A soap with more history than many brands

Aleppo soap is considered one of the oldest solid soaps in the world. With over 2,000 years of tradition, it originated in the Syrian city of Aleppo around 380 BC. The Crusaders brought it to Europe in the 11th century, and from there it spread, giving rise to the famous Marseille soap. Not the other way around.

Its recipe and artisanal method have been passed down for generations by families of Syrian master soap makers; it is an intact formula. After the outbreak of war in Syria, many producers moved their workshops to neighboring countries like Turkey to preserve this tradition and keep the craft alive. When you buy Aleppo soap, part of what you're paying for is that continuity.

How it is made

It is produced in the winter months. The oils are slowly cooked in large cauldrons, poured onto the ground to solidify, hand-cut, and stamped with the master soap maker's seal.

Then comes the most important part: outdoor drying and maturation for a minimum of 9 months. During this time, the exterior acquires its characteristic golden-brown hue, while the interior retains its natural olive green. A slow process that is part of its identity and cannot be rushed.

Composition

Only four ingredients: olive oil, laurel oil, sodium hydroxide, and water. Nothing more. A minimalist formula that has been working for two millennia and has not needed revision.

Olive oil provides softness and helps maintain natural hydration after cleansing. Laurel oil, obtained from laurel berries, is the most characteristic ingredient and defines the soap's character: it has purifying and balancing properties, and its proportion in the formula determines how the soap behaves on the skin.

The relationship is direct: the higher the percentage of laurel, the more intense and balancing the cleansing. The higher the proportion of olive, the gentler and more nourishing the cleansing. Aleppo soaps are usually marketed indicating the percentage of laurel — 5%, 20%, 40%... — precisely so that the user can choose according to their skin type and needs.

Use and for whom it is good

Due to its simple formula and lack of added perfumes, Aleppo soap has historically been used in daily hygiene for all skin types. Today, it is especially chosen by people with sensitive, reactive, or skin prone to imbalances who seek a respectful cleanse without superfluous ingredients.

Higher percentages of laurel are usually preferred by those with combination or oily skin.
Lower percentages are better for dry or sensitive skin that appreciates the softness of olive more.

A bit of discernment

An honest note: Aleppo soap has real antiseptic and antimicrobial properties, derived from laurel oil. That is true and documented. You may notice that most stores sell it to you as a remedy for psoriasis, eczema, severe acne, or atopic dermatitis, without adhering to cosmetic regulations. Let's be precise: it is a cosmetic product for daily hygiene, respectful and well-tolerated, that helps maintain skin balance, but in no case replaces dermatological treatment.

Curiosities and facts

The precursor of Marseille soap
Marseille soap didn't come out of nowhere: it is a direct descendant of Aleppo soap, which the Crusaders introduced to medieval Europe. Marseille adapted it with the resources available in Provence and gave it its own name. The original is still Aleppo.

The color that tells time
The golden-brown exterior of Aleppo soap is not a defect or an intentional finish: it is the result of surface oxidation during curing. The olive green interior is the original color. The darker the exterior, the longer it has matured. Some soaps cure for several years.

The hammam and oral tradition
The image at the top of this page reflects a real use: Aleppo soap is inseparable from the hammam culture in the Middle East. Its use for cleansing the body, hair, and even clothes has been documented for centuries. A recipe that has survived wars, migrations, and changes of era without modification.

As it appears in the INCI: Sodium Olivate, Sodium Laurate, Aqua

Other active ingredients that may interest you

Syndets: the modern alternative to traditional soap, with adjusted pH and no residual alkali.
Argan Oil: olive and laurel oil work well in combination with other Mediterranean oils.
Aloe Vera: soothing and moisturizing, a natural complement after cleansing with Aleppo soap.
Shea Butter: to nourish and moisturize after washing for very dry skin.