HOW WILD PISTACHIO (BITTIM) OIL SOAP IS MADE

Our Wild Pistachio Oil (Bıttım) Hair and Body Shampoo Bar is a purely organic, handmade soap rich in essential oils that contains extremely beneficial properties for both the hair and body. The purest Bıttım Soap, as it is traditionally called in the regions it comes from in Turkey, is handmade using traditional methods and only essential oils of Wild Pistachio or Pistacia Terebinthus (in Latin).

Bıttım hair and body bar is made from the oil of wild pistachios which are harvested in September. Fruit collection is mostly done by women, which is an arduous task since the fruit are small (compared to regular pistachio) and grow on wild trees found on hilltops. The collected fruit are cleared of any rotten ones and washed then left to dry for one week to ten days, after which they are ready to be grounded into powder.

Grounding is either done utilising traditional methods such as hand mills or mortars or grounding machines. The powder is then mixed with lukewarm water and kneaded or cold pressed for approximately two hours. Any oil that is squeezed out during this process is collected and the remaining paste is left in a warm area to drain over night to collect more oil.

To get the most oil out of the drained pistachio paste, it goes through another two phases which involve boiling. First, the pulp is slowly added to copper boilers containing boiling water and wood ash. During this process, the fruit shells sink to the bottom of the boilers and most of the water evaporates while the oil rises to the top. The oil is collected into separate containers for the next phase. All the collected oil during kneading and initial boiling, are then put back into cleaned boilers and put back onto heat. In the meantime, a mixture of wood ash (lye) and water is prepared. When the oil starts to boil, the mixture is slowly added to it to start the saponification reaction.

It is boiled for 12-16 hours, while being stirred frequently until the water evaporates slowly. The soap mixture is then poured into molds while still hot and left outdoors to dry and set for 3 days, after which they are ready to be cut by hand. The final result is a soap that is rich in essential fatty acids and full of natural goodness.

What sets our Bıttım Oil Hair & Body Bar apart from other Bıttım soaps on the market, is its richness in essential fatty acids of wild pistachio oil and nothing else - no other oils, chemicals, preservatives, perfume, colour, nothing. It is completely handmade, on a family run farm, using only organic ingredients. The family have been producing this traditional soap for generations and take great care in preserving its quality and purity, to offer the highest level of benefits.

To achieve full benefits, please follow the directions for use stated below.

Benefits of Wild Pistachio Oil Hair & Body Soap Bar:

  • Simple ingredients: organic wild pistachio oil, rock salt and wood ash (lye)
  • Rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins and minerals
  • Free of any harmful chemicals, perfume, colours or preservatives
  • Free of palm oil and parabens
  • Contains antiseptic properties that kill bacteria in scalp and skin
  • Treats & prevents hair loss (when used as recommended)
  • Prevents dandruff and itchy scalp
  • Effective cleanser and purifier for hair and body
  • Deeply nourishes hair and softens
  • Strengthens hair from root to tips
  • Adds volume and shine
  • Prevents hair breakage / split ends
  • Promotes healthy hair growth
  • Balances sebum & water in hair
  • Long term use allows grey hair to regain natural colour
  • Provides peeling effect on skin
  • Smoothes skin and moisturises – never drying it out
  • Effective against any type of acne 
  • Effective treatment for many skin conditions, such as itching, rashes, eczema, fungus, psoriasis, cradle cap and more
  • One Wild Pistachio Oil Hair & Body Bar equates to approximately 6 X 350ml bottles of liquid shampoo

Directions for Use:

  • Wet hair, lather soap in hand then apply into hair by rubbing onto scalp
  • Massage into hair roots for two to three minutes
  • Rinse out thoroughly
  • To achieve full benefits, do not use in conjunction with another chemical hair product, such as shampoo or conditioner
  • It is best to wash hair every 2 – 3 days and not every day, to allow the natural oils to work on hair. However, if you must wash hair every day, then only use Wild Pistachio Oil (Bıttım) Soap Bar
  • Use Bıttım Soap consistently / regularly – do not switch with other products in between use

Care Instructions:

  • Allow shampoo bar to dry in between uses by storing on a draining soap dish/holder or you can utilise our Natural Jute Soap Saver Bag to hang to dry. 
  • Store extra quantities of shampoo bar in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight.

Please Note:

  • The colour may vary between light mint green to light beige yellow
  • The weight may vary +/- 2% due to the natural hand production process

 

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