this is the best soap ever! this us my 2nd time ordering and i got the bulk package of 60 bars to share with friends and family. fragrance free but has a pleasant natural soap smell. perfect affordable christmas gift, thank you gift etc. unmatched quality! one bar lasts me over a month in the shower as both shampoo and body soap.
Nablus olive oil soap | صابون نابلسي
100% olive oil soap made traditionally since the 10th century
100% Natural
Nabulsi olive oil soap is as simple as it is versatile. Nutrient-rich olive oil hydrates and cleans sensitive skin, face, and hair. It's also strong enough for natural household cleaning, including dishes and laundry.
Nabulsi soap is known for its smooth lather that washes away without leaving a film. It respects your skin's natural balance and is vegan and biodegradable.
Nablus Soap Box
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Heritage Soapcraft
For over one thousand years, olive oil soap made in Nablus, Palestine has been coveted for its cleaning, moisturizing, and healing properties.
Nablus soap continues a soap tradition dating back 4500 years to ancient Syria and Iraq: a hot-cooked olive oil soap. Europeans adapted the Nablus soap recipe after discovering it during the Crusades, producing the famous vegetable soaps of Castile and Marseilles. Nablus soap is the higher-quality precursor to those better-known descendants.
How It's Made
Nablus soap is made from olive oil, water, and lye. Traditionally, the mix is soaked and cooked slowly in a cauldron through a hot process until it converts to soap and no lye remains. It is then cooled on a stone floor and cured in chimney-shaped towers for up to 8 months to create a hard, long-lasting bar.
Famously healthy for the skin, Nablus soap is often considered by those who've used it to be the best soap in the world.
Collapsible content
Ingredients
Olive oil, water, and lye (sodium hydroxide). Salt (sodium chloride) is sometimes added if the head soap maker judges that the batch needs it. These ingredients react in the saponification process, and the result is a bar of completely saponified olive oil (sodium olivate).
A minor ingredient of the Nablus soapmaking process is white clay powder that is put down on the fabric that covers the floors where the soap is poured. Virtually all of this clay powder comes off the bars by the time the soap is packaged.
Another ingredient, only present on one surface of the bars and in minute quantities, is the red chalk used to snap-line the bars into squares. The chalk is made from limestone (calcium carbonate) and its color comes from red iron (iron oxide).
Cooking
Olive oil, water, and soda are added incrementally over the course of several days, while being allowed to soak on low heat from a fire under the cauldron. The head soap maker judges the texture and taste of the batch before calling for it to be moved and poured for measuring and cutting.
Laying, Cutting, & Drying
From the cauldron, porters carry the hot soap by buckets to be poured on a cloth-covered part of the factory floor. White clay powder is tossed onto the cloth to prevent the soap from sticking. When the soap has cooled enough, the soap is measured into cubic squares with a red chalk snapline. The cutter (the secondmost specialized role behind head soapmaker) then cuts the bars into cubes. An imprinter follows with a wooden mallet and hammers the company's logo onto each square.
Once all this is done, the bars are piled into small stacks and lifted onto a wood cart for stacking into hollow skirt-shaped towers for 4 to 6 months of drying during the spring and summer.
Wrapping
After drying, bars are wrapped in vegetable-ink-printed compostable paper and sealed shut with pine sap glue. Finished bars are then packed into boxes and distributed.
Further reading
---Nablus Soap Production: The Decline of an Ancient Heritage by Véronique Bontemps from The Interactive Encyclopedia of the Palestine Question
The production of soap is a very old tradition in the Middle East: it is based primarily on the production of olive oil. At first a domestic production, the soap industry developed in urban centers: the most famous are Aleppo in Syria, Tripoli in Lebanon, and Nablus in Palestine. Throughout the Ottoman period, big families of the urban bourgeoisie acquired the main soap factories located in the city center of Nablus. In the nineteenth century, the soap industry became the dominant economic sector of the city: owning a soap factory became a symbol of wealth, prestige, and urban belonging.
Process of Making Soap
The few Nablus soap factories that have remained operational follow more or less the same manufacturing process (except for some minor changes) that was developed two centuries ago. It is a five-step process—cooking, laying, cutting, drying, and packaging—supported by four different teams of workers.
