The distinctive green colour of Fairy liquid, and many other washing up liquids, traces back to the original Fairy soap launched in 1898, which contained olive oil and was naturally olive green, according to a museum curator.
Curator Explains the Origin of Green Washing Up Liquid
Annabel Port, curator at The Other British Museum, revealed in a social media post that the first British washing up liquid was Fairy, launched in 1959. The brand had always emphasised its green colour, leading other manufacturers to follow suit with green products as if it were a rule.
Port explained: "The first British washing up liquid was Fairy in 1959, and they've always made a big deal about it being green. Did we really need the colour in 'mild green Fairy liquid'?"
No Green Active Ingredients
Despite the iconic colour, Port noted that Fairy liquid contains no green active ingredients; the colour is purely dye. She traced the colour back to 1898, when Fairy soap was launched by Thomas Hedley and Co in Newcastle. Early advertisements show the soap was olive green because it contained olive oil.
"Back in 1898 Fairy soap was launched and was used for everything. Clothes, dishes, skin, whatever. It was made in Newcastle by Thomas Hedley and Co and early ads show that the soap was also green - olive green, and for a reason - it contained olive oil," Port said.
Brand Colour Persists Despite Ingredient Changes
Although olive oil is no longer an ingredient in Fairy, the brand colour remained. Port added: "This was their brand colour and they stuck with it and other companies blindly followed. Fairy liquid was a trailblazer."
The post attracted numerous comments, with one Instagram user noting: "Who knew that Newcastle was the home of Fairy liquid?" Another commented: "My Mum always had a cake of Fairy soap for washing clothes by hand. I didn't know about the olive oil though." A third user remarked: "Brilliant. I didn't realise the olive oil connection." A fourth observed: "1959 seems late for washing up liquid in the realm of inventions. And also it's weird how other colours doesn't look quite right."
