Traditional Aleppo soap is a hard, stamped bar that has dried for six to nine months or more (UNESCO). So what is the "liquid Aleppo soap" sold in pump bottles?
Sometimes it is a close cousin made from the same oils; sometimes the name is mostly marketing. This guide explains the difference, decodes two real labels, and shows how to turn a bar into liquid soap yourself. If you are new to the soap, start with what Aleppo soap is.
Key takeaways
- Bars and liquids use different lye. Sodium soaps are firm; potassium soaps are softer or liquid (Wikipedia).
- A liquid can use the same oils, shown on labels as potassium olivate rather than sodium olivate.
- Liquids need preservatives because they are mostly water (Najel liquid label).
- You can make your own by blending a grated bar with warm water (Lisa Bronner).
- Home-made liquid soap keeps about two weeks, so make small batches.
The short answer
Liquid Aleppo soap is not the traditional product: real Aleppo soap is a hard bar made with sodium hydroxide and cured for months. Liquid versions are made with potassium hydroxide and need water and preservatives, but the better ones use the same olive and laurel oils. You can also make a simple liquid soap at home by blending a grated bar with warm water.
Hard soap vs liquid soap
Whether a soap sets hard or stays soft depends mainly on the alkali. Sodium soaps, made with sodium hydroxide, are firm; potassium soaps, made with potassium hydroxide, are softer or often liquid (Wikipedia, "Soap"), and need less water to liquefy (Wikipedia, "Potassium hydroxide"). Dr. Bronner's, for example, uses potassium hydroxide for its liquid soaps and sodium hydroxide for its bars (Dr. Bronner's FAQ).
Traditional Aleppo soap is a sodium soap: cooked, poured, cut, stamped and dried (Wikipedia, "Aleppo soap"). A liquid made with potassium hydroxide can contain olive and laurel oil, but it is made by a different route and never goes through the months of drying. Our guide to how Aleppo soap is made shows the traditional process, and why it is cured explains the drying.
What is in liquid "Aleppo" products
We looked at the published ingredient lists of two well-known liquid Aleppo soaps:
- Najel liquid, 40% laurel: aqua, potassium olivate, potassium laurelate, glycerin, sodium benzoate, potassium sorbate, potassium hydroxide (Ecco Verde).
- Tadé liquid, 12% laurel: aqua, potassium olivate, potassium laurate, glycerin, sodium chloride, olive oil, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, potassium benzoate, potassium sorbate, laurel fruit oil, tocopherol (Easypara).
Both are built on potassium soaps of olive oil and a laurel ingredient, with glycerin, and both rely on benzoate and sorbate preservatives. Neither lists fragrance. Another liquid we checked prints exactly the same list as Tadé's (Redcare), which suggests the same maker. Our ingredients guide explains the bar's label for comparison.
Pro Tip: Read the first three ingredients. On a liquid Aleppo soap, you want water, then potassium olivate, then a laurel soap or oil. If the list starts with other surfactants or adds fragrance, it is a different product with an Aleppo name.
How to make liquid soap from a bar
If you like the convenience of a pump bottle, you can make a simple liquid soap from any hard bar, including Aleppo soap. This method follows Lisa Bronner's bar soap dilution guide (Lisa Bronner).
- Grate or dice one bar into small pieces. A well-cured Aleppo bar is hard, so a sturdy grater helps.
- Add warm water: about 960 ml (4 cups) for a bar of roughly 140 g (cheat sheet PDF). For a 200 g bar, use about 1.4 litres.
- Blend, or soak the pieces for 24 hours and then blend until smooth.
- Pour into a clean pump bottle.
- Use it within about two weeks. Water dilutes the bar's natural resistance to spoilage, and Lisa Bronner found that a bar-and-water mix thickened back to nearly solid after about three weeks.
| Traditional bar | Liquid "Aleppo" soap | Home-made from a bar | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lye | Sodium hydroxide | Potassium hydroxide | Sodium (from the bar) |
| Oils | Olive and laurel | Olive and laurel, sometimes added oil | Olive and laurel |
| Water | Little, after months of drying | Mostly water | Mostly water |
| Preservatives | None needed | Usually benzoate and sorbate | None, so short life |
| Packaging | Paper or none | Plastic or glass bottle | Your own bottle |
| Keeps | Years, if kept dry | As printed on the label | About two weeks |
Pro Tip: Cut a bar in two and turn only one half into liquid soap. You keep a hard half for travel or the guest bathroom, and you make a batch small enough to use up in time.
