Soap House (Dar al-Sabun) | Ajloun

The Soap House (Dar al-Sabun) is a socio-economic community project and workshop located in the village of Orjan, adjacent to the Ajloun-forest-reserve_ajloun" class="underline">Ajloun Forest Reserve in northern Jordan. It is managed by the Royal Society for the Conservation of Nature (RSCN) as part of a sustainable development initiative for local communities.

Visual Characteristics

The facility is a traditional stone-and-mortar building integrated into the rural village landscape. The interior features a functional workshop space where natural ingredients are processed and displayed. The surrounding area is characterized by Mediterranean hillside agriculture, featuring terraced olive groves, pomegranate orchards, and wild herb gardens.

Location & Access Logistics

The workshop is situated in Orjan, approximately 15km from Ajloun city and 85km from Amman. It is a primary stop on the "Soap House Trail" (7km) which begins at the Ajloun Forest Reserve visitor center. Access by vehicle is via the winding secondary roads connecting Ajloun to the Orjan valley. Public transport is limited; visitors typically arrive via organized tours, private hire taxis from Ajloun, or on foot via the reserve’s hiking network.

Historical & Ecological Origin

Established in the late 1990s, the Soap House was designed to provide employment for local women while promoting the conservation of the region's natural resources. The products are based on high-quality olive oil sourced from the Orjan valley, combined with locally harvested herbs such as lavender, mint, and sage. The project emphasizes traditional cold-process soap making, which preserves the nutrients of the organic ingredients.

Key Highlights & Activities

Visitors can observe the entire soap-making process, from the mixing of the oils to the cutting and curing of the bars. Interactive demonstrations are available where staff explain the medicinal properties of various local plants. The on-site boutique sells finished products, including olive oil soaps, essential oils, and herbal balms. The location serves as a cultural bridge between the natural reserve and the traditional agrarian lifestyle of the northern highlands.

Infrastructure & Amenities

The facility includes the workshop area, a small retail shop, and basic restrooms. It is frequently visited as part of a combined itinerary with the nearby Biscuit House and Calligraphy House. 4G mobile signal is stable. There are no large-scale dining facilities within the Soap House itself, but the "Orjan Soap House Trail" often concludes with a traditional meal at a local family-run guesthouse (Bait al-Baraka) in the village.

Best Time to Visit

The best time to visit is during the spring (March–May) or the olive harvest season (October–November). For photography, the interior workshop light is best in the morning. The facility typically operates between 09:00 and 16:00. During the summer, the cooler microclimate of the Orjan valley provides a respite from the heat of the Jordan Valley.

Facts & Legends

The soap produced here is branded under the "Wild Jordan" label and is sold in international boutiques, representing a successful model of rural social enterprise. Local tradition emphasizes that the olive oil from the Orjan valley is among the purest in Jordan due to the ancient age of the "Roman" olive trees (Zaitun al-Rumi) found in the surrounding groves, some of which are over 1,000 years old.

Nearby Landmarks

Ajloun Forest Reserve – 7.0km South (via hiking trail)

The Biscuit House – 0.5km West

Tell Mar Elias – 11.0km West

Ajloun Castle – 16.0km South

The Calligraphy House – 1.0km North