Marseille soap: why do we love it so much?

Marseille soap is much more than a soap. Associated with our beautiful Provence, it reminds us of lavender fields, Marcel Pagnol films and pétanque games. Made from three simple, natural ingredients: vegetable oil and soda or potash. Find out more in this article!

A little history

The origins of soap go back a long way. The concept of soap itself dates back to 2000 BC. Clay tablets have been found mentioning the use of a " soap paste ", which was used to prepare wool for dyeing in Mesopotamia. However, it was the Gauls in Europe who first made soap from goat's tallow (animal fat) and potash from beech ash. Soap-making then developed in the Mediterranean basin. Aleppo soap, originating in Syria and based on olive oil and bay laurel oil, reached the shores of Marseille. It was around this time that Marseille soap was born, with the first official soap-maker in Marseille, Crescas Savi, in 1371.

The first soap factories appeared in the region from the 15th century onwards, and it was in the 16th and 17th centuries that the industry developed, thanks to regulations introduced by Colbert's Edict in 1688. The regulations emphasized the use of local raw materials such as pure olive oil, sourced exclusively from Provence, as well as salt and soda, brought in from the Camargue. The use of tallow, which compromised soap quality, was also banned. It damaged linen, whereas Marseille soap could be used in the laundry.

How is real Marseille soap made?

We visited the La Licorne soap factory in Marseille and the Musée du Savon de Marseille, to discover all its secrets, including how Marseille soap is made.

The first stage is hot saponification. Oil and soda are mixed in a cauldron to make soap. The raw soaps are then cut up. They are then put into a machine that transforms them into pellets. The pellets are then put through a rolling mill to make rolls. Thisrefines and homogenizes the soap, producing Marseille soap shavings. A second rolling mill is then used, again to homogenize the soap. The soap is then poured into a plodder, which produces a strand of soap. Pieces of soap are cut off, then each piece is molded or stamped (brand signature on the soap).

The manufacturing process for solid and liquid Marseille soap is not exactly the same. For liquid soap, potash is used in the first saponification stage. The structure of the soap molecule is very different from that of solid soap, since soap does not harden and remains soft.

Marseille soap, its uses and benefits

Authentic Marseille soap should be made exclusively from vegetable oils, not animal fats.

Surgras, our liquid hand soaps, are naturally rich in moisturizing glycerine derived from the traditional saponification process in the cauldron of master soap-makers. They cleanse gently. Sulfated surfactant-free and dermatologically tested, their formula is composed of up to 97% ingredients of natural origin. Glycerine, a moisturizing ingredient derived from the traditional cauldron saponification process, is naturally present in our products. our Liquide Marseille Soaps. Able to retain up to 25% of its weight in water, it acts as a water reservoir for the skin, making it an excellent moisturizing agent. It is also recognized for its emollient and protective properties. Olive oil, an active ingredient in some of our liquid soaps, has antioxidant properties that help combat skin aging. A veritable alchemy of luxury, it delays cellular aging, thanks to vitamin E, which fights the formation of free radicals. It also improves skin quality thanks to its deep nourishing and toning action.

Marseille soap is also an effective detergent. It's perfect as a base for creating your own homemade detergent, thanks to its legendary cleaning and degreasing efficiency. Liquid black soap is perfect for this purpose!

The composition of Liquid Marseille Soap differs from that of solid soap. In fact, in Liquid Marseille Soap, it is possible to add adjuvants (essential oils or perfume absolutes) of lavender, Orange Blossom, verbena, almond or jasmine essence, making it the most precious of soaps. Travel to Provence with our Marseille soaps with gentle Mediterranean fragrances.

The Liquid Marseille Soap limited edition, with Olive

A return to our roots with theoriginal scent of Olive Marseille soap, to celebrate our hometown and its ancestral know-how. For a limited edition, our reusable glass bottle displays a neon blue as intense as the city's light. Wild, (re)beautiful, urban, plural. Practical, this glass bottle is refillable and can be reused ad infinitum thanks to our eco-refills. You can also refill your glass bottle with our liquid soap dispensers in our boutiques. Discover our L'Olive liquid Marseille soap.

Marseille soap with lavender essential oil

The classic, the must-have, the bright blue flower of lavender from Provence, with its intense fragrance that transports you to the gates of Aix-en-Provence in the Provence region, memories of summer vacations, surrounded by lavender fields. Take a break and discover our Marseille soap, solid or liquid, with soothing lavender.