Everything You Need to Know About Glycerin Soap RSSPosted May 2022 Healthline Glycerin, or glycerol, is derived from plant-based oils. It also occurs naturally in fermented goods, such as beer, wine, and bread. This ingredient was “accidentally” discovered in 1779 by a Swedish chemist heating up an olive oil mixture. He identified the resulting fat as glycerin. Share this post Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Google Plus