The Soap That Time Couldn't Improve
Two ingredients. Three generations. Nine months of crafting
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BIODEGRADABLE
ALL NATURAL
ORGANIC
SUSTAINABLE
TRACEABLE INGREDIENTS
ETHICALLY MADE
CLEAN INGREDIENTS
SENSETIVE SKIN SAFE
1% DONATED
ETHICALLY SOURCED
SUITABLE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES
ANCIENT RECIPE
FACE, BODY & HAIR SUITABLE
BIODEGRADABLE
ALL NATURAL
ORGANIC
SUSTAINABLE
TRACEABLE INGREDIENTS
ETHICALLY MADE
CLEAN INGREDIENTS
SENSETIVE SKIN SAFE
1% DONATED
ETHICALLY SOURCED
SUITABLE FOR ALL SKIN TYPES
ANCIENT RECIPE
FACE, BODY & HAIR SUITABLE
Nature's Formula, Perfected Over Millennia
On our family farm in Syria, time moves at nature's pace. Each morning, as the sun rises over our ancient olive groves, we begin the same ritual our grandfather taught our father, and his father before him. Our olives and laurel berries are still harvested by hand, pressed using traditional stone methods, and transformed through a painstaking nine-month process that cannot be rushed.
Each bar of our Aleppo soap tells a story of patience. While modern factories produce soap in hours, we follow the ancient way - allowing our soaps to age in our open-air chamber, where they're turned by hand every few days. The hot Syrian sun and cool mountain breezes slowly transform the green soap into the distinguished gold-brown bars that have been treasured for millennia.
We don't just make soap; we preserve a legacy. A legacy that survived centuries of trade along the Silk Road, that graced the bathhouses of queens and caliphs, and that now brings its timeless benefits to your daily ritual.
FAQ
01
What is in aleppo soap?
Olive oil and laurel berry oil are the only two ingredients that remain in Aleppo Soap following its nine month curing process. During production, olive oil, laurel berry oil, lye and water are combined to create saponification, which is the chemical reaction between the lye and fat that makes bar soap.
Noraya is biodegradable.
02
What is laurel berry oil?
Laurel berry oil comes from the Laurus Nobilis tree, a large evergreen tree native to the Mediterranean basin which thrives on the Syrian coast around Aleppo.
The elegant Laurus Nobilis tree blooms in mid-April when beautiful yellow flowers grow in clusters and produce berries that resemble brown olives.
Fruit is picked in autumn, then manually harvested and pressed in traditional methods handed down by villagers from one generation to the next. The laurel berries are boiled in large pots until the oil floats to the surface of the water. It is then collected and sold to specialized merchants and then to the owners of traditional soap factories and spice shops in the old markets of Aleppo.
03
What is lye?
Lye, also known as sodium hydroxide, was traditionally derived from wood ash but today is made from salt to create saponification. Saponification is the chemical reaction between the lye and fat that makes bar soap. While Lye is an initial ingredient in
Alepp soap, through the process it disappears and is not present in the soap after months of curing.
04
Is aleppo soap perfumed?
Only by nature! Noraya has a wonderful natural, spicy/earthy scent that comes from the laurel berry oil. It is a distinct fragrance synonymous with the soap.
05
Can I wash my hair with Noraya?
Yes, Alepp is gentle enough to be used on all hair types.
06
How is aleppo soap made?
Traditional aleppo soap uses a 'hot process' with large vats of olive oil, water and lye. Underground fires or other sources heat the ingredients over days so the oil reacts with the lye and water to create a thick liquid soap.
The hero ingredient is laurel oil which comes in at the end of the process. The mix is taken from the vat and poured over a large sheet of waxed paper on the floor of the factory. At this point, the soap is a large, green, flat mass, and it is allowed to cool down and harden.
The soap is then cut into cubes and stamped and stacked in staggered cylindrical shapes to allow maximum air exposure and are then aged from six months to a year.
While it is ageing, the soap goes through several natural chemical changes. The free alkaline content of the soap (the alkaline which did not react with the oil during saponification) breaks down upon slow reaction with air. The moisture content of the soap is also reduced, making the soap hard and long- lasting. And lastly, the external colour of the soap turns pale gold, while the inside remains green.
07
What are shipping costs?
US SHIPPING
UPS Standard Shipping (4-6 business Days) FREE.
CANADA & REST OF WORLD SHIPPING
All import duties or customs charges/taxes are the sole responsibility of the customer.
FedEx / UPS Standard Shipping (5-6 business Days) FREE if order is $200 or above.
RETURNS
If something is not quite right you’ve got 7 days to send back your items for a for a full refund. All we ask is that items are in an unused, unaltered condition and returned with their tags and packaging. Please note, international returns are paid for by the customer.
08
What is the loofah made of?
Natural shower loofahs are made from the dried, fibrous skeleton of the luffa plant, a tropical gourd related to cucumbers. This natural material provides gentle exfoliation, removing dead skin cells and promoting healthy skin.
09
Can I use aleppo soap on sensitive skin?
Gentle Skin Renewal: Ideal for sensitive skin, eczema, and psoriasis sufferers. We formulate Noraya with zero harsh chemicals. No synthetic additives, just the power of nature's most nourishing ingredients.
4000 Years of Wisdom in Every Bar
Nine months of patience for one perfect bar
1% Of Sales Donated To Syria
Syria Relief is a trading name of Action For Humanity. The team has been on the ground in Syria since the outbreak of conflict in 2011, providing life-saving aid and implementing long-term development projects such as schools, hospitals and livelihoods.
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