At the ground floor of the soap factory, olive oil (the main ingredient) mixed with caustic soda and water is placed in a large bowl (halla) and “cooked” for three days. (In the first half of the twentieth century, caustic soda, imported from Alexandria and Europe, replaced the qeli, a plant turned into ashes.) Under the tank, a boiler helps the process of saponification. Once the mixture is ready, the head of the team tastes the soap or crumbles it on his hand to check its texture. Then porters carry the mixture in buckets and pour it on a designated section of the first floor (mafrash), where it dries for a day before being shaped into small cubes, stamped with the brand of the soap factory, and cut by a team of three to four trained workers. A day later, the same workers pile the pieces of soap into pyramids (tananir). The soap then dries for two to three months. Another team packages the soap, wrapping it in a paper with the brand of the soap factory. These workers pack an average of 500 to 1,000 bars of soap per hour.
In the heyday of soap production in Nablus, factories were registered companies with brand names and a printed logo on the soap wrapping paper. These brands were often symbols or names of animals; examples include muftahein (the two keys), al-jamal (the camel), al-na‘ama (the ostrich), al-najma (the star), al-baqara (the cow), al-badr (the full moon), and al-assad (the lion). Slogans were added on the packaging such as al-sabun al-Nabulsi al-mumtaz (Nablus soap extra) or al-ma‘ruf (the well-known).
Decline of Soap Production in Nablus before 1948
By 1930, Nablus soap production had experienced its first important setback. Several reasons are usually given for this decline. Egypt and Syria, which were major markets for Nablus soap (especially Egypt), imposed taxes on imported soap. Nablus soap was competing with soap production in Egypt. The label “Nabulsi” attached to the soap was not protected, and as a result, counterfeiting took place. This, coupled with the rise in the price of pure olive oil after the Great Depression of 1929, contributed to raise the price of Nablus soap, making it difficult for Nablus producers to compete with other imported soaps. In addition, Jewish mechanized industry, which also succeeded to obtain customs benefits from the British Mandate, provided local competition.
This first soap crisis reveals the effects, though indirect, of Jewish immigration in the region of Nablus, hitherto relatively protected from the consequences of the Zionist colonization. In general, the absence of a sovereign state capable of controlling borders and taxes meant that Nablus soap was unprotected, while at the same time the British Mandate granted customs benefits to the Zionists traders, and Egypt and Syria were able to impose barriers to protect their local production.
After 1948, the market of historic Palestine closed; so too did the Egyptian market. The East Bank of the Jordan River (Jordan) became the main market for Nablus soap. Soap producers were gradually forced to import olive oil from Syria and Lebanon, and secondarily from Spain and Italy.
Transformation and Final Decline of the Soap Industry
In the 1950s Hamdi Kan‘an, brother-in-law of the soap producer and trader Ahmad Shaka‘a, introduced in Nablus what was called “green soap,” a soap made from jift (solid remains of first press olives, mainly kernels) oil: it was a lower quality soap used to wash the floor and do the laundry. This was a small revolution. Indeed, the exploitation of this new, much cheaper type of oil allowed less wealthy families to rent soap factories and mass-produce household soap. During the 1970s, production of this “second class” soap (which quickly took the generic name of “Kan‘an”), developed rapidly. But it also helped some soap factory workers to become small manufacturers; they rented soap factories in the old city and started to produce soap. At this time, some soap factories tried to mechanize and “develop” the Nablus soap in its form, packaging, and ingredients. Another change (a consequence of the Israeli occupation of 1967) is that all kinds of oils started to be used.
Despite the attempts by some in the soap industry to transform production and adapt to the changing circumstances, the soap industry experienced a steady regression during the second half of the twentieth century, and the first intifada marked the final decline. Small factories producing green soap were already being marginalized by the introduction of detergents and washing machines and cheaper foreign products (like Lux and Palmolive). They could not compete, nor could they afford the new taxes imposed on the soap: their lack of capital prevented them from maintaining their production. Moreover, since the first intifada, soap production became harder to maintain, because the old city was the target of Israeli attacks, and many soap factories thus closed in the 1990s.
In summary, cheaper foreign products as well as the introduction of new consumption patterns brought about the decline of the soap industry in Nablus. Of the more than thirty soap factories in the old city of Nablus, several were damaged by the Israeli invasion of 2002 and two of them completely destroyed; most of the rest have been abandoned or put to other uses. For example, the Arafat soap factory is being developed into a cultural center for children; some producers are using perfumes and mechanization to produce new soaps to keep the tradition of soap making in Nablus alive. Since 2007 only two soap factories have remained functional in Nablus, and they belong to the Tuqan and Shaka‘a families, who keep them as a heritage. These factories export the vast majority of their production to Jordan, taking advantage of long-standing relationships with the distributors on the East Bank of the river and the importance of the Palestinian population in Jordan. From there, a small part of the production is sent to Kuwait and the Gulf.
