It is not a sea sponge. It is a plant — and the oldest “scrub” in the world.

What is loofah?

Loofah (Luffa cylindrica or Luffa aegyptiaca) is a climbing plant of the gourd family, a relative of the cucumber and the courgette. Its young fruit is cooked as a vegetable all over Asia. When it is left to ripen on the vine and dry, however, the flesh disappears and its skeleton remains: a light, fibrous mesh of cellulose, with the characteristic long channels inside.

What are the benefits of loofah?

Its fibres have a rare balance: firm enough to exfoliate and elastic enough not to injure. They soften when wet and harden again when dry. Moved in circles over the skin, loofah:

• Lifts away dead cells from the epidermis
• Stimulates surface circulation
• Leaves the skin smoother and brighter
• Smooths rough areas — elbows, knees, heels
• Helps whatever follows in the routine to be absorbed better

One fibre, many uses

Because it is 100% plant-based, biodegradable and free of chemical treatment, loofah is used for everything from bath and kitchen sponges to filters and packaging materials. In body care it is the most traditional form of mechanical exfoliation, long before grainy scrubs appeared.

Where does it come from?

It originates in South Asia and is grown today in all warm climates — Egypt, India, China, Central America — and also in Greece, where it thrives in gardens and small plots.