What Is Nabulsi Soap? The Palestinian Olive Oil Soap That Inspired Ours

Nabulsi soap is a hand-crafted olive oil soap from Nablus, Palestine, made from just three ingredients: olive oil, water and lye. It is traditionally made after the olive harvest, stamped with a family seal, and stored for about a year before use. In December 2024, UNESCO added the tradition of Nabulsi soap making to the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

Where does Nabulsi soap come from?

Nabulsi soap takes its name from Nablus, a city in the northern West Bank. It was traditionally made by women for household use, and by the 14th century soap making had become a significant industry for the city. In the early 1900s Nablus had roughly 30 soap factories. Today only a handful still operate.

What is Nabulsi soap made of?

The recipe is strikingly simple: olive oil, water and an alkaline compound (lye). Traditionally, the olive oil is cooked with the water and alkali in large vats, then set in wooden frames and cut into cubes, each stamped with the maker's seal. Because it contains nothing else, a traditional bar is typically unscented.

How is Nabulsi soap different from Castile soap?

Both are olive oil soaps, and they share the same basic idea. The difference is origin and tradition. Castile soap is named after the Castile region of Spain, and many modern Castile soaps blend olive oil with other vegetable oils such as coconut. Nabulsi soap is the olive oil soap of Nablus, traditionally made with virgin olive oil from local groves, cut by hand and stamped with the family's seal.

Is Nabulsi soap good for your skin?

Soaps made mostly from olive oil are popular for everyday washing because many people find them mild and not overly drying. Still, any soap can irritate some skin, and a bar that works for one person may not suit another. If your skin is sensitive or reactive, try a small area first.

Is Toulane soap Nabulsi soap?

No, and we want to be clear about that. Traditional Nabulsi soap is made in Palestine from only olive oil, water and lye. Our soaps are small-batch olive oil soaps inspired by that tradition. On our Argan, Lavender and Pomegranate soaps, olive oil (listed as sodium olivate) is the first ingredient, followed by shea butter, coconut oil and glycerine.

The inspiration is personal. Our co-founder Eman grew up watching her grandmother and aunts care for their skin with natural oils and classic Nabulsi soap, and that memory is why olive oil sits at the heart of what we make.

Which Toulane soap should I choose?

• Argan Soap: a rich everyday bar for face and body that leaves skin clean and soft.
• Lavender Soap: a calming bar with a soft lavender scent, lovely for the evening shower.
• Pomegranate Soap: a fresh, fruity bar with a scent that lingers.

Nabulsi soap FAQ

What is Nabulsi soap made of?

Traditionally just olive oil, water and lye.

Where is Nabulsi soap from?

It comes from Nablus, a city in the northern West Bank of Palestine.

How long does Nabulsi soap take to make?

A batch can take up to a month to produce, and the finished soap is traditionally stored for about a year before it is used.

Is Nabulsi soap the same as Castile soap?

They are related olive oil soaps, but Nabulsi soap is specifically the traditional olive oil soap of Nablus.

Is Toulane soap Nabulsi soap?

No. Ours are olive oil soaps inspired by the Nabulsi tradition, with added shea butter and coconut oil.

Sources: UNESCO, Tradition of Nabulsi soap making in Palestine; Institute for Middle East Understanding.