There are three main types of bar soaps – opaque, translucent and transparent. The latter two are becoming increasingly important and gaining market share. They have an aesthetic appeal and are much milder than opaque soaps. Between them, transparent soap is more popular and commercially more attractive to produce. Consumers associate transparency with purity and naturalness, and to contain less undesirable components and being easier to rinse. The transparency in soap is achieved by mixing in a moisture absorbing component with some volatile components. In addition, the raw materials are stringently sought – every ingredient has to be pure, colourless and compatible in the system for the clarity of untinted glass. Commercial transparent soap is mostly made from petroleum- or tallow-based feedstock. However, MPOB has used palm-based materials, perfumed with fl owery/fruity fragrances for increased attraction. 

Main Research: Norashikin Ahmad