SCENT OF ANTIOCH
Defne (Laurel) Soap
ALCHEMY
Most of the soaps sold as "laurel" on the market contain only essence. A genuine Antakya laurel soap gains its identity through the percentage of laurel oil it contains (20%, 40%, or even 60%).
ARCHITECTURE
Soap is not poured into molds and sold immediately. In stone rooms (sabunhane), it is individually built by craftsmen and arranged in "towers" (hills). These towers allow the soap to breathe and endure its drying journey, which takes months. The sabunhane is the lungs where the soap breathes.
CUT TEST
Over time, the outside of the soap oxidizes and hardens, taking on an "earthy yellow" (ochre) color. However, when you cut it in half with a knife, a bright "Emerald Green" should still burst forth from within. This color difference is proof that no dyes were used and that it's a natural aging process.