The Camel / al-Jamal, made in the Shaka'a family-owned workshop in Nablus, is the most iconic imprint of Nablus soap. People often refer to 'al-Jamal soap' to mean Nablus soap in the same way that people talk of Jacuzzi for hot tubs or Xerox for copy machines. Its main market is in southern Palestine around Hebron. The imprint took its mascot from the camel trains used to carry in qilw soda ash and olive oil to Nablus from neighboring countrysides.
Nablus soap is the only 100% olive oil soap still produced in the traditional way. Made from three ingredients - virgin olive oil, water, and lye - it is cooked slowly on high heat for a week, before being hand cut, stacked, and dried for up to 8 months.
