A comparison shot showing the Avlia cardboard packaging box standing next to the unwrapped Aleppo soap bar

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Avlia 40% Laurel Oil Aleppo Soap – Handmade Olive Oil Bar

Name: Avlia 40% Laurel Oil Aleppo Soap – Handmade Olive Oil Bar
Brand: Avlia
SKU: TNS104-01
Price: 15.95 EUR
Availability: OutOfStock

€15,95 €7,98/100g

Warmth is the word for this bar. At 40% laurel and 60% olive oil, the Avlia 40% wraps the wash in a warm, herbaceous character inspired by traditional bath rituals — richer than the entry ratios, softer than the intense 60–75% bars, and for many the most comfortable place in the whole range.

The box copy captures it: blended with 40% laurel and olive oil to bring a warm, herbaceous embrace inspired by traditional bath rituals.

Each bar is crafted by Syrian refugee artisans in southern Türkiye who carried Aleppo's 3,000-year-old soap-making tradition with them. The oils are saponified in open kettles, the soap is poured and cut by hand, and every bar is pressed with the traditional Arabic seal — the mark of genuine Aleppo soap for generations.

Four ingredients. Nothing else.

Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil · Laurus Nobilis (Laurel) Fruit Oil · Aqua · Sodium Hydroxide

No synthetic fragrance, no colorants, no sulfates, no parabens, no palm oil.

Why 40% is the warm middle of the range

At 40% laurel, the bar delivers a genuinely rich, low-foam lather and a full herbaceous aroma while the 60% olive base still carries real softness through the wash. The cleanse is powerful without feeling stripping — traditionally preferred for sensitive and oily skin types alike, and a natural companion to hammam-style bathing with a kese mitt. It pairs beautifully with the 75% bar in a gift set: one for depth, one for intensity.

Made the old way, finished by time

After kettle saponification over gentle heat, the bars are air-dried for six to nine months in open curing rooms. The exterior darkens toward its characteristic medium-dark brown while the heart keeps a green tint — the two-tone cross-section that has always been the quiet proof of a genuine, well-aged Aleppo bar.

Use & care

Use it for face, body and hands, or lather it under a hammam mitt for a full traditional ritual. Keep the bar on a draining soap dish between uses and out of standing water; allowed to dry fully between uses, it lasts two to three times longer.

Because every bar is cut and stamped by hand, small differences in size, shade and stamp depth are part of its handmade character — not defects — and the color deepens naturally as the soap ages. Each purchase supports a craftsman's livelihood and helps keep one of the world's oldest living crafts alive.

Specifications: Net weight 200 g / 7 oz · 60% olive oil, 40% laurel oil · INCI: Olea Europaea Fruit Oil, Laurus Nobilis Fruit Oil, Aqua, Sodium Hydroxide · No added fragrance · Vegan · Palm oil-free · Plastic-free kraft packaging · Handmade in Türkiye · SKU: TNS104 · UPC: 731851910131

Browse the full Aleppo Soap collection: https://avliahome.com/collections/aleppo-soap

Laurel Oil
Pure Extra Olive Oil

Unscented
Earthy & Woody

Sensitive
Oily
Problem
All skin types

Earthy & Woody
Unscented

Please note that all of our soaps are handcrafted using traditional methods, which means that each bar is unique in shape, color, and texture. While we strive to provide accurate product images, slight variations may occur from the photos shown. These differences are a natural result of small-batch, artisan production and do not affect the quality, ingredients, or benefits of the soap.

We believe these natural variations are part of what makes our products truly special—thank you for supporting handmade craftsmanship!

The Basics: Understanding Aleppo Soap

Aleppo Soap is one of the world's oldest soaps, originating from the city of Aleppo, Syria. It is a hard soap made from a traditional recipe of olive oil, laurel berry oil, water, and lye. It is renowned for its natural, moisturizing, and gentle properties.

Our soap is made following the authentic, centuries-old tradition. We honor the heritage by using only the highest quality olive oil and laurel berry oil, without any artificial fragrances, chemicals, or preservatives. It's a pure, minimalist soap for all skin types.

The tradition of soap-making in Aleppo is believed to date back more than 3,000 years. The method of using olive oil and laurel berry oil, along with the slow curing process, has been passed down through generations of master soap makers.

"Ghar" (غَار) is the Arabic word for laurel. Because laurel berry oil is the ingredient that gives this soap its character and earthy aroma, it is traditionally known as "Sapun Ghar" or Laurel Soap.

Authenticity & Sourcing

Due to the ongoing situation in Syria, many master soap makers have relocated to preserve their craft. Our Avlia soaps are authentically crafted by Syrian artisans in the Gaziantep region of Türkiye, right near the Syrian border, using the original recipes and methods to ensure you receive a genuine product.

Authentic Aleppo Soap has a few key characteristics:

Ingredients: The list is short: Olive Oil, Laurel Berry Oil, Water, and Sodium Hydroxide (lye, which disappears during saponification).
Appearance: It has a hard, dark golden-brown exterior and a deep olive-green interior.
Scent: It has a natural, earthy, clean scent, not a perfumed one.
Stamp: Each bar bears the Arabic stamp of the master soap maker.

Our soap is made by Syrian artisans we work with directly, from plant oils, water and lye only. It contains no animal-derived ingredients and is never tested on animals.

Ingredients & Composition

Our classic Aleppo bars contain four ingredients: olive oil (Olea Europaea Fruit Oil), laurel berry oil (Laurus Nobilis Fruit Oil), water (Aqua) and sodium hydroxide (lye). During saponification the lye reacts with the oils and becomes soap; glycerin forms naturally in the bar. The scented bars (Oud Amber, Amber & Misk, Misk) also contain added fragrance, listed on their own pages.

