Inside the Apothecary: The Art of Sourcing at Dubai’s Traditional Spice Souks

Today is market day for the shop.

It’s when I go out and meet our vetted vendors for the herbs, mills, oil and other things we need for our apothecary skinbar. One thing I truly enjoy is going to the old parts of Dubai where I am sourcing from the heart of the city’s heritage.

Dubai is truly a great place to source locally. With it sitting perfectly at the center of the world’s trade, we are spoilt for many things available to us from all parts of the world. While we may be known for the modern, fast-phase lifestyle, this city has pockets and nooks where natural herbs and spices are a plenty.

I can easily spend hours in the souk’s narrow alleys, talking to the botanical traders, sharing ancient beauty remedies. I must have gone one too many times that now I’ve become a familiar face. They now know what I need and always greeted with a warm hello and a ready cup of tea.

While we source from many parts of the city, today come with mylittlewhitespace as we explore the heart of Old Dubai to discover heritage botanicals for our skinbar. The spice market is a favorite slow stroll part of my work as I take time to smell the freshness of the florals & resins and knowing whose hands weighed your herbs and the organic process they are milled.

The art of sourcing for us is never haggling. It is respecting the art of the trade - creating solid partnerships that give our customers the highest quality of products, at a price that honors both the maker and the user. We believe that when the source is respected, the product carries that energy all the way to your home.