AME Info, United Arab Emirates
Khan Al Saboun was a famous trading centre established in Lebanon in 1480 for the making and selling of handmade luxury soaps.
A store of the same name has recently opened in Khan Murjan at Wafi, offering a wide range of handmade soaps, candles and beauty products made of natural ingredients.
Khan Al Saboun store is owned by Badr Hassoun & Sons who were one of the families known for making soap and still have a production site near the original trading centre.
Khan Al Saboun produces more than one hundred kinds of soap and is a key competitor in the world of soap market, but still maintains the traditional natural methods.
Badr Hassoun has learnt how to make soap from his grandparents who made their own natural soap at home.
Products such as scented soaps made of natural oils are available for different types of treatments such as aromatherapy, acne, rashes and deep cleansing.
They also have soaps for exfoliation and whitening made from olive, coconut, and almond oil, glycerine, Carcuma oil and honey. For the fragrance of the soap, mint, herbs and Arabic oud are used in various kinds for different types of skin.
Scented body oils are also available for people who enjoy natural perfume.
There are also natural hair oils available to treat hair loss, dandruff and the strengthening of hair.
‘Khan Murjan is an ideal location for Khan Al Saboun as it reflects the traditional crafts of Arabic artisans by providing a cultural tourist centre to display their wares,’ said Victoria Smith, Group Marketing Director, Wafi.
‘The aim of Khan Murjan is to bring talented craftsmen from around the region and serve as a gallery to showcase their many talents sometimes forgotten. Having Khan Al Saboun open in Khan Murjan is a great opportunity to keep a traditional craft of soap making alive for generations to come.’
Khan Murjan is a subterranean souk with an Islamic theme and architecture that provides 150 bazaar shops with vendors from across the Arab world in a unique marketplace environment. It is based on a 14th century souk in Bagdad and is underneath the central mall at Wafi; it has four quarters – Egyptian, Syrian, Moroccan and Turkish and open from 10am to 10pm from Saturday to Wednesday and until midnight on Thursday and Friday.