Nabulsi soap was historically prized throughout the Middle East and Europe, even reputedly favored by Queen Elizabeth I. By the early 20th century, Nablus’s 30 soap factories were supplying half of all soap in Palestine.

Traditional Production Process: The soap-making process is a labor-intensive, multi-day endeavor:
Cooking: Virgin olive oil, water, and the alkaline sodium compound are heated and stirred in large copper vats over fermentation pits for several days (often three days). This slow-cooking process ensures saponification is complete and no lye remains.
Laying: The liquid soap mixture is then poured onto a designated section of the factory floor, typically in wooden frames, to set and cool.
Cutting & Stamping: Once it has solidified but is still somewhat pliable, the soap is hand-cut into its classic cube shape and stamped with the company’s trademark seal, often bearing the name of the family or workshop.

Drying: The cut soap blocks are then piled into distinctive pyramid towers (tananir) in drying rooms, where they air-dry for several weeks to months, sometimes up to a year. This allows the soap to fully cure and harden.

Packaging: Finally, the dried soap cubes are wrapped in paper, often by skilled workers who can package thousands of bars a day.

Competition from mass-produced alternatives: The rise of commercial soaps has also posed a threat to the traditional industry.
Despite these challenges, the resilience of Palestinian soap-makers has ensured its survival. Efforts are ongoing to preserve this important cultural heritage, including the restoration of old factories into cultural centers and initiatives by NGOs to market the soap internationally.