skin feel smooth and cared-for) qualities, particularly within long-standing bathing and spa traditions.

What is hand-milled soap? 

Hand-milled soap is made slowly, in two unhurried stages. A traditional base soap is made first and left to set, then finely grated, softly melted with a touch of liquid and blended by hand with its special ingredients before being pressed into moulds. The result is a dense, creamy bar with a naturally rustic finish, shaped by hand so that no two bars are exactly alike.

Texture & feel 

This is not a big, bubbly soap, and that’s intentional. Tallow-based soap produces a dense, creamy lather (the foam a soap makes when worked into water) rather than large, abundant bubbles, giving a smooth, substantial feel quite different from highly foaming commercial soaps. Pine tar gives the bar its distinctive smoky aroma and contributes to its dark colour, while the Dead Sea mud adds its own earthy tone - and the hand-milled process itself gives the finished bar a naturally rustic, textured look rather than a smooth, uniform one.

How to use 

Work the bar into a lather between wet hands or with a washcloth, and use as you would any bar soap for hands or body. For external use only. If irritation occurs, discontinue use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this soap smell like smoke?

Yes - pine tar has a distinctive smoky, woody, earthy scent that’s central to this soap’s character. It’s not for everyone, but it’s loved by those who know it.

Is this soap tested on or intended for specific skin conditions like eczema or psoriasis?

No. This soap draws on ingredients with a long history in traditional skincare, but it isn’t formulated, tested or marketed as a treatment for any skin condition. If you have specific skin concerns, please check with a health professional.

Has this soap been tried on sensitive skin?

Yes - we’ve had it trialled by people with a range of skin sensitivities, and feedback has been consistently positive with no reported irritation. As with any new soap, we recommend a small patch test first, and if you have specific skin concerns, please check with a health professional.

Why doesn’t the ingredient list include lye (sodium hydroxide)?

Lye is fully used up in the soap-making process (saponification) - it reacts completely with the tallow to form soap, so none remains in the finished bar. This is why it’s Sodium Tallowate on the label rather than tallow and lye separately.

Will this soap lather like a typical bubbly bar soap?

No - it produces a dense, creamy lather rather than big foamy bubbles. That’s typical of traditional tallow soap and is intentional here, not a sign of a “weaker” soap.

Is the pine tar in this soap creosote-free?

Yes - our pine tar is confirmed creosote-free by our supplier, sourced through traditional wood distillation rather than any coal tar-based substitute.

 

Packed in a compostable, non-bleached paper bag

Available sizes - minimum 91gm

Shelf life - store in a cool, dark place away from direct sunlight to maximise shelf life

For external use only

Disclaimer

Our products are generally suitable for most individuals. If you experience any allergies, irritation, or sensitivity, discontinue use immediately.

This product has no added synthetic ingredients, artificial fragrances or preservatives.

This product is not intended to diagnose, cure, treat, or prevent any disease.

Ready to bring a time-honoured, old-world tradition to your daily wash? Add Pine Tar Soap to your cart today.