LivPure
01-04-2024
The Making of the 3-Ingredient Soap
A guide to how the Nablus soap is made today
3 Simple Ingriedents With a Process Requiring Elegance
Despite its seemingly simple recipe consisting of virgin olive oil, water, and a basic sodium compound, the journey of Nablus' olive soap industry in the West Bank has been far from straightforward. It's a tale of resilience and evolution, marked by overcoming natural calamities and navigating the complexities of a persistent military presence.
These modest, white blocks with their subtle fragrance remain a cherished commodity in Middle Eastern homes, produced through methods passed down through generations. Despite facing recent obstacles and ongoing difficulties, the industry remains committed to crafting and exporting this time-honored product.
For over a millennium, Palestinian women have dedicated parts of each year's olive harvest to soap production. Yet, in Nablus, this age-old tradition transformed into both a thriving industry and a form of artistry. Dating back to the 10th century, the city's traditional olive oil soap found its way to markets across the Arab world and even reached Europe. It's believed that Queen Elizabeth of England favored 'sabon nabulsi' as her preferred soap.
The Process of Making Soap
AWhile the ingredients are simple, crafting a batch of olive oil soap is a long process, often spanning to 6-weeks. Despite the temptation to incorporate modern chemical compounds commonly found in today's commercial soaps, Nablus' modern producers maintain that their formula has remained unchanged and unmatched for centuries.
In a large vat, virgin olive oil, water, and a sodium compound are blended over gentle heat for about five days. The resulting mixture is then spread across a spacious floor. Subsequently, molds are placed over it to slice the soap into individual blocks. These blocks are later imprinted with the distinctive seal representing the originating factory.
After cutting the soap into blocks, it's arranged into geometric towers to promote air circulation, aiding in the drying phase. These soap pyramids can reach heights exceeding eight feet and fill the factory's drying room corridors. They remain there for a duration of ten to thirty days before they're ready for packaging and shipping
During the late 19th century peak, Nablus housed almost 40 operational soap factories in its Old City. Yet, after the 1927 earthquake and the turbulent period since then in Palestine's history, only two factories persist today. Since the 2000's, the soap-making industry has reduced its capacity due to restrictions on export.
However, there's hope on the horizon. Companies like LivPure are revitalizing the industry by introducing Nablus soap to the Canadian market. This initiative not only ensures a stable network for production but also brings a cherished, well-preserved gift from Nablus to the world. Nablus soap is biodegradable, vegan, and contributes to a lighter environmental footprint, aligning with global sustainability goals thus, its introduction to the Canadian market not only supports the revival of a historic industry but also promotes sustainable living practices, making Nablus soap a meaningful choice for conscientious consumers worldwide.
