The traditional Marseille soap: historic, natural, handmade and eco-friendly !

History of Marseille soap

Marseille soap has a long history that goes back several centuries. It comes from the 12th century from Aleppo soap which, thanks to the Crusades, traveled through the regions around the Mediterranean, passing through the merchant ports. The manufacture of soap from vegetable oils has been known since Antiquity, but it was in Marseille, already a major trading port, that soap was produced on a large scale for the first time during the 14th century.

In the 17th century, under Louis XIV, Minister Colbert promulgated a royal edit protecting the name “Marseille soap” and restricting it to producers of olive oil soap in the area of Marseille. The city of Marseille thus became an important production center for soap, whose reputation spread throughout France.

Then the traditional Marseille soap became very popular throughout Europe and even beyond, thanks to its quality and purity. For centuries, the soap factories of Marseille have used the same method of artisanal production, with natural and simple ingredients, such as oil from Provençal olive trees and soda.

At the beginning of the 19th century, soap production began to be modernized with the use of new vegetable oils such as: coconut oil, palm oil or peanut oil from Africa and the Middle East. The soap industry was then flourishing and produced more than 150,000 tons until the Second World War.

But the war undermined this activity and production fell sharply. After a surge between the two wars, the soap makers ceased their artisanal production, which was replaced by production based on synthetic ingredients, newly created by the nascent chemical industries. The decades that followed saw Marseille soap decline in favor of industrial soaps and shower gels distributed in supermarkets.

However, in the 2000s, a movement to restore the traditional method of making Marseille soap emerged, with a return to natural ingredients and artisanal manufacturing.

To date, Marseille soap is unfortunately not protected by a Controlled Designation of Origin or by a Protected Geographical Indication. The master soap makers are grouped into professional associations at most.

But there is no guarantee that soaps bearing the name “Marseille soap” are made according to traditional methods, with natural ingredients and without synthetic additives. On the contrary, the term is widely usurped by unscrupulous mass producing countries, including China, and counterfeits abound! It is therefore important to check the ingredients and the origin before buying so-called “Marseille” soap.

Today, genuine Marseille soap remains a symbol of Provençal craftsmanship and tradition, as well as an environmentally friendly and beneficial product for the skin.

Current authentic Marseille soap producers

The historic producers of Marseille soap are mainly located in the region of Marseille, France. These soap factories have a long tradition of making this Provencal soap according to traditional artisanal methods by a master soap maker, using natural ingredients and no synthetic additives. Nowadays, they strive to source controversial ingredients such as palm oil by choosing them from farms that use more sustainable production methods, when industrial producers don’t care about that issue.

All are recognized « Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant » (Living Heritage Companie), a label of excellence that recognizes ancestral know-how. Here is the complete list:

Savonnerie Le Serail: Founded in 1949 in Marseille, this soap factory perpetuates the tradition of Marseille soap by using natural ingredients and an artisanal manufacturing method. The Savonnerie Le Serail is one of the last Marseille soap manufacturers to use copper cauldrons for saponification.

Savonnerie Marius Fabre: Founded in 1900 in Salon-de-Provence, this soap factory is famous for its olive oil Marseille soap, made from the traditional recipe passed down from generation to generation. The descendants of the founder continue to lead the soap factory of their ancestor.

Rampal Latour soap factory, also located in Salon-de-Provence, is older and has been working as a soap maker since 1828, i.e. five generations. It tends to restrict the use of water for more ecological production, and promotes responsible innovation.

Savonnerie Fer à Cheval: Founded in 1856 in Marseille, this soap factory is one of the oldest in the region. It produces Marseille soap with olive oil and palm oil, as well as other natural care products for the body and the home.

Savonnerie du Midi: Founded in 1894 in Marseille, this soap factory produces traditional Marseille soap, as well as other body and home care products. It is one of the largest producers of Marseille soap in France.

The stages of making Marseille soap

Its composition: traditional Marseille soap is made from olive oil and soda. Depending on recipes and manufacturers, other oils can be used in combination with olive oil, such as coconut oil, palm oil, rapeseed oil, or sunflower oil . To be considered a real Marseille soap, each soap must contain at least 72% vegetable oil. It takes about ten days to make a soap.

