Before aerosol shaving gel. Before the pressurised foam can. Before the lubricating strip. There was the shaving bowl, the brush, and the soap. In Aleppo’s bazaars, that soap was always Aleppo soap — olive oil and laurel berry oil, worked into a lather with a boar-hair brush, applied to a face that had been softened by steam from the hammam.
The chemistry that made Aleppo soap an excellent pre-shave preparation in medieval Syria is the same chemistry that makes it an excellent pre-shave preparation now.
Why Aleppo soap works for shaving
The olive oil base of Avlia bars softens beard hair effectively — the oleic acid in olive oil penetrates the hair shaft and reduces its resistance to cutting. The lather created by Avlia soap is denser and more adhesive than commercial shaving gels. Laurel oil is the post-shave component: its natural antiseptic compounds (lauric acid, beta-pinene) act as mild disinfectants on the micro-cuts and follicle openings that every shave creates.
The two techniques
Classic brush method: wet the surface of the Avlia bar under warm water. Load a shaving brush by working it across the bar’s surface in circular motions for thirty seconds. Transfer the lather to your face in circular motions to build a dense, white lather. Shave as normal.
Modern method: rub the Avlia bar directly on wet skin where you will be shaving. Then work the lather with fingertips or a brush. This requires less equipment and works well for a quick routine.
Which Avlia bar for shaving
The Avlia 40% Laurel Oil Bar is the ideal shaving bar. The balance between olive oil and laurel oil is close to optimal: enough olive oil for a cushioning, lubricating lather; enough laurel oil for the post-shave antiseptic and anti-inflammatory benefit that reduces razor burn.
The Avlia 50% Bar is appropriate for skin that tends toward post-shave redness or breakouts.
For sensitive skin that gets razor burn easily, the Avlia 30% or 16% Bar provides the most cushioning from the olive-oil dominant formula.
For women: legs and underarms
Aleppo soap shaving is not exclusively a male grooming tradition. For leg shaving, the dense Avlia lather provides better razor glide than most commercial women’s shaving gels. For underarm shaving, the Avlia 40% Bar’s antiseptic laurel oil is particularly relevant — freshly shaved underarm skin is more permeable, and the antibacterial properties help prevent folliculitis.
After the shave
Rinse with cool water. The lower temperature helps close follicle openings. Pat dry. Allow skin to rest for ten minutes before applying aftershave balm or moisturiser.
Find the Avlia 40% Laurel Oil Bar at avliahome.com.