What are the toilet grade 1 TFM soaps in India?
Surprising but true. In India, more than 700 registered companies manufacture soaps of various kinds. The combined annual turnover of Indian soap industry is over 60000 crores. It accounts for more than 50% of the consumer goods sector.
As per the latest market figures, Santoor [(from Wipro Consumer Care & Lighting (WCCL)] has overtaken Lux [(Hindustan Unilever’s (HUL)] as India’s No. 2 soap brand. HUL’s Lifebuoy continues to be the largest soap brand in India.
Are you aware that millions of gullible consumers are taken for a ride by the leading soap manufacturers? A recent survey conducted by the VOICE revealed that most brands are underweight and their fatty content is lower than claimed.
Have you ever noticed words like “toilet soap” or “bathing bar” on your soap’s wrapper?
This led me to do a little research on soap and put forward my findings here. Sadly, we don’t find time to know about simple things such as soap that comes in contact with our body every day.
Hence, I’ve gone ahead and revealed the soap story.
Toilet Soap Vs Bathing Bar:
We seldom use the words “toilet soap” and “beauty soap” interchangeably. In reality, there is a considerable difference between them. The first one is used to cleanse the body and the latter is to beautify the skin.
Similarly, there is a distinction between toilet soap and bathing bar. Toilet soap contains more fatty material.
On the other hand bathing bars contain surfactants with low TFM (Total Fatty Matter), and may contain perfume, colouring matter, humectants, preservatives etc that are declared on the label.
| # | Toilet Soap | Bathing Bar |
| Fatty Material | Higher amount | Less amount |
| TFM | 60-80% | 40-60% |
| Surfactants | Absent | Present |
| Cleansing Property | High | Low |
| Hydration | Dries the skin | High moisture content |
| Suitable for dry skin | No | Yes |
Today, 85 per cent of soaps available in the consumer market are bathing bars. If you have observed the premium brands like Dove and Pears, be surprised to find that they are bathing bars.
The bathing bars are nothing but entry-level soaps while toilet soaps are categorised into 3 grades based on their TFM values. The higher TFM present in soap contributes to better cleansing action.
An ideal fat to bases ratio of 5:1 makes a TFM of 83.3%. However, it is disappointing to note that you will not find such ideal toilet soap in the market.
What is Toilet Soap Grade 1 TFM?
Scientifically, soap is a sodium or potassium salts of various naturally occurring fatty acids. TFM is a measure of identifying the amount of fatty matter present in the soap.
The total fatty matter (TFM) is very crucial in describing the quality of soap and it is always specified in commercial transactions.
According to International Standards (ISO) and Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), the Grade I soap should have 76 % minimum TFM, Grade II soap with TFM 70-75% and Grade III soap with 60% minimum TFM. Usually, bathing bars do have a TFM value of less than 50%.
Higher the TFM quantity in the soap, better is its quality. As low TFM matter is usually associated with hardness and lower quality, it is always recommended to pick a toilet soap that falls under Grade I category that has high cleansing efficiency.
It is mandatory for toilet soap marketing companies to display TFM value on soap wrapper. Always make sure to check the cover for TFM value and get high TFM soap for a pleasant bath. Don’t let MNC’s take you for granted.
Remember Grade III means a lot of filler. It may be asbestos or any other harmful surfactant they could cause allergies. Be wise and make a judicious choice for yourself with TFM value not less than 75%.
Sadly, the popular soap brands like Lux and Dettol have 70% and 71% respectively. Similarly, the popular ayurvedic tagged brands like Chandrika and Medimix have a low TFM of 65% and 62%.
To sum it up, I’ve collected the TFM value of various soap brands found in local general stores and retail outlets. Check thoroughly saponified toilet soap Grade 1 TFM.
Soaps, Bathing Bars & Their TFM Values
| # | Soap Name | TFM (in %) |
| 1. | Mysore Sandal | 80 |
| 2. | Doy Care Crème Soap | 80 |
| 3. | Cinthol Original | 79 |
| 4. | Johnsons Baby Soap | 78 |
| 5. | Nivea Crème Soap | 78 |
| 6. | Giri Nature Neem Bath Soap | 78 |
| 7. | Amway Pesona Soap | 76 |
| 8. | ITC Superia Silk | 76 |
| 9. | Godrej No: 1 | 76 |
| 10. | Godrej Fair Glow | 76 |
| 11. | Park Avenue Luxury Fragrant Soap | 76 |
| 12. | Girijan GCC Aloevera International | 76 |
| 13. | Himalaya Protecting Neem & Turmeric Soap | 76 |
| 14. | Wild Stone Ultra Sensual | 76 |
| 15. | Yardley English Lavender | 76 |
| 16. | Vivel Luxury Creme with Olive Butter | 74 |
| 17. | Liril 2000 with Tea Tree Oil | 73 |
| 18. | Santoor | 72 |
| 19. | Lux International | 72 |
| 20. | Dettol Original | 71 |
| 21. | Margo | 71 |
| 22. | Lux | 70 |
| 23. | Rexona | 70 |
| 24. | Vivel | 70 |
| 25. | Hamam | 68 |
| 26. | Chandrika Original | 65 |
| 27. | Doy Care Aloe Vera | 62 |
| 28. | Medimix Ayurvedic Soap with 18 Herbs | 62 |
| 29. | International Camay | 60 |
| 30. | Lifebuoy | 60 |
| 31. | Dove | Bathing Bar |
| 32. | Fiama Di Wills | Bathing Bar |
| 33. | Pears | Bathing Bar |
Toilet Soap Grade 1 TFM – Bottom Line Up Front:
The toilet soaps having lower alkali content and higher TFM value are not only good for health but also the environment. Just check for TFM value on the soap wrapper and pick the higher grade TFM toilet soap for the best cleansing action and bathing experience.
If your skin is too sensitive skin for regular soap bars and body washes, then prefer glycerin-based soap or beauty bar.
Did you know that toilet soaps have an expiration date? Don’t forget to check the package labelling before your open it.
Don’t worry too much if you make a mistake. You can rectify it from now-on-wards. Look for a trusted and proven brand.Â