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[Caledonian]

I recall a Dwarf Talk in which Toady One discussed how elves will be filthy, filthy creatures, because soapmaking requires animal fat.  There was a brief discussion of how they might use some unspecified substitute.

Well, there's always soapwort.  Saponaria

And that's not the only source.  Saponins are quite common in nature wherever plants want to keep animals from eating stuff - they're found covering certain types of edible seeds, for example, including quinoa.

[Julius Clonkus]

I kind of expected someone demanding the ability to turn elves into soap, but this is a nice idea too.

[Footkerchief]

A search in Suggestions for "soap" turned up this thread from a few months ago:

Saponaria (Soapwort) as a soap alternative

And this one, discussing another way of making soap: Vegetable oil

[Arrkhal]

They could also just not use soap.  IIRC, the Greeks bathed with plain olive oil, with sand in it.  Sounds uncomfortable.

[Farce]

Couldn't they get some cleaner fish or something?


Some soapwort or whatever is cool too, as is sand.

[lastofthelight]

I hate to say it, but just by bathing in water the elves could conceivably stay fairly clean. Probably cleaner then the dwarves, whom I suspect -usually- use neither soap nor water, barring player intervention.


Moreover, the elves have magic. We know this. Perhaps they can cause the plants to grow soap.


Alternatively, as we all know from fantasy, elves could just be magically hot.

[Gazz]

How about sandblasting? I'm sure the dwarves would assist.

[Rowanas]

I follow the "elves scrape it off with bark" idea.

[Safe-Keeper]

The Vikings used conker soap for their weekly baths, according to this site.

[John Hopoate]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap

"A recently discovered manuscript from the 13th century details more recipes for soap making; e.g. take some sesame oil, a sprinkle of potash, alkali and some lime, mix them all together and boil. When cooked, they are poured into molds and left to set, leaving hard soap."

[ungulateman]

^ Potash means burning wood.

[The Architect]

A common medieval soap was simply flower petals and water. Many flowers work for this, from camelias to roses. They make a nice lather, although I don't know whether they are any good for disinfectant. They definitely remove dirt and leave a nice smell.

[Mel_Vixen]

Well salvia for example is antiseptik. It would depend on the used plants.

[Fearless Son]

Well salvia for example is antiseptik. It would depend on the used plants.

That brings up an interesting thought.  Would elves clean themselves like cats?

I knew there was a reason for that elven racial dexterity bonus...

[Draco18s]

Well salvia for example is antiseptik. It would depend on the used plants.

That brings up an interesting thought.  Would elves clean themselves like cats?

I knew there was a reason for that elven racial dexterity bonus...

Do dragons have raspy tongues like cats?

Or do cats have raspy tongues like dragons?