Mint + Laurel did a collaboration with Offendum featuring our Aleppo Laurel Soaps, Handwoven Cotton loofas from Hama, and the Little Syria mugs. We had set up a pop-up style “souk” and attendees were able to purchase these items in the lobby. The scent of soap wafting throughout the night, where attendees were treating to scents of Syria and nostalgia.
Read MoreIt’s been an especially hot summer this year, sharing a super easy and fun way to cool down this with our exclusive handwoven cotton keese washcloth for the face + body.
Our team works many hours to bring you high end quality products, but have you ever thought about what these products have been through to finally arrive at your home? Have you ever thought about the challenges of working with a country that is economically sanctioned by the United States? Or the nitty gritty complexity of logistics from Syria to Los Angeles?
Read MoreHammams or bathhouses hold a special place in the daily life and traditions of peoples across the Arab world. Although hammams can be visited and experienced in many places including in Morocco, Turkey and Jordan, little is known and said about the hammam experience in Syria. This two-part blog series will explore hammam experiences from Morocco to Syria.
Read MoreIn the spring of 2010, I traveled to Afreen, an enchanting community northwest of Aleppo where I learned about soaps, kilims, and my Kurdish ancestors. I saw rolling hills dotted with olive trees and sheep grazing the land and met the generous, warm people of Afreen. I learned about their customs, sustainable lives, and left with memories of the fragrant scents and beautiful natural images.
Read MoreWe highlight one of our most loyal customers, Gail Vignola to learn more. Gail explains also how Mint + Laurel offers products to a particular niche market and speaks to a consumer looking to give back and get behind certain causes. “By purchasing products from Mint + Laurel, I am satisfying my passion for Syria and I feel like I am a part of something bigger.”
Read Moreust off the shores of sunny Hermosa Beach, our headquarters, sits a charming and lively small business popular among local residents. The Green Store, run by Syrian Lana Istwani, is one of the city’s most prized spots and one of the first certified Green businesses in Hermosa Beach. As a supporter of small and artisan businesses, Lana works with vendors to bring their amazing products to customers in the area.
Read MoreAcross the Arab world, rose water is used in a myriad of ways including as a key ingredient in deserts and in many beauty care products and rituals, its antibacterial and antioxidant qualities do wonders for the skin. Our Damask Rose Soap Body Bar is imported from Aleppo, Syria, made with dried rose petals, rose oil, laurel oil and olive oil. Each purchase supports an at-risk artisan community and their families.
Read MoreToday is World Refugee Day and it has a special meaning for the three founders of Mint and Laurel. We are an e-commerce and social enterprise, this is why a shop with purpose matters to us.
Read MoreThis year, Omar Offendum collaborates with my co-founders and I in honoring my dad’s legacy through Omar’s words and sharing the inspiration with fathers across America.
Read MoreSyria is filled with historic and cultural heritage. Take a journey through four different cities, with historic landmarks.
Read MoreRania Khalaf shares a beautiful account of Souk Al-Buzuriyya, in Damascus, a place where some of our soap scents and product inspiration originates from.
Read MoreLast year we introduced soap samplers, giving our customers a single use soap slice from each fragrance of our Aleppo organic soaps. The samplers were intended for boutique hotels, AirBnBs and environmentally conscious frequent travelers who would enjoy high-end single use soap bars and not feel wasteful using a large bar provided by traditional hotels.
Read MoreWe are delighted to have a partnership with a company that understands the social impact of our product, complements it with environmentally friendly packaging and supports small business with the same care and attention they would an enterprise customer. Thank you Fadi and the Lahlouh family!
Read MoreSyrians want the right to earn their income. Social Impact business trumps nonprofit handouts. While there is room for donating to nonprofits who help millions, Syrians are entrepreneurial and Syrian artisans are passionate craftsmen and women who desperately want to keep their traditions alive.
Read MoreLet me share a brief of history of my homeland, Syria , one of the oldest civilizations of the world, and why our work with artisans across the globe matters.
Read MoreMother’s Day is celebrated on March 21 in the Middle East, marking the start of spring. A mother’s scent is what children recollect the most. Years after separation, children will recall their mother’s scent when they remember moments with them even as adults. Laurel soap scent is one of these common scents that most Syrian children remember when they think of their mothers.
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