Olea et Cedrus | Phoenician Soapworks

Olea et Cedrus is a small-batch soapmaker rooted in Eastern Mediterranean olive oil traditions shaped along the Levantine coast.

For thousands of years, olive oil in this region was a daily material. It was used for food, light, preservation, and soap. Among the earliest traders and refiners of olive oil were the Phoenicians, whose maritime networks carried Levantine materials and methods across the Mediterranean.

Olive oil soap was not a specialty product. It was a practical one, made locally and used regularly.

That tradition forms the foundation of Olea et Cedrus.

Our soaps are built around olive oil as the primary ingredient. Depending on the formulation, traditional materials such as tallow, coconut oil, castor oil, clays, or resins are incorporated for structure, hardness, and handling. We do not use synthetic fragrance, cosmetic fillers, or unnecessary additives. Where scent is present, it comes from essential oils used sparingly. Variation between batches is expected.

The name Olea et Cedrus comes from Olea europaea (the olive tree) and Cedrus libani (the Lebanese cedar). Olive represented daily use and reliability. Cedar represented durability and longevity. Together, they reflect a material culture built on utility, trade, and restraint.

Olea et Cedrus operates as a modern workshop informed by traditional soapmaking methods. Production remains small by design. Each batch is made deliberately and released when ready.

Olive oil soap, made deliberately.