What is the difference between soap and shower gel?

Answer 1

Soap is primarily sodium stearate. It leaves a film when it combines with hard water to form calcium stearate (soap scum). Body wash is a detergent that does not form soap scum. It, like Zest bath bars has no sodium stearate. The difference between the Zest and most body washes is the fragrance in the recipe and that you are paying for a whole lot of water and a fancy bottle.