For hair and scalp
Mixed into a paste, the powder cleanses gently thanks to its saponins, with a light lather. The scalp feels clean, and hair stays supple and light, without stripping.
Plant powderMoroccan heritage
Sidr powder (jujube leaf)
The wild jujube the sedra, a thorny shrub of Morocco's arid lands.
The leaves small and oval, picked then dried.
The powder finely ground, a soft green.
The wash mixed with water, a light, gentle lather.
INCI · ZIZIPHUS LOTUS LEAF POWDERCreate my sidr range
- INCI name
- ZIZIPHUS LOTUS LEAF POWDER
- Other names
- Sedra, sidr, jujube leaf powder
- Family
- Plant powder (leaves)
- Origin
- Ziziphus lotus, wild jujube of North Africa (Morocco)
- Part used
- Leaves, dried then ground
- Areas
- Hair, scalp, hammam, face
In brief
Sidr in 30 seconds
By the Carmel Cosmetics Labs R&D team · updated October 2, 2026
- INCI nameZIZIPHUS LOTUS LEAF POWDER (Moroccan sidr, the sedra)
- What it isthe leaf powder of the wild jujube, Ziziphus lotus
- For haircleanses gently with a light lather and leaves the scalp clean
- At the hammampairs with black soap for a gentle body wash
- Compositionleaves rich in saponins, about 340 mg per 100 g (literature)
( A )WHAT IT IS
What is sidr?
Sidr is the powder made by grinding the dried leaves of the jujube tree. In Morocco, it comes from the wild jujube, Ziziphus lotus, known as sedra: a thorny shrub of arid and semi-arid regions. Its leaves are the part of the plant richest in saponins, plant compounds that make water lather lightly. Mixed with water, the powder forms a paste that gently cleanses hair and scalp.
Moroccan sidr, Middle Eastern sidr or common jujube: the difference
Moroccan sidr (Ziziphus lotus)
The wild jujube of North Africa, called sedra in Morocco. A thorny shrub with small leaves rich in saponins. This is the one in our products.
Middle Eastern sidr (Ziziphus spina-christi)
The "sidr" of the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula, another species with cleansing leaves. Its INCI name is different: ZIZIPHUS SPINA-CHRISTI LEAF.
Common jujube (Ziziphus jujuba)
The tree grown for its fruit, jujubes. In cosmetics, its fruit extract (ZIZIPHUS JUJUBA FRUIT EXTRACT) is mostly used, for example in hair oils.
( B )SES BIENFAITS
01 02 03
Sidr benefits for hair, scalp and body
At the hammam and for the body
Combined with black soap, it brings a gentle wash and a botanical note to the ritual, before scrubbing with the kessa glove (Moroccan exfoliating mitt).
For the formula
A plant powder of Moroccan origin, it enriches cleansing formulas, from black soap to scalp scrub, and gives them a natural identity to highlight on the label.
How to use sidr powder
- Hair
Mixed with lukewarm water into a smooth paste, massaged into wet hair and scalp, then rinsed thoroughly.
- Mask
Mixed with ghassoul or a plant oil, as a mask for a few minutes before rinsing.
- Hammam
In sidr black soap, applied to warm, damp skin, left on, then rinsed before scrubbing.
( C )DANS NOS PRODUITS
Launch your sidr range
We use it in a sidr black soap, a scalp scrub, a hair spray and a face cleanser, ready to carry your brand. Choose a category to see the formulas.
( D )NOTES DE FORMULATEUR
How we formulate it
What our formulators consider when sidr goes into your product.
- 01The right species
Moroccan sidr and Middle Eastern sidr are not the same plant: we check the species on the supplier's certificate and the INCI name on your label.
- 02A powder that colors
Sidr tints the formula green-brown: we embrace it as a visual signature or adjust the dose for the look you want.
- 03Microbiological cleanliness
As a raw plant powder, it is tested on receipt, and the full formula is made with reverse osmosis water.
- 04A controlled texture
Finely sieved, the powder disperses with no gritty feel in a black soap, a scrub or a hair spray.
Did you know?
A desert shrub, a washing tradition
- Saponin
The word comes from the Latin sapo, "soap": these are the compounds that make water lather when you mix in sidr leaf powder.
- Lotus-eaters
Ziziphus lotus is often identified with the "lotus" of the Lotus-eaters in Homer's Odyssey, the fruit that made travelers forget their way home.
- Pioneer
Native to Morocco, it grows on arid plateaus and along the sandy beds of Saharan wadis, and as far as southern Spain and Sicily.
Sidr: your questions
A sidr project?Our product specialist answers you on WhatsApp.Message us on WhatsApp
What is sidr powder?
It is the powder of dried, ground jujube leaves. In Morocco, it comes from the wild jujube, Ziziphus lotus, known as sedra. Rich in saponins, it forms a lightly foaming paste in water that cleanses hair and scalp.
What are the benefits of sidr?
Its saponins give it a gentle cleansing power, with a light lather. It leaves the scalp clean and hair supple, without stripping. At the hammam, it pairs with black soap for a gentle body wash.
How do you use sidr on hair?
Mix the powder with lukewarm water into a smooth paste, massage it into wet hair and scalp, leave it on for a few minutes, then rinse thoroughly. You can also mix it with ghassoul or a plant oil for a mask.
Are sidr and jujube the same plant?
Yes: sidr is the Arabic name for thorny jujube trees of the genus Ziziphus. In cosmetics, it is the leaves that matter, not the fruit. In Morocco, sidr is the wild jujube (Ziziphus lotus), not to be confused with the common jujube grown for its fruit.
Ziziphus spina-christi or Ziziphus lotus: what is the difference?
They are two jujube species with cleansing leaves. Ziziphus spina-christi is the sidr of the Middle East and the Arabian Peninsula; Ziziphus lotus is the sidr of North Africa, the Moroccan sedra. Their INCI names differ, which tells you which one a product contains.
Can jujube leaves replace shampoo?
Mixed into a paste, they cleanse gently with no synthetic surfactant, but lather far less than a regular shampoo. They are often used for an occasional wash or as a pre-shampoo mask. In formulas, we combine them with mild cleansing bases.
Can I create a sidr range with Carmel Cosmetics Labs?
Yes. We use it in black soaps, scalp scrubs, hair sprays and face cleansers as white label, or in an exclusive private label formula, made in our factory in Morocco.
Sources
- Alla C. et al., Phytochemical Composition of Ziziphus lotus (L.) Lam and Its Impact on the Metabolic Syndrome: A Review, Adv Pharmacol Pharm Sci (2025)
- Zazouli S. et al., Chemical Profile of Lipophilic Fractions of Different Parts of Zizyphus lotus L., Molecules 27(2) (2022)
- European Commission, CosIng database: ZIZIPHUS SPINA-CHRISTI LEAF
- European Commission, CosIng database: ZIZIPHUS JUJUBA FRUIT EXTRACT
Your sidr range, made in Morocco
Send us your brief: we formulate and manufacture in our ISO 22716 factory in Aït Melloul. Free consultation and formula selection, with no commitment.