Antik – a creation from Ancient Izmir!

A pivotal moment in history took place in an artisanal soapmakers in the Namazgah neighborhood, in the antique quarter of Izmir where Hamdi Dalan started producing handmade olive oil soaps for the first time, inspired by the olive, which is considered the purest representation of nature’s goodness. Combining with the unique nourishing properties of olive oil, soap, the fundamental element of cleanliness, gained a new dimension.

This soaps, made from natural olive oil extracted from the olives of the Aegean region, took on a unique identity with the green colour naturally provided by the olive, its kernel and leaves. The people of Izmir named these soaps “green soap,” and they quickly found a place in almost every household. In 1960, the green soaps produced in the soap factory located in the ancient center of Izmir became extremely popular and developed an indispensable passion among its users.

Hamdi Dalan’s green soaps gained significant popularity during this period and eventually secured a solid place along the Aegean and Mediterranean coast of Turkey. By 1977, the traditional handmade 100% olive oil soaps produced in the original soap factory were moved to the modern factory in Pınarbaşı. While new lines of beauty soaps began to be manufactured with new technology, traditional “green soaps” continued to be loyally produced by hand.

Hamdi Dalan’s son, Akın Dalan, gave this iconic traditional handmade olive oil soap a new name: “Antik”, in homage to the factory where it was first made, in the antique quarter of Izmir. Over time, the Antik brand gained global recognition and became known worldwide. The journey of Hamdi Dalan’s olive oil soaps, which began with a small artisanal soap factory in Izmir Agora, has now turned into a symbol of international success. This journey represents both our commitment to Izmir’s history and the miracle of olive oil soap.