Pasting and cooking: The vegetable oils are heated to a temperature of 120°C in a cauldron. In parallel, a soda solution is prepared by mixing soda with water (soda lye).

The soda solution is slowly poured into the heated oils while constantly stirring with a large wooden spatula. This step can take several hours until the mixture reaches the desired consistency.

Salting out: water and salt are added to the dough to remove impurities and soda. This is an essential stage of "saponification" during which the dough loses the water and the glycerins naturally produced.

Rest: once the saponification is complete, the soap paste is washed with water, then left to rest for several days to allow the chemical reaction of saponification to complete.

Pouring and drying: the soap paste is poured into large “molds” (shallow basins) to dry and harden. Drying can take several weeks until the soap reaches its final hardness. The mistral, strong Provencal wind, helps sometimes.

Cutting: the soap is then cut into blocks and pressed in molds to take the form of soap cubes or bars of soap, or else passes through a grinding machine to produce shavings called "bondillons" which will be made into bars of soap, washing powder, etc.

The cubes are always stamped with the manufacturer's name and the famous "72% huile" (oil.)

Packaging: Once dry, the soaps are wrapped in paper to be sold.

Soap in its different forms

The solid soap

Cube Marseille soap

It is the best known and most emblematic of all Marseille soaps. As seen above, it is made from olive oil, vegetable oils, water, salt and soda, with the so-called "cauldron" process. It does not contain any dyes or chemical ingredients.

The color of the pure olive oil cube ranges from olive green to bronze green and can be non-uniform at times. There is a version of white cube which contains less olive oil, but still exclusively vegetable oils, dedicated more particularly to the maintenance of linen.

The 300 g or 600 g cube Marseille soap is first made in large blocks which are cut into pieces for daily use. This original shape which is practical for manual gripping has made its reputation.

In this square shape, it can be used for a variety of cleaning tasks, such as washing hands, bodies, clothes, dishes, pets, and even floors. Cube Marseille soap is dense and solid, and can therefore last a long time. To use it, just wet it slightly and rub it between your hands or on a sponge to obtain a soft and creamy lather. It is important to rinse the soap well after use to avoid residue.

The ingredients in Marseille soap are very simple and natural, with no chemicals or synthetic additives, which is why dermatologists usually recommend it for people with sensitive skin. Moreover, Marseille soap flakes are often used to wash babies' clothes. Consult our authentic cube Marseille soaps.

Scented soaps

You should know that traditional manufacturers can add ingredients to give the soap a particular appearance, color or smell. These additives, like the base ingredients, are natural with no artificial fragrances or chemicals to benefit skin and environmental friendliness.

The natural additional ingredients are clays and essential oils, to which are added elements that enrich and protect the epidermis such as shea butter, argan oil, sweet almond oil or donkey milk. Historical soap factories often use these additions in organic production, which is a plus.

A multitude of scents can thus be obtained. Among the most common: lavender, olive, verbena, thyme, rosemary, rose or wild rose, lemon, honeysuckle, jasmine. We can also mention calendula, tee trea, honey, lily of the valley, magnolia, etc… the list is endless. You can enjoy the natural scents during the wash without producing waste. A bar of 150 g is equivalent to the use of 4 shower gels of 250 ml! So many plastic bottles which will not end up in the oceans.

These soaps (100 or 150 g) remain a traditional production and are used for daily personal hygiene, but beware of counterfeits! The soaps offered in our online store are made by one of the historic soap makers and are enriched with organic shea butter. Choose your scent.

Liquid Marseille soap

Black soap

Marseille soap paste can also be used to make natural household products, such as floor cleaners, detergents or stain removers. We then exploit a dark and thick paste, the « savon noir » (black soap.) Its smell of crushed olives is unmistakable.

It is often sold in 3 or 5 liter canisters for economical household use that lasts for months or even beyond the year. It is extremely effective for all cleaning uses and even, to some extent, disinfection.

It is diluted in water depending on the surface and the level of dirt that you want to treat. The cleanliness obtained following the dilution is without comparison with chemical products of large distribution. It's neat!

It is also effective in treating stains on linen. In this case, it is used pure on the stain before machine or hand washing. For stubborn stains, you can rub with a small clothes brush to make the black soap penetrate into the heart of the stain. You must first do a test on the back of the fabric, as a precaution. The operation can be repeated several times until complete disappearance.

