growing up in Aleppo, my favourite memories were walking through the souks. the narrow passageways were covered overhead by arches built of white stone, which is how Aleppo derived its name in Arabic. it was a sensory experience; customers haggled, carpet makers weaved, coppersmiths pounded, and the scent of Aleppo soap, spices, and herbs drifted in the air. though the souks no longer exist, this will, and will forever be, among my fondest memories. the souks were the oldest covered souks in the world, and every quarter derived its name from the craft or trade that was carried out inside; it has been that way for generations and centuries, dating back to the silk road.
photo by andre yakoubian 2010 ©
my favourite quarter was the spice and herb market; the colours and the scents of the dried flowers and herbs were otherworldly. when I returned to Aleppo after the war, the first place I visited was the remains of the souks. as I walked, I could still smell the scent of souks amidst the destruction; it took a moment to realise that the scent of dried flowers and herbs was not coming from memory, but from the white stones that now lay beside me. the scent was still ingrained in the white stones of Aleppo after years of war. It was a surreal moment and the inspiration behind the company.
jean - founder, scent of souks
the first picture ever taken of the souks by albert poche 1863 ©