The invention provides a transparent
solid soap which contains (A) C12-18 linear saturated fatty acids and / or salts thereof and contains substantially neither any branched
fatty acid salt nor any
unsaturated fatty acid salt. The transparent
solid soap further contains (B) one or more members selected among nonionic surfactants, amphoteric surfactants, polyhydric alcohols which are liquid at ordinary temperature, and saccharides, (C) an inorganic salt, and (D) water. The content of the fatty acids constituting the ingredient (A) is 20-40
mass% based on the whole
solid soap, and the proportion of the fatty acids constituting the ingredient (A) to the ingredient (B) is from 30 / 70 to 45 / 55 by
mass. The content of the ingredient (C) is 0.5-5
mass%, and the ingredient (D) constitutes the remainder. In the ingredient (A), the proportion of the C12
fatty acid to the sum of the C16
fatty acid and the C18 fatty acid is from 30 / 70 to 60 / 40 by mass, and the proportion of the C12 fatty acid to theC14 fatty acid is from 20 / 80 to 80 / 20 by mass. The total amount of the C12 fatty acid and the C14 fatty acid is 14-22 mass% based on the whole solid soap. This transparent solid soap is highly transparent and lathers well especially in
hard water. It has the moderate
hardness required of solid soaps, is free from problems concerning deterioration in
odor with time and sogginess. The solid soap has
high productivity and can be easily molded into a desired shape.