Starting in about the 5th century B.C. olive oil cultivation really began to flourish. Demand grew as more and more uses were found for the versatile olive. . It's value as an agricultural product was unmatched in the ancient world.

There are biblical references to olive oil as well. King David had guards protecting olive groves and warehouses filled with this precious commodity. These ancient trees thrived on rocky Greek fields where other crops struggled to survive. So precious were the trees in ancient Greece that one could be condemned to death for cutting down a tree. It was the staple trading commodity of the time and special ships were built exclusively to transport it throughout the Mediterranean.

Culturally olive braches were placed in the home to ward off evil spirits. Olive leaves were worn to bring luck and prosperity to the wearer. When consumed they were believed to ensure fertility in women and sexual potentency in men. Some of its uses included mixing it with other herbs to produce both medicines and cosmetics. Typically fennel, sesame, celery, water, cress, mint, sage, rose and juniper were used in the manufacturing of these compound products.

Ancient soap makers discovered when olive oil was mixed with lye induced waters from volcanic streams, it produced soapy bubbles and the origins of olive oil soap were formed. Through trial and error over the centuries olive oil was shown to make an excellent soap. Olive oil is rich in vitamin e which is a natural protector of the skin. Olive oil in soap has a natural ability to mix with water and go deeply into the pores of your skin to give a wonderful cleansing that rarely happens with other soap.

Taken from: The Magic of Olive Oil by: Jeffrey Dorrian

In the 6th century the first olive oil soaps were produced in France , by combining ashes from sea plants to locally pressed olive oils. Soap factories emerged in Marseille, Genoa , Lisbon and even Istanbul (then Constantinople ). Today, the descendants of these craftsmen continue to practice their art, all around the Mediterranean .

The antioxidant effect of olive oil is well-known today, not only when consumed but also when included in cosmetic products. Olive oil soap helps skin retain moisture, brightness, elasticity and flexibility. Dermatologists recommend it for dry and sensitive skin.

Our business was created by women who wanted to revive an old tradition and provide a trade for other local women. Using our knowledge of the benefits of using natural products, we would like to share them with all and take advantage of those things that nature has provided for us.

We would like to revisit ancient times, when soap making was a tradition that was passed down from generation to generation and the recipes contained all natural ingredients and were designed to keep skin young and healthy.

Soap shouldn't be used just to clean your skin, but also to care for and enrich it. The Egyptians used soap products to care for their skin and treat skin conditions, and it wasn't long before the Greeks and Romans, Spanish, Italians and Muslims were doing the same. In reality they weren't just using soap; Mediterranean people used virgen olive oil and soda to care for their skin.

We make our soaps, oils and salts based on those ancient beliefs that soap is to care for, clean and hydrate your skin. All of our products are hand-made using only natural materials.

For more information, retail or wholesale enquires and a price list please contact:

dooley.caroline@gmail.com