Every authentic Aleppo soap is made from the same short recipe: olive oil, laurel berry oil (Laurus nobilis fruit oil), lye, and water. What separates a gentle everyday bar from a rich, intensive one is a single number — the laurel oil percentage. That percentage is effectively the "grade" of the soap, and it changes the price, the lather, the scent, and how the bar feels on your skin.
What "Grade" Means in Aleppo Soap
There is no official certification body that stamps an Aleppo soap with a grade. In practice, the trade uses the laurel berry oil percentage as the grade marker. A bar described as "20% laurel" is roughly 20% laurel berry oil and 80% olive oil. The higher the laurel share, the more pronounced the soap’s character — and the more expensive it is to make, because laurel berry oil is far scarcer and costlier than olive oil.
This is why two bars both labeled "Aleppo soap" can feel completely different. One may be a soft, mild 5% bar; another a dense, intensive 40% or 55% bar. Knowing the percentage is the only reliable way to compare grades across sellers.
Aleppo Soap Grades by Laurel Oil Percentage
Here is how the common grades break down. Percentages are approximate and vary by maker, but the ranges below reflect what you will typically find on the market.
| Laurel % | Grade / Common Name | Character & Best For |
|---|---|---|
| 5–12% | Gentle / everyday | Mild cleanse, soft lather, lowest price. Good first Aleppo bar and for sensitive or dry skin. |
| 12–20% | Classic / balanced (ours) | The most popular everyday grade. Balances a clean wash with a comfortable skin feel. Our Aleppo soap sits here at ~20% laurel. |
| 20–40% | Rich / traditional | Deeper, denser cleanse and a firmer, longer-curing bar. Stronger laurel scent. Favored by long-time Aleppo users. |
| 40–55% | Intensive / premium ("Extra 40", "Extra 45") | The strongest laurel character and highest price. Often labeled "Aleppo Extra 40". Scarce supply because of the laurel oil cost. |
What Does "Aleppo Soap 40% Laurel" Mean?
When a listing says "Aleppo soap 40 laurel" or "Aleppo Extra 40", it means the bar contains roughly 40% laurel berry oil, with olive oil making up most of the rest. This is a high, intensive grade. It delivers the most pronounced laurel scent and the firmest bar, and it carries the highest price because laurel berry oil is the expensive ingredient. A 40–55% bar is usually chosen by experienced Aleppo users who specifically want that strong laurel profile, rather than first-time buyers.
By contrast, a balanced everyday bar in the 12–20% range is what most people actually reach for daily — it gives a clean wash without the intensity (or the cost) of a 40% bar.
Aleppo Soap Ingredients
Authentic Aleppo soap has a deliberately short ingredient list. Anything beyond these is not traditional Aleppo soap:
- •Olive oil (Sodium Olivate after saponification) — the base oil and the majority of every bar.
- •Laurel berry oil (Sodium Laurate, from Laurus nobilis fruit oil) — the defining ingredient and the one that sets the grade.
- •Water and lye (sodium hydroxide) — needed to saponify the oils. No lye remains in the finished, cured bar.
There is no palm oil, no synthetic fragrance, no artificial colorant, and no detergent in a genuine Aleppo bar. The green-to-gold color and the earthy scent come entirely from the laurel and olive oils. For a deeper look at how the bar is made, see our Aleppo soap product page.
Which Grade Should You Choose?
A simple way to decide:
- •New to Aleppo soap, or sensitive/dry skin? Start in the 5–20% range. It is gentler and less expensive while you see how your skin responds.
- •Want a reliable everyday bar? A balanced 12–20% grade (like ours at ~20%) is the most versatile choice.
- •Experienced and want maximum laurel character? Step up to 40–55% — just expect a higher price and a stronger scent.
Our own Aleppo soap is made in the traditional hot-process method at ~20% laurel berry oil, cured 9+ months, and stocked in our Norcross, Georgia warehouse for fast U.S. delivery. It is the balanced, everyday grade most buyers are looking for — with the laurel oil sourced from Hatay, Türkiye.