I love Aleppo soap (50% laurel oil) my last batch of soap came out of Aleppo, Syria, Make soap not war!I am a great admirer of traditional soap.
To me traditional soap is a simple blend of oil, usually Olive oil and either Lye (Sodium hydroxide) or Soda Ash (Sodium carbonate), and water - preferably saltwater. With the additions of essential oils such as Laurel. This is made in a cauldron, using the hot process method rather than the cold process method.
I have no idea whether the definition of Castile soap which essentially is the above without the addition of essential oils is either a hot, cold process or both.
Traditional soap is produced around the Mediterranean. France produces Savon de Marseille. They are currently squabbling over the current definition as many manufacturers use modern methods of production using additives and a soap noodle base.
French soapmakers in a lather over traditional Marseille recipe
It is as French as baguette, and as emblematic of the country's southern Provence region as lavender fields and cicadas.amp.france24.com
Aleppo and Nablus produce soaps of renown. Aleppo soap is now being produced in France, Jordan, Turkey and Tunisia.
Greece, Turkey, and Tunisia produce traditional soaps. Turkish Laurel soap is called Daphne soap which is similar to Aleppo Laurel soap.
Lebanon produces Baladi soap. Whilst Al Ghar soap is the term used across the Arab Middle East for Laurel traditional soap, including Aleppo and Baladi.
Jordan is producing soaps inspired by either the Aleppo and Nablus method due to the displacement of the soapmakers or family tradition.
Although triple milled soaps are great, they are a more refined soap with exquisite scents. Traditional soap maybe used for hand and face washing, bathing and showering, as a shampoo, as a washing detergent for clothes or as household cleaner. Which your great grandmother probably did.
I have soap from both Aleppo and Nablus, good to see people supporting this ancient artI love Aleppo soap (50% laurel oil) my last batch of soap came out of Aleppo, Syria, Make soap not war!
I also have the Turkish Dafhine soap but the laurel oil content is not as much, still a very good soap though and as you say these soaps can be used for all cleaning.
I hope to see soap making return to Aleppo one day but I have enough to be getting on with for a good while yet!P.
It is wonderful soap, I'm only too pleased to be able to buy it and in turn support the sometimes displaced ( through war ) soap makers and will continue to do soI have soap from both Aleppo and Nablus, good to see people supporting this ancient art
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Amen to that brotherIt is wonderful soap, I'm only too pleased to be able to buy it and in turn support the sometimes displaced ( through war ) soap makers and will continue to do soP.
Yes, there are meant to be only two factories left in Nablus. Although I may have three different wrappers.Jamal brand. Nice. I think that was the first one I tried. Palestinian, right?
Aleppo soap is so good for your skin, it contains Olive oil and laurel oil and not a lot else, try some, the higher the laurel content the better it is for your skin, I use mainly 50% Laurel oil Aleppo soap, it costs a little more but it's great stuff for skin conditions . P.I really am a novice at this. I have always used Pears Soap as a pre-shave soap (I have medically sensitive skin - Psoriasis, so I have to be a little careful as to what I use); are the above mentioned soaps very much better? I have used pre-shave lotions but to me they are meant to act in the same way as a soap, ie get off the natural oils before a applying gel or shaving cream/soaps and then shaving. Am I barking up the wrong tree? Unfortunately, have to use Aqueous Cream to shower with, due to skin condition!
You wouldn't want to eat it but I know what you mean about the looks, the older it gets the harder it gets but it's still fab soapLike those slabs of soap - look a bit like cheese
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