Selected Bibliography:
Bahjat, Mohammad, and Rafiq Tammimi. Wilayat Bayrut: al-qism al-janubi [The Province of Beirut: Its Southern Part]. Beirut: al-Iqbal Press, 1916.
Bontemps, Véronique. “Soap-Factories in Nablus. Palestinian Heritage (Turâth) at the Local Level.” Journal of Balkan and Near-Eastern Studies 14, no.2 (2012): 279–295.
Bontemps, Véronique. Ville et patrimoine en Palestine. Une ethnographie des savonneries de Naplouse. Paris: Karthala/IISMM, 2012.
Doumani, Beshara. Rediscovering Palestine, Merchants and Peasants in Jabal Nablus (1700–1900). Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, 1995.
Graham-Brown, Sarah. “The Political Economy of the Jabal Nablus, 1920–1948.” In R. Owen, ed., Studies in the Economic and Social History of Palestine in the Nineteenth and Twentieth Centuries. Carbondale: Southern Illinois University Press, 1982.
Jaussen, Antonin. Naplouse et son district. Paris: Geuthner, 1927.
Sharif, Husam. Sina‘at al-sabun al-Nabulsi [The Nabulsi Soap Industry]. Nablus: Palestinian Authority: Municipality of Nablus, 1999.
Taher, Ali Nusuh. Shajarat al-zaytun. Tarikhuha, zira'atuha, amraduha, sina‘atuha [The Olive Tree: Its History, Culture, Diseases and Production]. Jaffa, 1947.
Let customers speak for us
from 6914 reviewsthis is the best soap ever! this us my 2nd time ordering and i got the bulk package of 60 bars to share with friends and family. fragrance free but has a pleasant natural soap smell. perfect affordable christmas gift, thank you gift etc. unmatched quality! one bar lasts me over a month in the shower as both shampoo and body soap.
Love this soap. It leaves my skin soft and moisturized.
This is the soap that really cleans!
...and that's saying a lot from someone who went many years without using soap due to it drying my sensitive skin! I got the 6 soap premium box and all the different soaps smells so lovley and unique in their own ways, I am excited to try then all!
I love ordering from Palestinian Soap Cooperative, knowing my soap is natural and beneficial to my skin, as well as knowing I am supporting a pro Palestinian business makes it even better!
I am so pleased with this wonderful soap. It is not drying to my skin, and rinses off easily.
I am gifting all of my good friends with it.
I bought a sampler pack from different co-ops and all are excellent. The almond scented one is my favorite.
Buy this soap!
I had no expectations of loving this soap. I use it as a shampoo, body wash and dish soap. I didn’t realize how much it had helped my scalp until I used my old shampoo and my head started to itch again. No additives, just pure. I love it.
Bought these with no expectations, but was very pleasantly surprised to realize the similarity to high end French soap (recently purchased in small shop in Paris)
The person I spoke with on the phone when I called the store was so kind and helpful.
I ordered a premium Nablus Soap Box and Nabulsi Kufiya. Both are amazing. Highly recommend!
This soap leaves my skin really soft to the touch. I love how it doesn't really have much scent and each bar goes a really long way. Will definitely reorder!
Creamy, soft, yet lasts forever! Love it!
I absolutely love this soap. It cleans so well and it leaves my skin feeling so soft. I'm really glad I ordered this. You can definitely tell it's a high quality soap.
I friend gifted me a bar of The Camel when I was visiting and staying with her. I forgot to pack soap and shampoo for a multi-city trip. The soap really cleansed and also moisturized both my skin and hair really well. I also was having an eczema flare-up at the time and the soap was gentle and soothing for that. As a traveler I appreciate how effective this soap can be, and I love the printed paper packaging it comes in too - there is a printmaking, everyday art quality to it. When I got settled back home I ordered the mixed soap box! It's been a little more than a month and I still haven't finished using my first bar from the collection. Thank you Palestinian Soap Cooperative for being a bridge and bringing us this soap, and making it possible to also support incredible businesses and their people from the U.S.
I have severe allergies to so many things. Soaps being one of them. I recently had a terrible reaction from several different factors and had an itching rash all over my arms, back, stomach. It was awful!! I saw an ad for your pure olive oil soap and called to order it. I have to tell you that I use this for my shampoo and body soap and my skin has not done better. Thank you so much for this incredible pure soap that I can safely use.
Really happy with my purchase - speedy delivery and amazing soap.
Nablus Soap
We carry soap from eight Nabulsi soap manufacturers in order to share profit across the local industry. They all produce traditional olive oil soap.
