When Laurel Met Olive
It may be common knowledge that olive oil is used as a base for making high quality soaps, but did you know about laurel oil? In combination with olive oil, it can create an effective and high quality bar of soap, a recipe that has been used for centuries. Laurel leaf, or bay leaf, grows on a bay tree native to the Mediterranean region. Bay leaves are rich in essential oils, rendering them quite fragrant, and they are often used to add aroma and taste to cooking. Traditionally, many Mediterranean families harvest bay leaves, clean and dry them for use in the kitchen. Laurel in soap is not a new trend. Combining olive oil soap with laurel oil is commonly known as Aleppo soap, and has been used for centuries in soap production facilities in the Mediterranean and enjoyed and favored by many across centuries due to its unique set of benefits. By using a laurel soap bar, you are sharing in the time-honored tradition and capitalizing on the benefits offered by ingredients sourced directly from nature.
Laurel soap has a long history, dating back thousands of years, and is renowned for its natural purity and traditional craftsmanship. When using olive oil soap with laurel oil, it's essential to choose a reputable source to ensure the quality and authenticity of the product. Olively’s Laurel soap includes four ingredients: laurel oil, olive oil, coconut oil, and lye (saponifying agent, none of which remains in the final product). Olively’s Laurel bar uses the oils of the laurel berry plant as a base, and main ingredient, capitalizing on its nourishing qualities, antioxidant properties, and gentle and nourishing feel on the skin.
Simple yet powerful, the highlights of this soap are many. Mild, hypoallergenic, and non-greasy, laurel soap is naturally cleansing, removing dirt, impurities, and excess oil from the skin's surface without stripping away its natural moisture barrier, maintaining the skin's pH balance thanks to the lack of harsh chemicals and artificial additives, which are the common culprits for skin reactions. Both olive oil and laurel oil are rich in fatty acids. This helps hydrate and nourish the skin, leaving it feeling soft and supple. In the Mediterranean region, it is not uncommon for families to prefer using this soap on babies, young children, and the elderly as a trusted choice for gentle, hypoallergenic baths.
This soap is free of chemicals, fragrances, dyes, and animal fats, and so we are left to benefit from and enjoy the natural properties of the ingredients. You will find that the natural scent of laurel comes through, an earthy, gentle aroma. These natural oils will work together to clean, moisturize, and gently improve the condition of your skin. Their antioxidant properties protect and nourish. Sometimes, it is worth taking a moment to pause and consider what ingredients we are exposing our skin to on a daily basis. We deserve the goodness of nature, and our skin deserves the best, naturally!
