The Soap of Alicudi
It All Began with a Clove of Garlic:
“Origin, Wonder, Discovery”
I was twelve years old. An age when you are curious about everything, yet only truly struck by what touches something deep within. At middle school, a Technology teacher told us that, in his free time, he made soap at home. A natural soap, based on olive oil. My curiosity was immediate, instinctive. I asked if I could attend his next production — he agreed. That day, before my eyes, something happened that seemed almost magical: olive oil — a simple vegetable fat — mixed with water and caustic soda, slowly transformed into a creamy paste. Real soap. But the moment I never forgot was another. The teacher took a clove of garlic, cut it in half, and asked me to rub it on the sole of my foot. Ten minutes later, I could taste the garlic… in my mouth. That was when I understood — in the most direct way possible — that our skin breathes, absorbs, transmits. What we place upon it enters, travels, and becomes part of us. And so I ask myself: if a simple clove of garlic can travel through our body,
how many invisible substances do we absorb every day from what we believe to be harmless?
After that first experience with my teacher, today I have fulfilled a dream. After five years of experimentation, I myself have created a natural soap, with the same sense of wonder as on that first day. For me, soap is no longer just a product for washing. It has become a mission, a form of respect for the skin, for health, for nature. Because if our body absorbs what we offer it, then let us give it the best that nature has to offer.
A Choice of Values:
“Ethics, Consistency, Conscious Choices”
This soap is not born merely from pure ingredients. It is born from a dream. For our small company, Arbatus Alicudi, values come before competence, before motivation. We do not do what is convenient. We do what we believe is right. Every gesture, every word, every supplier tells of a commitment that cannot be seen, yet can be felt. From these values, our four paths were born:
Eolie Guide, the gaze that guides.
Eolie Trekking, the gaze that guides.
The Soap of Alicudi, a caress upon the skin.
Aromateria di Alicudi, the island’s essences.
Arbatus Alicudi is not just a name, it is a commitment, it is remaining faithful to what truly matters, even when no one is watching.
Two Lives, One Island, One Dream:
“Aldo Di Nora and Mar Aumente Diaz”
He, from Vicenza, worked for thirty years in the world of international publishing. He first arrived in Alicudi in 1976, fell in love with the island, and bought a house: today he lives and works there. She, Spanish, a graduate in History and a flamenco dancer, arrived on the island for a performance… at Aldo’s house. She first fell in love with the little rock… and then with him.
In 2004 they made a dream come true that still continues today: they moved permanently to the island, leaving behind the security of a “normal” life to begin a new one.
They became “publishers for love” and founded L’Arbatus, a publishing house that has released seven tourist guides — each dedicated to one of the Aeolian islands — to help people discover, explore, and fall in love with them.
In 2017 another idea was born: the Metro Trekking Maps, a simple and intuitive tool for exploring the Aeolian Islands on foot, all the way to their most remote corners.
In 2025 the circle widened further: they also became “artisans for love” and gave life to The Soap of Alicudi, made on the island with 100% natural ingredients.
Thus another dream came true, one of simplicity and of great love.
Born of Fire, Wind, and Sea:
“Alicudi, Italy’s Last Paradise”
A volcanic pearl suspended between sky and sea: the most remote, silent, and wild of the Aeolian Islands, in Sicily.
Once called Ericusa, for the heather that covered its slopes, today it preserves an ancient, untouched soul.
On the island there are no roads. Only mule tracks carved in rock and steps that climb towards the sky. No roar of engines, no traffic: the mule is still today the only means of transport, a faithful companion in this world out of time.
Here, where nature reigns supreme and time slows down almost to a halt, The Soap of Alicudi is born: a simple yet precious handmade product, created in respect of a sacred place made of fire, wind, sun, and sea.
A soap that tells the story of the island: its strength, its purity, its essential beauty. For those who wish to carry with them an authentic fragment of Alicudi’s nature.
Born of Fire, Wind, and Sea:
“Alicudi, Italy’s Last Paradise”
A volcanic pearl suspended between sky and sea: the most remote, silent, and wild of the Aeolian Islands, in Sicily.
