How is Aleppo Soap Made?

When you hold one of our soap bars in your hands for the first time, you'll immediately notice their unique, organic form. 

Unlike mass-produced soaps, traditional Aleppo soap is made, poured, cut, and stamped by hand. With each lather, the golden outer husk wears away, revealing an earthy, subtle scent and deep green interior. 

It is a product perfected over centuries by artisan makers in the city of Aleppo. 

The Origins of Aleppo Soap

In its purest form, Aleppo soap is crafted from just a few natural ingredients: olive oil, laurel oil, water, and sodium hydroxide (lye). These simple yet powerful ingredients come together through a time-honoured process passed down through generations of Syrian soap makers.

Sourcing Natural Ingredients

Olive oil forms the base of Aleppo soap. Sourced from local olive groves, this golden elixir is rich in nourishing properties that leave your skin soft and supple. The addition of laurel oil—the hero ingredient—gives the soap its distinctive scent and antibacterial qualities. These pure and natural oils are blended with water and a dash of sodium hydroxide (lye) to create the foundation of traditional Aleppo soap.

Time-Honoured Traditions 

Aleppo soap is made in the old factories and open-air markets of Aleppo, bubbling away in large vats over open flames. After the oils are heated, lye is added, and the mixture is left to cook for several days, stirring all the while. It's an age-old tradition and a labour of love that requires patience to master.

Batch to Bar: The Curing Process

When the soap reaches the perfect consistency, it's poured onto wax paper-covered floors and left to solidify. Once hardened, the soap is hand-cut, hand-stamped and stacked in staggered cylindrical shapes to allow maximum air exposure before being left to cure for 9 months. During the curing process, the moisture content of the soap is reduced, and the outer layer takes on a pale golden hue whilst the inside remains deep green.

The Journey of Aleppo Soap to Australia

We source our soap from Syrian soap makers via France and ethically import it to Australia, supporting their local industry and preserving traditional production methods. Once sold in Australia, 100% of profits are donated to support asylum seekers and refugees.

Thoughtfully Packaged and Designed

Our gift packaging is designed and printed in Melbourne, Australia. You can choose to receive your soap in a single gift box enclosed by our beautiful letter-pressed wrap or minimally packaged and delivered in a recycled mailer.

Either way, you can rest assured that every bar supports traditional Syrian makers and contributes to the well-being of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia.