For Aleppo soap in the footsteps of former Silk Road merchants.

In my long-term search for natural cosmetics
I came across olive-laurel Aleppo soap, which is still surprising today
with its shape, smell and purity of composition.

I was fascinated by its form and the information that it is the oldest soap
the world and its recipe goes back 4,000 years, it stimulated me a lot
imaginations.
I wanted to discover the secret of this soap, its recipe and see it
own eyes the way of making. I wanted to know everything about him.
In my head I saw the richness of Arabic colors, ornaments,
splendor. I could smell a sweet, heavy perfume – like in the Tale of 1001 Nights.
Because my husband and I love traveling, especially in style
discovering amazing, original places on earth, getting to know
other cultures, spontaneous, surprising, often without a plan.
So when did I tell Oscar, “are we going to Syria?” I didn’t have to
wait a long time for a reply.

This is how we ended up in Syria. At first I was surprised that instead of the imagined
oriental splendor, colors and smells, we found an image of desert spaces, austerity
stone and sand buildings and a certain uniformity of the landscape.
During the trip, I discovered the uniqueness of this place more and more,
its turbulent history, multiculturalism, complexity, architecturally
valuable buildings from distant centuries, as well as peace, simplicity of life and
the friendliness of the locals.

The first steps in our journey were directed to the cradle of soap making –
the city of Aleppo. Located on the oldest merchant trail,
travelers and adventurers. Legendary, wrapped
the secret of the Silk Road. Caravans traveled through it
merchants from India and China, from a long journey through deserts and mountains
mountain passes. Caravans loaded with silk, gold, silver, spices,
paper, perfumes and other precious goods, unknown
for the western world.

Standing at this “crossroads” of the ancient world, I felt as if I was part of this history, on a journey for unknown, amazing products that I would like to present and offer in Poland.

At that time, trade routes of the Silk Road met in the very center
Aleppo, at the largest covered bazaar in the world – Al Madina.
It’s an amazing place, a world of its own. It is 13 km long,
it is full of countless shops, workshops, warehouses,
filled as before with textiles, ceramics, spices and metals
precious, perfumes and soaps. Entering through the main gate
we were stunned by the number and variety of items, colors,
fragrances.

Sheakspire is said to have called Aleppo the personification of the cornucopia, he must have had
they mean this bazaar! You can buy there practically
all. Ethnic Syrian textiles attracted our attention with theirs
colors, jewelry with craftsmanship, original tableware for coffee and tea
a multitude of patterns. There were mounds of colorful and fragrant spices, plenty
various sweets, baklaw and other sugar cakes, iced
honey, syrup and sugar again! I will remember this taste forever
street food, very, very sweet tea and strong coffee.
We wandered for hours through the crowded streets
getting lost in the tangle of narrow, long paths, discovering more and more
new sections (chans) named after the products offered there.

Our daily excursions always ended at the Souk al Saboun section, or soap chana, Aleppo’s soap production center.

Looking for the most noble, best-quality product
we dated a lot of manufacturers who had recipes and technique
they received manufacturing from their ancestors from generation to generation.
Just like centuries ago, when Aleppo soap was considered one of the
the world’s most luxurious goods are now becoming famous all over again
the world because of its beneficial, soothing and healing properties
the skin.