Once called Ericusa, for the heather that covered its slopes, today it preserves an ancient, untouched soul. On the island there are no roads. Only mule tracks carved in rock and steps that climb towards the sky. No roar of engines, no traffic: the mule is still today the only means of transport, a faithful companion in this world out of time. Here, where nature reigns supreme and time slows down almost to a halt, The Soap of Alicudi is born: a simple yet precious handmade product, created in respect of a sacred place made of fire, wind, sun, and sea. A soap that tells the story of the island: its strength, its purity, its essential beauty. For those who wish to carry with them an authentic fragment of Alicudi’s nature.
Only 2 Ingredients!
“What is needed, nothing more”
Just 2 ingredients:
Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil, superior category Origin:- Coop. Agricola Bio L’Arcobaleno – Villafranca Sicula (AG), Sicily
- Azienda Agricola Abbazia S. Maria Burgitabus di Lo Bello Giulia – Cerda (PA), Sicily
- Arbatus Alicudi – Alicudi Island (ME), Sicily
Properties:
Properties:
A Soap Unique in the World!
“The Mark of Time, the Island’s Signature”
What makes this soap even more special is a unique feature that distinguishes it worldwide: each piece is numbered and vintage-dated, like the finest bottles of wine.
An act of love for the island and for those who carry it on their skin: each soap bears the vintage of its ingredients — extra virgin olive oil and prickly pear — and captures the unrepeatable identity of Alicudi in a precise moment in time.
Handmade, slowly, with the patience of true things. No perfect shapes, only the beauty of natural imperfection.
But what truly makes this soap unmistakable is its absolute purity, rare and revolutionary.
Unlike almost everything on the market — even among the noblest and most traditional soaps — we do not use water.
Yes, you read that right: no water. Just two ingredients, and nothing else.
Superior organic Sicilian extra virgin olive oil — not just any oil, but among the finest: certified, traceable, and vintage.
Prickly pear extract from the island of Alicudi, rich in ancient and precious virtues.
An essential yet extraordinary formula. It is precisely the extreme quality and the total absence of compromise that make this soap so special. Not diluted, not enriched, not “corrected”: just nature, in its purest and most intense form.
That is why it is rare. That is why it is precious.
That is why it is an authentic luxury, not an imitation.
And that is why, quite simply, nothing like it exists anywhere else in the world.
A Soap Unique in the World!
“The Mark of Time, the Island’s Signature”
What makes this soap even more special is a unique feature that distinguishes it worldwide: each piece is numbered and vintage-dated, like the finest bottles of wine.
An act of love for the island and for those who carry it on their skin: each soap bears the vintage of its ingredients — extra virgin olive oil and prickly pear — and captures the unrepeatable identity of Alicudi in a precise moment in time.
Handmade, slowly, with the patience of true things. No perfect shapes, only the beauty of natural imperfection.
But what truly makes this soap unmistakable is its absolute purity, rare and revolutionary.
Unlike almost everything on the market — even among the noblest and most traditional soaps — we do not use water.
Yes, you read that right: no water. Just two ingredients, and nothing else.
Superior organic Sicilian extra virgin olive oil — not just any oil, but among the finest: certified, traceable, and vintage.
Prickly pear extract from the island of Alicudi, rich in ancient and precious virtues.
An essential yet extraordinary formula. It is precisely the extreme quality and the total absence of compromise that make this soap so special. Not diluted, not enriched, not “corrected”: just nature, in its purest and most intense form.
That is why it is rare. That is why it is precious.
That is why it is an authentic luxury, not an imitation.
And that is why, quite simply, nothing like it exists anywhere else in the world.
A Small Daily Ritual:
“A Gesture of Love for You and for the Planet”
Our handmade soap pampers the skin with a soft, natural caress. It is designed for those who seek delicacy, even on sensitive, intolerant, or allergy-prone skin. Suitable for the whole family, perfect for daily use. How to use: Moisten the skin, rub the soap, and massage gently. In contact with water it turns into a light, creamy foam, making cleansing a moment of pure pleasure. Store in a soap dish with drainage to keep it dry and prolong its life, avoiding softening or melting. Our slow, natural soapmaking preserves the properties of the ingredients, respects the skin’s pH, and makes the soap completely biodegradable. A small conscious act, for your well-being and for the environment. Warnings: Do not use in case of known allergy to the ingredients. Keep out of reach of children.A Small Daily Ritual:
“A Gesture of Love for You and for the Planet”
Our handmade soap pampers the skin with a soft, natural caress. It is designed for those who seek delicacy, even on sensitive, intolerant, or allergy-prone skin. Suitable for the whole family, perfect for daily use. How to use: Moisten the skin, rub the soap, and massage gently. In contact with water it turns into a light, creamy foam, making cleansing a moment of pure pleasure. Store in a soap dish with drainage to keep it dry and prolong its life, avoiding softening or melting. Our slow, natural soapmaking preserves the properties of the ingredients, respects the skin’s pH, and makes the soap completely biodegradable. A small conscious act, for your well-being and for the environment. Warnings: Do not use in case of known allergy to the ingredients. Keep out of reach of children.