Start with the traditional bar. Four strengths, from Pure Olive to 10%, 20% and 40% laurel. See all Aleppo soaps
Bar or liquid: which suits you?
- Choose the bar if you want the traditional product, the shortest ingredient list, no preservatives and no plastic. It travels well and keeps for years when dry. See how to use Aleppo soap to make it last, ideally on a draining soap dish.
- Choose a liquid if a pump dispenser matters more, for a shared sink, for example. Check that the label starts with potassium olivate and a laurel ingredient.
If cutting packaging is part of the appeal, our guide to a plastic-free bathroom with Aleppo soap shows how far one bar goes.
Frequently asked questions
Is liquid Aleppo soap the same product as a cured bar?
No. Liquid products can use olive and laurel oils, but their formulation and water content differ from a hard bar. A liquid may use potassium-based soap and additional ingredients to maintain its performance and stability. Read its complete label; a percentage on a liquid product is not enough to establish that it matches a bar. ALEPO’s collection here consists of solid bars.
Can I safely store homemade liquid soap made by diluting a bar?
We do not recommend treating a homemade bar-and-water mixture as a tested liquid product. Adding water changes the formulation, and a clean bottle does not establish microbiological stability or a safe storage period. There is no verified ALEPO recipe or shelf life for that mixture. Use the bar as supplied, or choose a commercially formulated liquid product intended for your purpose.
Woraus besteht traditionelle Aleppo-Seife?
Zur Herstellung werden Olivenöl, Lorbeerbeerenöl, Wasser und Natriumhydroxid verwendet. Die Lauge reagiert mit den Ölen zu Seife. ALEPO bietet außerdem eine reine Olivenölseife ohne Lorbeeröl an. Die Ölmischung beschreibt die Ausgangsöle; Bezeichnungen wie Sodium Olivate stehen für die daraus entstandene Seife. Die vollständigen Angaben findest du bei der jeweiligen Sorte.
Wie bewahre ich Aleppo-Seife zwischen den Anwendungen auf?
Spüle Seifenreste ab und lege das Stück auf eine Seifenschale mit Wasserablauf, damit es gut trocknen kann. Vermeide stehendes Wasser und direkten Duschstrahl. Gieße angesammeltes Wasser unter der Schale ab. Unbenutzte Stücke lagerst du trocken und luftig. Lass eine benutzte Seife trocknen, bevor du sie in eine Reisedose legst.
The bottom line
The traditional Aleppo soap is a hard bar made with sodium hydroxide and dried for months. Liquid versions are made with potassium hydroxide and need preservatives; the closest ones still use olive and laurel oil, so read the first ingredients.
If you want a liquid, you can make one from a bar in minutes: grate, add warm water, blend, and use it within two weeks. For more, compare Aleppo, Marseille and Castile soap, see how to spot fake Aleppo soap and the best Aleppo soap brands.
Try several strengths. Our soap collection puts all four laurel percentages side by side. Free EU shipping over €50.
Related reading: the laurel oil percentage and where to buy Aleppo soap.
Sources
- Wikipedia. "Soap." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap
- Wikipedia. "Potassium hydroxide." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Potassium_hydroxide
- Dr. Bronner's UK. FAQ. https://drbronner.co.uk/pages/faq
- Ecco Verde UK. "Najel liquid Aleppo soap, 40% bay laurel." Accessed 4 October 2026. https://www.ecco-verde.co.uk/najel/liquid-aleppo-soap-40-bay-laurel
- Easypara. "Tadé savon d'Alep liquide 12% laurier, 500 ml." Accessed 4 October 2026. https://www.easypara.fr/savon-d-alep-liquide-12-laurier-500ml-tade.html
- Redcare Pharmacie. "Bionaturis Alep savon liquide." Accessed 4 October 2026. https://www.redcare-pharmacie.fr/beaute/CH07296788/bionaturis-alep-savon-liquide.htm
- Lisa Bronner. "Bar soap dilutions cheat sheet." https://lisabronner.com/bar-soap-dilutions-cheat-sheet
- Lisa Bronner. "Bar soap dilutions cheat sheet" (PDF). 2020. https://www.lisabronner.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/Bar-Soap-Dilutions-Cheat-Sheet-2.pdf
- Wikipedia. "Aleppo soap." https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleppo_soap
- UNESCO. "Craftsmanship of Aleppo Ghar soap." 2024. https://ich.unesco.org/en/RL/craftsmanship-of-aleppo-ghar-soap-02132
