A Soap Factory in Nablus

A photo-essay about a memorable visit to a soap factory in the Palestinian city Nablus.

This piece is just an experiment. I see so many people sharing postcard-style posts. With lots of photos, some text here and there; all in all engaging and so clever! So I created a photo-essay exclusive for the Substack community (no newsletter this time). It isn't about the photos, so please look beyond the quality and composition; it's all about the story. These kinds of encounters make me love travelling even more.

The factory

During a trip to Israel and Palestine, I paid a visit to Nablus on the West Bank. This city is known for its soap. You could even call it world-famous. The city is pretty charming, but the most captivating part was the tiny soap factory I visited. The young man who gave me a tour was even more charming. He told me about the family business and the way they make soap themselves. The guy made a real effort to create a compelling tour of the factory, providing information about the making process and the benefits of soap. Of course, I ended up buying soap (a great souvenir!).

I took some photos during the tour that I'd like to share with you. Let's start with the very international welcome. (Apparently Croeso means welcome in Welsh.)

I’m still wondering about the upstairs.

The factory produces soap since 1924. The old mixer has been replaced by an automatic one in the 1970's.

Some info about the soap. It’s all natural and made of extra virgin olive oil, local herbs, and minerals from the Dead Sea.

If the tour is too overwhelming you can take a break in the sitting area. There is Wifi available for guests.

Use the best soap ever! It’s well made ❤️