Where Essence Embraces Form:
“Elegance, Sustainability, and Nature”
On a small, wild island like Alicudi, every choice is guided by simplicity and respect. It is here that our soap is born: inspired by nature and created in harmony with it. To hold this “small treasure” we chose a special box: a refined little case made of black-dyed board by Favini Paper Mill, FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council), printed by Zeta Printing Srl – Prestige Printing – Palermo.
Packaging that unites elegance and sustainability, because for us beauty and responsibility go hand in hand. We choose natural, Sicilian ingredients, and work with artisans and professionals who share our values. Our soap is 100% vegan: it contains no animal-derived ingredients and involves no form of exploitation or mistreatment of animals, and it has no environmental impact.
Where Essence Embraces Form:
“Elegance, Sustainability, and Nature”
On a small, wild island like Alicudi, every choice is guided by simplicity and respect. It is here that our soap is born: inspired by nature and created in harmony with it. To hold this “small treasure” we chose a special box: a refined little case made of black-dyed board by Favini Paper Mill, FSC-certified (Forest Stewardship Council), printed by Zeta Printing Srl – Prestige Printing – Palermo.
Packaging that unites elegance and sustainability, because for us beauty and responsibility go hand in hand. We choose natural, Sicilian ingredients, and work with artisans and professionals who share our values. Our soap is 100% vegan: it contains no animal-derived ingredients and involves no form of exploitation or mistreatment of animals, and it has no environmental impact.
Transparency You Can Feel:
“Our Commitment”
Compliance with regulations is not just an obligation: for us it is a choice of responsibility and transparency towards those who choose us every day. We know how important it is to trust what you apply to your skin. That is why we work with care and attention, respecting every stage required by law and by good practice principles. The safety of our soap is an absolute priority, and it is placed on the market in full compliance with European Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009, which governs cosmetic products within the European Union. We have prepared the PIF (Product Information File), a technical dossier gathering all information regarding the product’s safety. Furthermore, before marketing, our soap was notified on the CPNP (Cosmetic Product Notification Portal), the official platform managed by the European Commission. This procedure is fundamental to ensure:- product traceability on the market,
- immediate availability of information for poison control centers and health authorities,
- consumer safety protection.
Transparency You Can Feel:
“Our Commitment”
Compliance with regulations is not just an obligation: for us it is a choice of responsibility and transparency towards those who choose us every day. We know how important it is to trust what you apply to your skin. That is why we work with care and attention, respecting every stage required by law and by good practice principles. The safety of our soap is an absolute priority, and it is placed on the market in full compliance with European Regulation (EC) No. 1223/2009, which governs cosmetic products within the European Union. We have prepared the PIF (Product Information File), a technical dossier gathering all information regarding the product’s safety. Furthermore, before marketing, our soap was notified on the CPNP (Cosmetic Product Notification Portal), the official platform managed by the European Commission. This procedure is fundamental to ensure:- product traceability on the market,
- immediate availability of information for poison control centers and health authorities,
- consumer safety protection.
Stay Connected to the Breath of the Island:
“A Bond that Continues, Even from Afar”
Email: info@saponedialicudi.com Instagram: sapone_di_alicudi Facebook: Sapone di Alicudi Phone: +39-340-9207605 / +39-331-9338920 We look forward to welcoming you to the island, to experience our reality up close — an invitation to discover a unique place, where everything is born in harmony with nature. Thank you for being part of this small yet great story.Stay Connected to the Breath of the Island:
“A Bond that Continues, Even from Afar”
Email: info@saponedialicudi.com Instagram: sapone_di_alicudi Facebook: Sapone di Alicudi Phone: +39-340-9207605 / +39-331-9338920 We look forward to welcoming you to the island, to experience our reality up close — an invitation to discover a unique place, where everything is born in harmony with nature. Thank you for being part of this small yet great story.