Marseille soap-based shampoo

There are Marseille soap-based shampoos. The formula is adapted to the hair but the principle remains the same: natural ingredients, natural fragrances, perfect hygiene and softness for the skin.

The advantage of using Marseille soap shampoo daily is to forget about conditioners: vegetable oils nourish the hair without damaging it or greasing it. And no need to worry about the nature of your hair: it works equally well for dry hair, oily hair, and hypersensitive scalps. A single product, in a single application, and the result is already felt when rinsing: the hair is invigorated.

Soap flakes

It is a Marseille soap "light" in olive oil that is replaced by palm and copra oil to avoid giving the linen the green color of the olive. White soap is "cut" into flakes to facilitate dosing: simply mixed in hot water, this makes an excellent hypoallergenic detergent, for sensitive people and newborns in particular. A few drops of lavander essential oil will pleasantly perfume the laundry. No need for chemicals!

Why avoid chemical soaps?

There are several harmful substances that can be present in industrially produced hygiene products. Here are some examples :

Sulfates: Sulfates are foaming agents found in many cleaning products, including shampoos, shower gels, and facial cleansers. Sulfates can irritate the skin and eyes, and can also contribute to dry scalp.

Parabens: Parabens are preservatives found in many health and beauty products, such as creams, lotions and deodorants. Parabens can mimic the hormone estrogen in the body, which can disrupt the endocrine system and potentially increase breast cancer risk.

Phthalates: Phthalates are chemicals used to soften plastics and are also present in some personal care and beauty products, such as perfumes and nail polish. Phthalates can be toxic to the reproductive system and can also disrupt the endocrine system.

Silicones: Silicones are common ingredients used in hair products, such as conditioners and serums. While they can help make hair softer and smoother, they can also clog pores on the scalp and make hair look dull and lifeless.

It is important to read health and beauty product labels carefully and look for products that are formulated with natural ingredients and free of harmful substances.

The ecological benefits of Marseille soap

Genuine Marseille soap has many ecological advantages. First of all, its natural composition makes it biodegradable and non-toxic for the environment. Unlike many common hygiene and cleaning products that contain chemicals harmful to nature, Marseille soap is a more sustainable choice.

In addition, Marseille soap is often used as an ecological alternative to cleaning products that are sold in plastic packaging. The soaps are generally sold in bulk or in recyclable paper packaging, which reduces the use of plastic and contributes to the reduction of waste.

Finally, Marseille soap is non-polluting for the indoor air of our homes, unlike chemical cleaning products. By using Marseille soap to clean our home, we reduce our exposure to harmful products and create a healthier environment for ourselves and our family.

In summary, Marseille soap is an alternative that is more respectful of the environment but also of our health.

The current trend of artisanal soaps

At present, with increasingly pressing environmental issues, the trend is towards solid soaps, some of which are handcrafted. Most are made by cold saponification, unlike Marseille soap.

Cold saponification is a newer and even gentler way to make soap. This method consists of mixing the oils and the soda solution at room temperature, without heating the mixture. Ingredients are carefully weighed and mixed by hand or with a mixer until they reach "trace", a consistency similar to that of cake batter. The mixture is then poured into molds to harden and take on its final shape.

The main difference between hot saponification and cold saponification is the temperature at which the process is carried out. Hot saponification requires a high temperature to activate the chemical reaction, while cold saponification occurs at room temperature. Due to the lower temperature, cold saponification retains the moisturizing properties of oils and fats even more, resulting in a very nourishing soap for the skin. On the other hand, hot saponification produces a harder and drier soap, but which is also very effective in cleaning the skin.

However, like Marseille soap, artisanal vegetable soap is not protected by an appellation, label or AOC, unless it is certified organic. Always find out about the ingredients and look carefully at the manufacturer's instructions to avoid imitations. Consult our organic cold process soaps in our Care and Well-being section.

To end with a little anecdote about Marseille soap: its original version with olive oil can be used as toothpaste. We cut a slice in a cube, and rub the previously wet toothbrush on it. Yes ! its taste is slightly salty, and it leaves a fresh and perfectly cleansed mouth. It even gives a more pronounced impression of cleanliness than with toothpaste. 

Now you now know everything and can finally return to authentic and serene consumption for your health and that of the planet.