Ivory Soap Removed Tallow

[Jay21]

I’ve used Ivory soap for years. When my last stock ran out, I mindlessly threw a new pack into the cart this weekend. I never even thought to read the label because I haven’t in decades.

Well, when I unwrapped a new bar this morning, I immediately noticed it was different. First, the paper wrapper wasn’t stuck on a sweaty bar of soap. Second, the bar was smooth and shiny. Yep, I looked more closely at the packaging and confirmed the soap is different. They removed the tallow. It’s plant-based now.

Not sure if the new version is any better or worse, but I thought I’d pass on the information.

 

[The Count of Merkur Cristo]

Jay:
Didn't know that, however when I had my last two surgeries (both hip replacements), the surgical staff had me use this soap prior to surgery as an anti-bacterial protocol.

"It floats". House of Ivory...1891

 

[Doc Dan]

I think they reformulated many years ago and for sure it no longer floats. The last I bought the paper still sticks, though.

 

[Opolar]

They’ve changed formulas a couple of times over the years and changed the scent too. Also it shrunk in size to 4 oz instead of 4.5 oz. Ivory use to be made in the USA and it is now made in Colombia. Ivory is probably made by a soap factory in Colombia that cannot produce tallow soap so the reason for the vegetable base soap. Thankfully I’ve got enough Ivory soap from 15-50+ vintage years or so range to last me for a good while. Thanks for this information.

 

[5whiskey]

I can say the removal of tallow is quite recent. My last large pack bought at either Walmart or a dollar store was definitely still tallow based, and that was a few months ago. Just bought a new pack and immediately noticed when I unwrapped a bar. As I settle in I decided to Google it... and of course someone on B&B would've already noticed. FWIW, the new formula works pretty well. I'm skeptical as to how well it lathers as the bar is used up though.

Now to go look for old stocks of ivory to stock up on. I'm guessing older, less frequently trafficked, grocery stores will likely still have some of the good stuff left.

 

[Lane101]

@Jay21 , Look at all the negative reviews on the Ivory.com web site complaining about the formula change to a plant based soap. Reminds me of all our post here regarding soaps lime MWF and Tabac when they went vegan. In addition to complaints about skin irritation and the fact that it no longer floats my favorite one is the one from the science teacher who can no longer use it for his classes on gas expansion where he would put a bar in the microwave and watch it expand like crazy.

Ivory Gentle Original Bar Soap

Ivory Gentle Aloe Bar Soap gives you a pure clean trusted for generations. Our soap is free of dyes and perfume, and dermatologist tested.

ivory.com

 

[Jay21]

@Jay21 , Look at all the negative reviews on the Ivory.com web site complaining about the formula change to a plant based soap. Reminds me of all our post here regarding soaps lime MWF and Tabac when they went vegan. In addition to complaints about skin irritation and the fact that it no longer floats my favorite one is the one from the science teacher who can no longer use it for his classes on gas expansion where he would put a bar in the microwave and watch it expand like crazy.

Ivory Gentle Original Bar Soap

Ivory Gentle Aloe Bar Soap gives you a pure clean trusted for generations. Our soap is free of dyes and perfume, and dermatologist tested.

ivory.com

P&G changed the scent of Gillette Foamy and the backlash was so severe that they changed it back. However, I have a feeling the change to Ivory, away from tallow, is different.

 

[Doc Dan]

The old original ivory bar soap used to break me out. Then they change the ingredients and it became my favorite soap. And now everyone is telling me that it's no longer a tallow soap and I wonder what next?

 

[Quaznoid]

With or without tallow it shaves well

 

[kid kool]

I'm so tired of brands doing this and messing with classic formulations. Sea Breeze recently changed the ingredients on its "original formula" and removed all the essential oils after the brand was sold to a new company.

 

[lordfancyface]

It is quite disappointing how Ivory soap has removed tallow from their formula. I have noticed several classic bar soaps no longer have tallow including Dial, Palmolive, and Pears. Zest and Yardley (the American version) still have tallow but I am not sure for how much longer.

 

[malocchio]

Colombia ! ....... I was missing the old Ivory I enjoyed in the 1950s -1960s so a few years ago I bought a 2 pack from the Dollar Store . Made in Canada .... horrible imitation of the genuine article .....

 

[blethenstrom]

Just bought a pack of White Rain soap at the Dollar Store and they still have Tallow.

 

[BurnFree]

Well... this certainly explains a few things after buying a pack at some point this year:

The bar shrank.
It doesn't clean hands as well and takes longer to rinse (possibly a bonus for shaving)
The scent was weak & maybe a little different (no biggie by itself).

I was grumbling at the sink and the spouse said I'm just a grumpy old man. I prefer to call it "discerning," but after checking the package, it turns out we were both right.

It sure wasn't a lateral move for general purpose use IMO.

 

[BurnFree]

It turns out I was griping about a bar of Dial on the sink. Oopsie?

Opened a bar of the non-tallow Ivory to set the record straight:

If current Dial is a Zero and tallow Ivory is 100, new Ivory is a 50.

Perhaps that is unfair without having any tallow Ivory remaining for direct comparison, but the difference is greater than the Good Old Days Effect in my opinion. Still fairly slick and probably shaves okay.