For years, Palestinian farmers have exported special plants to Europe. Those plants, or herbs, are turned into high-priced cosmetics and beauty products. Now, however, a group of Gaza women have brought that process home. They are processing the herbs themselves and creating personal care products such as shampoo for the hair and moisturizer for the skin. The products are now sold in 50 stores in the area. This project operates from a factory in Gaza City. All four employees are women. They use steam to draw out, or extract, oils from the herbs. The oils are the main ingredient used to make the beauty and personal care products. The herbs they use include ones you would use for cooking: rosemary, basil, mint, thyme, and chamomile. All the herbs come from farms run by women. When you hold the product, you feel like you are taking something from the earth - with no additives, Refqa Al-Hamalawi told Reuters news agency. The project currently makes 17 different products, including cleansers and body wash. They sell them under the name “GG.” The letters stand for “Green Gold.” That is what the farmers of northern Gaza call mint. As women, we (are) proud of the idea and the production, an idea like in European countries, Hamalawi said. The project is aimed at empowering women and helping the economy. It is supported financially by Australia and the global aid organization Oxfam. While the project is small, the women involved say it has already begun to make a difference in Gaza.