natjtan Welcome to another Beauty Finds. This edition is Najel olive and bay laurel oils Aleppo Soap in both Jasmine and Black Cumin Oil respectively.
I knew about Marseille soap as I’ve been for about 6 months using it as my all purpose cleaning soap including the dishes! I didn’t know about Aleppo Soap so was super curious in Druni when I first saw Nazel products as a few soaps were a similar shape and colour as Marseille Soap. The Marseille soap I was using was marketed as an all purpose cleaner when these soaps were in a beauty shop. What was the difference?
Aleppo soap is traditionally made in Aleppo, Syria and is the ancestor to Marseille soap. Traditional Aleppo soap is 100% natural and contains no chemicals or animal fats, protected by Syrian law and must be made inside Aleppo or just outside of Aleppo. Just like how Spanish champagne can only be called cava as for champagne to be champagne it can only be manufactured in the Champagne region of France. Being ancestor to Marseille soap, it’s very similar to Marseille soap in that it also uses olive oil. Aleppo soap in addition contains bay laurel oil. Both giving the soap it’s rich green colour. There are several companies still in operation after the Syrian civil war, Najel being on of them. The headquarters are based in Lyon, France however all Aleppo soap sold via Najel is made in Syria since 1895 by the Al Najjar family. 20 years ago the soap was brought to Europe by marriage of the founding Najel owners. Catherine, a law student met Manar, a Syrian doctor and the rest is history via a father in law. Catherine’s father was amazing by Manar’s family soap making business and convinced Manar to export it to Europe. While the brand has expanded out of soap with many products now made in France, the Aleppo soap is still traditionally made in Syria. More information about Najel here!
Skip a paragraph for the review or read on for my beauty requirement!
I have a few requirements when it comes to beauty products: cruelty free, natural, clean, vegan better. I do my best to avoid nasty ingredients such as SLSs, parabens, PEGs, silicones, etc. Petrochemicals are the sneakiest with so many derivatives and aliases. I also avoid palm oil and it’s derivatives as I prefer orangutans. Coconut oil marketed as the good oil I’m also cutting down on as it can be just a damaging crop as palm oil. If I do get products containing palm or coconut oil I try to get organic or sustainably sourced. With make up it’s a little harder so I go for cruelty free brands. I prefer products with less plastic and thankfully more brands are aware consumers don’t want unnecessary plastic (or governments are telling them less plastic). My skin type’s oily sensitive, acne prone and now wrinkles. I know nothing stops those lines, but if I can delay them then….
I came across Najel Aleppo Soap last year in Druni. Druni has a great range of lesser known bio and organic European skin care brands. I’m always on the lookout for solid body soap to try that’s plastic free. As mentioned early I use Marseille soap for washing the dishes, hand washing, general cleaning and while it can be used for body and hair too, the idea of using the same soap for everything, kinda grosses me out a little. I’m sure it’ll clean well and be fine! I have noticed however it does dry my hands out if I’m not using washing up gloves so the I’m probably good not using as a body and shampoo soap.
I was curious as to what Aleppo Soap was. Is the war in Syria still on going? Who buy purchasing would I be contributing to? Would I be contributing to those who’ve lost everything and are trying to rebuild their lives? By purchasing I’d be helping the country get back on its feet. Those were the initial thoughts before purchasing. I believe in democracy that’s all I’m saying.
All Aleppo Soap must be made with non food olive oil, bay laurel oil, caustic for saponification of oils and water, made in the traditional way of a hot process in a cauldron and made within or just outside of Aleppo. The soap’s made from November to March then left to dry for at least 9 months!
I initially tried the organic Jasmine soap first. Druni here. This is because I prefer to buy solid soap that isn’t wrapped in plastic. A peak into the box revealed it’s paper wrapped. The rest of the Najel soaps available were wrapped in plastic. Sadly however under the paper it is wrapped in plastic.
It’s scent’s super jasmine. Jasmine is up there with lilacs for my favourite flower scent, it can be hit of miss and smell like bad breath especially in soaps. This was borderline as I was concerned that’s what I was smell like. However it didn’t stop me from out of curiosity again try the black cumin oil version.
The black cumin oil version I really recommend. Druni here. It doesn’t smell of cumin or anything spicy. It doesn’t really have a strong scent of anything other than it’s similar in scent to Marsielle soap. It is however the most moisturising and hydrating soap I’ve ever used. I only have to use one body lotion. Just one body lotion?!
Yes, just one body lotion as for a couple of years I’ve had to apply 2 different body lotions after showering to feel like my skin isn’t drying out. With Najel Black Cumin Oil Aleppo Soap I haven’t had too. Even the next day my skin feels hydrated. I prefer this one over the jasmine as it contains less ingredients. It can also be used for hair and face however for me not just yet. The combination of olive oil, bay laurel oil and cumin makes it great of irritated, sensitive and dry skins. Olive oil providing oleic acid to help soften skin, bay laurel to hydrate and sooth skin issues such as eczema and cumin oil, the extra added powerhouse of being antibacterial, helps maintains the skins natural ph level and helps to remove dead skin! These are just some of the benefits of all 3 main ingredients together!
It’s great value for money too. At Druni it’s €3.95 for 100g and lasts about 4-5 weeks of once a day showers. I have noticed with Marseille soap it doesn’t last very long and this is somewhere in-between. Just like with Marseille soap, the tail end of one soap easily smushes onto the new one. Many solid bar soaps don’t this! It also, and this is a huge thing for me, doesn’t leave scum marks in the shower/bath tub. If you’re the one cleaning the bathrooms you know about this. I don’t want to spent more time cleaning than I have too! I’ve found many bar soaps do this and I think it’s when they contain a coconut derivative which Aleppo soaps do not. I like the black cumin version so much, I’m on my 4th bar! I’m curious also to try out the more traditional Aleppo Soap bars from Najel with the basic ingredients as an alternative to Marseille soap for cleaning. For sure there’ll be a post about it in a few months!
I highly recommend Aleppo Soaps if you’re after a cruelty free, vegan, plastic free when available, clean ingredient, moisturising and hydrating soaps. Not only are you getting an amazing all in one soap, you’re also helping many people to continue working from olive groves to help packing the products during the ongoing Syrian conflict which has left many without.
Thank you for stopping by!
