Granada is not only famous for the Alhambra and its historic neighbourhoods, but also for its legacy in natural cosmetics and perfumery. Today, the city has one of the highest concentrations of eco shops and natural cosmetics laboratories in Spain, a reflection of a heritage that dates back to the 11th century.
 

With the arrival of the Nasrid dynasty, Granada reached its peak in the practice of beauty and personal care. Hygiene, perfume and cosmetics were not luxuries reserved only for the court, but part of everyday life for the people.

Beauty, spirituality and the Hammam in Nasrid Granada 

In Nasrid culture, beautifying and purifying the body was a way of drawing closer to the divine. Arab baths, or Hammams, such as those in the Albaicín or the historic El Bañuelo, were social centres where oils, ointments, floral waters and powders were used to care for the skin and hair. 

The people of Granada turned personal care into a collective ritual, where natural cosmetics and spirituality were intertwined.  

The role of doctors, botanists and the Alcaicería  

The Nasrid court promoted research into natural cosmetics and perfumery. Doctors and botanists worked with raw materials grown in the gardens and orchards that covered the city. In the Alcaicería market, all kinds of ingredients could be found: from plant oils to aromatic herbs for distillation. 

Thanks to this ecosystem, Granada became established as the capital of natural cosmetics and the art of perfume in the Iberian Peninsula. 

An ecological tradition ahead of its time 

Granada was a garden city that brought together nature, mysticism and beauty. The Cármenes, houses with orchard-gardens, are a living example of this legacy. Visiting places such as the Carmen de los Mártires helps us understand how the city integrated nature into everyday life, centuries before the concept of “ecology” existed.”.  

Ancestral techniques of natural cosmetics

In Nasrid Granada, pioneering methods were developed to create beauty products:

• Distillation of flowers and aromatic herbs.  
  

• Extraction of plant oils from olives, nuts and roots. 
  

•   Obtaining aromatic resins for perfumes.

• Maceration of medicinal plants to create remedies and therapeutic cosmetics.  
  

The scholar Ibn al-Khatib documented many of these practices, showing how science and beauty went hand in hand. 

El Jardín de Hammam: tradition and modernity 

Today, this legacy lives on in projects such as El Jardín de Hammam Experience Store in Granada, a space where natural cosmetics come together with beauty rituals inspired by the Hammam. There, in addition to purchasing products, visitors can enjoy rituals such as the Zahrawi facial, which revives the essence of Andalusian perfumery and cosmetics. 

Frequently Asked Questions about Natural Cosmetics 

What is the difference between natural cosmetics and organic cosmetics? 

• Natural cosmetics: formulated with a minimum of 95% ingredients of plant, mineral, animal or microbiological origin, reducing chemical intervention as much as possible. 
  

• Organic cosmetics: in addition to being natural, 95% of their ingredients come from certified organic farming.
  
  

What is vegan cosmetics? 

Vegan cosmetics do not contain ingredients of animal origin, nor are animals used in their processes. In Europe, all cosmetics must also be cruelty-free by law. 

What are the benefits of natural cosmetics? 

• High tolerance for sensitive skin.

• Ingredients with antioxidant, regenerating and moisturising properties.  
  

• Greater respect for the environment.  
  

• More pleasant sensory experiences: soft textures and natural aromas.  
  

What are the most commonly used ingredients in natural cosmetics?  

• Essential oils: rose, jasmine, orange blossom.  
  

• Botanical extracts: olive leaf, calendula, oat.  
  

• Cold-pressed plant oils: olive, almond, ginger.  
  

• Floral waters: rose water, orange blossom water. 
  

All these ingredients are part of the formulas of El Jardín de Hammam, inspired by the Nasrid tradition. 

Where can I buy natural cosmetics in Granada? 

Granada continues to be a benchmark for natural cosmetics. Some of the best shops are: 

•   Ajedrea,  whose hair soaps are excellent.
•   Ananke where you can try their cream deodorant or body butters.
• El Jardín de Hammam Experience Store  one of the most beautiful shops in Granada, where you can not only buy all the natural cosmetics products used at Hammam Al Ándalus, but also enjoy some of its beauty rituals, such as its famous Zahrawi facial.