Mint + Laurel: The Story Behind the Name

Our team members join Mint + Laurel for numerous reasons. But for me it was the depth of Mint + Laurel’s story and its creative approach of preserving ancient crafts. It's what drew me to them. I am also a logophile, which means I am a lover of words.

After joining the team, I became curious to how the words of ‘Mint’ and ‘Laurel’ were chosen. What is the story behind the name? Why are there coordinates on the logo?

Adding to my original view of the business, it turns out the logo and name carry depth too.

As with any start-up, finding a name is difficult. The entire brand was aiming to create a fresh, soothing, and clean experience to its consumers.

The founders of Mint + Laurel are both Syrian-American. Similar to many diaspora communities’ experiences; feelings of nostalgia and longing are common. Many individuals crave ‘scents’ from back home or dig up memories of grandparents and childhood summers to hold on to their roots. Many Syrians and other members of the Arab-American community cannot go back or even visit their countries of origin. So, how do you remember your culture and heritage? And how can you preserve it and introduce it to international audiences?

The answer is found in the word ‘scent’. Syria and the Middle Eastern region is known for its ancient history and aromatic distinctiveness. Hence, the word ‘Mint’ emerged. The green, natural herb originates out of the Mediterranean region. It is used in tea and family cooking recipes. It evokes an ‘fresh and uplifting’ scent.

‘Laurel’ is from the laurel oil, the main ingredient in our Aleppo Soap Bars , it is also known to be an effective cleanser, antimicrobial and anti-itching agent.

Since we understand the name, let's tackle the logo.

A laurel tree branch is understandable and appropriate, but the coordinates are eye catching. Mint + Laurel’s founders worked with a professional designer- Deborah Jehlicka to create the logo we proudly use. Deborah spoke to one of our co-founders on the name’s story. She was inspired by the ‘Syrian-ness’ of the brand. She learned about the artisans and how they have been creating their products for centuries. Her vision was to add a modern take to a beautiful heritage.

As an ode to Syria, the coordinates of Damascus were added. The longitude and latitude numbers represent origins of where this particular story began, or in Deborah’s words ‘its evocative of the beauty of tradition’. The coordinates will always represent the city, no matter how much the founders grow and whatever direction they take; Syria will always be the root.