The percentage (e.g. 5%, 16%, 40%) is the share of laurel berry oil in the total oil content (olive + laurel). A higher percentage gives a bolder, earthier aroma and a deeper-feeling cleanse; a lower percentage feels milder and more olive-oil forward.

Olive oil is the base of the soap and the larger share of the oils. It gives a gentle, creamy lather and leaves skin feeling soft after washing.

Laurel berry oil gives Aleppo soap its earthy, herbal aroma, its darker color and a firmer, deeper-feeling cleanse. The higher the percentage, the more you notice it.

Our classic bars are made from plant oils, water and lye, with no synthetic fragrance, colorants, parabens, sulfates or preservatives. The scented bars are the exception and say so on their pages.

Yes, our soap is 100% vegan and is completely free of palm oil.

Choosing the Right Soap for You

Most people start with our 10% or 16% bar: mild enough for daily use on face and body, with the real Aleppo character. If you prefer a bolder aroma, move up to 30% next.

For daily use on normal, combination or sensitive skin, many people prefer our lower percentages (5% to 16%), which feel milder. Everyone's skin is different, so try a small area first.

If your skin tends to feel oily, many people prefer the bolder 30% to 40% bars, which give a deeper-feeling cleanse and a stronger earthy scent.

Start with a lower, olive-oil-forward percentage (5% to 16%). It feels milder and leaves skin feeling less tight. Aleppo soap is a cosmetic cleanser, not a treatment; if you have a skin condition, ask your doctor first.

How to Use Avlia Aleppo Soap

Simply wet the bar, lather it in your hands or on a washcloth, and apply to your face and body as you would with any other soap. Rinse thoroughly. It's gentle enough for daily use.

Yes. Many people use Aleppo soap as a plastic-free shampoo bar. Lather it on wet hair and rinse thoroughly.

Wet your hair thoroughly. Rub the soap bar directly onto your scalp in several places. Massage to create a lather, then work it through to the ends. Rinse very well. Some users experience a transition period; an apple cider vinegar rinse (1 part ACV to 4 parts water) can help remove residue and restore pH balance.

Yes. It creates a slick, creamy lather that works well as a shaving soap for the face or body.

It is a simple soap with no added fragrance in the classic bars, but we make no special claims for babies or young children. Ask your pediatrician first, and keep it away from the eyes.

Product Characteristics & Expectations

This is the signature of authentic Aleppo soap. After hot-process kettle saponification, the bars are air-cured for 6+ months. The exterior oxidizes to a golden-brown, while the inside, protected from the air, keeps the olive-green color of the oils.

It has a natural, earthy and slightly spicy scent from the olive and laurel oils. The classic bars contain no added fragrance; only the Oud Amber, Amber & Misk and Misk bars are scented.

Because it's free of synthetic foaming agents, the lather is more creamy and low-profile than commercial soaps. It provides a luxurious, lotion-like cleanse rather than big bubbles.

Aleppo soap is a very hard, dense, and slow-melting soap. When stored properly on a draining dish, a single bar can last for many weeks, often much longer than conventional soap bars.

Each bar of Avlia Aleppo Soap is hand-cut and traditionally made. Slight variations in size, shape, color, and stamp impression are normal and a beautiful sign of its artisanal authenticity.

The Arabic stamp is the seal of the soap maker. It traditionally identifies the maker and sometimes the laurel percentage.

How It Feels on Skin

It cleanses gently and leaves skin feeling soft and clean, without the tight feeling many detergent bars leave. The olive-oil base gives a creamy lather; higher laurel percentages feel deeper and smell earthier.

Most people find it gentle. Unlike detergent-based bars, Aleppo soap's olive-oil base cleanses without a stripped, tight feeling. If your skin is very dry, choose a lower laurel percentage.

The classic bars have only four ingredients and no added fragrance. Anyone can react to natural ingredients, including laurel oil, so try a small area first. We do not label it hypoallergenic.

Like all true soaps made by saponification, Aleppo soap is alkaline, with a pH of around 8 to 9, higher than the skin's natural pH. The naturally formed glycerin and olive oil help it rinse clean without a harsh feel.

Storage & Care

The key is to keep it dry between uses. Use a well-draining soap dish that allows air to circulate around the entire bar. Do not let it sit in a puddle of water.

Yes! Aleppo soap gets better with age. Storing unused bars in a cool, dry place (like a linen closet) allows them to cure further, making them even harder and milder.

Comparisons & Miscellaneous

African Black Soap is made from ingredients like plantain skins and cocoa pods, giving it a soft texture and dark color. Aleppo Soap is a hard, cured soap made from olive and laurel oils. They have different properties, textures, and origins.

Castile soap is traditionally made with 100% olive oil. Aleppo soap is a type of castile soap enriched with laurel berry oil, which gives it its earthy aroma and distinct character.

Marseille soap must contain at least 72% vegetable oils, traditionally olive oil. However, modern versions can include palm or coconut oil. Aleppo soap's recipe is more specific, requiring both olive oil and the key ingredient, laurel berry oil.

Yes, it performs well in both hard and soft water, rinsing away cleanly.

It is made only from plant oils, water and lye, with no synthetic detergents, microplastics or plastic packaging.

No. Like all true soaps, it is not a "tear-free" formula and will sting if it gets in the eyes. Please use caution around the eye area.