Handmade by Traditional Methods....
Pure Sabun Olive and Laurel oil traditional and rose soap can only be produced in the cold months in Syria . It is manufactured using a simple process which has remained unchanged for centuries.
Olive oil is mixed in large cauldrons with an aqueous solution of soda ash. The mixture is heated to more than 200 degrees and is stirred until the oil fully decomposes yielding glycerine and the sodium salt of olive oil - this is called saponification. Towards the end of the initial process laurel oil is added to the mixture .
The soda solution is drained from the cauldron and the soap mixture is rinsed with fresh spring water to get rid of the soda until it is tested free of alkalinity. It is then literally tasted by the master soap maker.
The warm soap paste, light green in colour is spread over the floor and left for several hours to harden. By the use of a manual cutting machine the raw soap is cut into cubes and stamped with the manufacturers name and the quality of the soap.
Before being sold the soap needs a period of 6 - 9 months to fully dry to get rid of excess water content. During this aging process the soap is stored in piles in specially aerated rooms. During this time the soap forms a rich brown crust on the exterior. The proof that no preservatives are added to the soap.
During the aging process the soap reduces by 95% in weight as the water content decreases leaving a hard soap full of oils which floats in the bath.
Sabun is stacked to age for at least 9 months.