From fields of olive trees in the heights of Byblos, to a hand cut soap bar infused with a delicious scent; rose, honey or musk, with his natural, handmade Sabouneh mn Beirut, Toni dreamed up a sweet piece of Lebanon to carry across the land and beyond.
Hope, peace, strength, an olive tree carries meaning beyond its beauty and resources for our imagination to capture. In the midst of the Lebanese economic crisis, in 2019, Toni felt the urge to do something to support the crumbling local economy. He ‘wanted to stay here,’ and thought about the family olive groves, and how he could transform the golden liquid into a product that could travel the world, showcasing the beauty of his country. He created Sabouneh mn Beirut, one of the pioneer beauty brands coming out of our land. The adventure began with four soap bars, black seeds, musk, ginger and honey, rose. At the core of each product, lie three natural ingredients, olive oil, laurel oil and coconut oil. Destined to keep the skin hydrated, nourished, rejuvenated with the powers of nature, each new product introduction stays true to the brand’s essence; charcoal or lavender soaps, jasmine hand and body wash, coffee or gardenia and blackberries body scrub, and each come in a covetable light-toned packaging.
The essence of Sabouneh mn Beirut lies behind the scenes, in the atelier, where each bar is hand cut. When he set out to create soaps, Toni began a thorough research process, testing many formulas in the lab, following courses online, carefully choosing the ingredients that would go in his bars, but also the process on how to make them. Made the traditional way, preserving a heritage of Lebanon, the soaps are crafted with a cold process method; the oils are first mixed in a big jar for twenty-four hours, the only automized bit of the entire process, ‘to mix the recipe faster,’ each bar is then hand cut, and left on shelves for two months to let the natural reaction occur, ‘that keeps the nourishing, protective vitamins in.’ From four scents to newcomer products and flavours every year, with an eye set on introducing essential oils soon, and from local shops to beauty platforms, the story of Sabouneh mn Beirut, rooted in an olive tree, carries that passion that makes our little land and its ever so resilient resources worth knowing.
* This article is for informational purposes only. No material on this site is intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should consult your physician or other health care professional for specific medical advice.
