Marseille soap

Those big blocks of olive oil based soaps you see all over the South of France have been produced for over 1,000 years! 

Production of this famous soap was codified by French law in 1688 (under Louis XIV and his Minister, Colbert).  The law essentially defines what Marseille soap is, and who can use that name on a product. 

How Marseille Soap is made

• Marseille soap is a delicate mixture of olive oil and vegetable oils, alkaline ash (derived from sea plants) and salted water from the Mediterranean.   

• Originally only olive oil was used (and failure to do so was punishable by law), but when manufacturing processed introduced the use of soda in the soap, other oils were introduced to prevent the soap being too hard and brittle.

• First step is the emulsion of the oils and lye. 

• The mixture is slowly heated in cauldrons. 

• Impurities are removed from the cauldron in a complex filtering process (carried out three times) 

• When to pour and let it harden is a closely guarded secret, passed down from one Master to the next. 

• Marseille is the center of the manufacturing and this industry also spun off a candle manufacturing using by products of the soap manufacturing process.

• The soap is cooled and cut into cubes and stamps before being set out to dry and harden outside.

• Authentic Marseille soap is stamped with the name and also the weight of the soap in grams.

Types of Marseille soap

• Traditionally the cubes are green or white.  The white cubes are usually made with palm oil and the green ones with at least 50% olive oil. 

• Now colored cubes are also available, with lavender scent and other scents.

• Both types are very moisturizing and gentle, suitable for even the most sensitive skin.

Why use Marseille soap:

• All natural and still gentle.  This soap can be used for babies and for the most sensitive skins.  It is used in French households for everything from laundry to washing faces (and helps sensitive skins for people with allergies, so try it in laundry too). 

• Dermatologists recommend it!

• Vegetable oils means the soap is bio-degradable and less harmful to the environment

• Not tested on Animals

• Economical.  Even taking importing and shipping into consideration, Marseille soap is still remarkably cost effective and lasts longer than most soaps

• Anti-bacterial.  Excellent disinfectant.

Authentic Marseille soaps from Touch of Europe