My work centres on simple geometric forms, the bar, the sphere and the cylinder, as a way to capture focus, slow down and bring quiet to our contemporary life. Using traditional methods, I limit the process to three essential ingredients: saponified extra virgin olive oil, filtered well water or glacial water, and essence of lavender or peppermint. This focus keeps the soap making process direct and transparent. Lavenghar Castile soaps are free from synthetic detergents and harsh additives, prioritize environmental responsibility and are suitable for sensitive skin. Consistency and proportion guide the work, allowing the qualities of the material to remain consistent. The goal is not decoration, but clarity, using form, material, and process to create objects that are stable, reliable, and purposeful.

Castile soap has an ancient lineage that traces back to the Levant, the historical region of the Eastern Mediterranean, where soaps made from olive and laurel oil have been produced for millennia. The Crusaders and trade routes introduced this soap making technique to Europe. As production spread, particularly to Spain, soap makers in the region of Castile began using their abundant local olive oil as the primary ingredient, replacing the less accessible laurel oil. By the Middle Ages, this pure, white, olive oil soap, Jabón de Castilla, became a renowned product, primarily produced in the Crown of Castile. It was considered a high quality luxury item, appreciated for its purity and gentleness, and was exported widely across Europe, establishing the name and reputation.

Castile soap is a highly versatile and gentle cleanser, which here at Lavenghar we make from extra virgin, first press, olive oil. Our Castile soap is made without synthetic detergents, harsh chemicals, or artificial foaming agents, making it an excellent non-toxic cleaner for your home and body and an excellent choice for people with sensitive skin, acne, or other conditions like eczema. And it is eco-friendly. As it is made from olive oil, it is vegan, biodegradable, and environmentally responsible.

Some of our products