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Nablus Soap Box
Vendor:Regular price From $28.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
The Olive (al-Zaytoon; الزيتون)
Vendor:Regular price $5.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
The Two Keys (al-Mufftahein; المفتاحين)
Vendor:Regular price $3.50 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
The Almond (al-Lauwz; اللوز)
Vendor:Regular price $6.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
The Tiger (al-Nimr; النمر)
Vendor:Regular price $6.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
The Ostrich (al-Na'amah; النعامة)
Vendor:Regular price $6.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
The Camel (al-Jamal; الجمل)
Vendor:Regular price $3.50 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
The Land (al-Ard; الأرض)
Vendor:Regular price $6.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between the soap brands you sell?
Each of the soaps is made by different artisans in different workshops in Nablus. They are all unscented pure olive oil soap (except for the Almond soap, which contains 7% almond and 93% olive oil).
We carry soap from many factories because we aim to support the Nablus soap industry as a whole. As a cooperative, we don't believe in privileging one of our manufacturers over another, especially in a time when continuing traditions is made more difficult physically and economically.
What's the difference between your Standard and Premium box?
Premium boxes include smaller family workshops whose limited harvests allow them to produce only once a year.
How much is shipping?
Shipping costs are calculated at checkout, except for the Nablus Soap Box, which has free included shipping. All US orders over $100 receive free shipping.
Can I use your soap on babies, children, and sensitive skin?
Yes. Because it is fragrance free and made from simple, all-natural ingredients, Nabulsi soap is suitable for young children and sensitive skin. It has been made and used by families for hundreds of years.
Does Nablus soap contain animal products?
No. Nabulsi soap is vegan and made from olive oil, and contains no animal products.
What's the red stuff on some of the bars?
Traditional soap factories use red chalk to snap-line the bars into squares. The chalk is made from limestone (calcium carbonate) and its color comes from red iron (iron oxide). It may be present on only one surface in minute quantities on some bars.
What's the difference between kufiya and kuffiyeh?
They're the same! Kufiya, kuffiyeh, and other variants are all transliterations (words converted from one alphabet to another) of the Arabic كوفية.
A kuffiyeh is a large, square scarf made of cotton that's practical in hot, dusty environments; it excels at keeping the wearer both cool during heat and warm in the cold.
During the 1936 Palestinian Revolution against the British mandate, Palestinians from all walks of life wore the kufiya while protesting to conceal each others' identities from authorities. Its significance as a symbol of resistance has increased since the 1960s with public figures such as Leila Khaled. Today, anyone can wear a kufiya to show their solidarity with the steadfastness of the Palestinian people.
The kufiya's design represents Palestinians' connection to their land. It is embroidered with three patterns: fishnets in the Mediterranean Sea; leaves of ancient, resilient olive trees; and bold lines representing historical trade routes passing through the Crossroads region, crucial for cultural and economic exchange between continents.
Does my purchase support Palestine?
Yes.
We carry soap from eight Palestinian soap manufacturers, as well as crafts made throughout Palestine and the diaspora, at a price that benefits the producer. By introducing many factories’ soap to an international customer base, the Palestinian Soap Cooperative seeks to spread profits across the Nabulsi soap industry.
A decade ago, there were only four soap factories left in Nablus after many workshops closed due to the physical and economic difficulties of occupation and imported competition.
After 1967, when the remaining Palestinian territories, including the city of Nablus, fell under Israeli occupation, occupation authorities sought to destroy the Palestinian economy and targeted the soap industry, like other Palestinian industries. Soap factories gradually disappeared as the local market was flooded with various types of foreign and Israeli-made soap at relatively low prices. Decades later, soap factories were directly targeted by occupation missiles and tank shells, which destroyed factories in the Al-Yasmine neighborhood and caused significant damage to several others.
We seek to continue the Nablus soap-making tradition by offering new markets and a fair price to our suppliers. We also partner with Palestinian artists, craftspeople, and cooperatives, directly supporting their work.
Can I stop by in person?
Yes, walk-ins are welcome at our Berkeley location, where we offer a larger variety of Palestinian grocery items and high quality home goods. Our address and open hours are:
1080 Monterey Ave
Berkeley, CA 94707
11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mon-Sat
Nabulsi Kufiyas
Made by the Nablus Textile Company, one of only two kufiya factories in Palestine.
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Nabulsi Kufiya
Regular price $20.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Nabulsi Red Kufiya
Regular price $20.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Nabulsi Rainbow Kufiya
Regular price $25.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per -
Nabulsi Olive Kufiya
Regular price $40.00 USDRegular priceUnit price / per
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