Savon de Marseille Soaps: Your Guide to Authentic French Quality

Savon de Marseille is a French hand soap famous for its purity. It's made mostly of olive or palm oil. It's gentle on the skin and versatile. In this post, I'll tell you about its history, the authenticity rules, and how to spot the real deal.

Quick Facts

• Forget the fake stuff! To get real Savon de Marseille, look for the 72% vegetable oil stamp and a gentle olive smell—anything else is just a bubble in your bath.

• With only four natural ingredients, Savon de Marseille is the soap of minimalism—no parabens or fancy colours, just pure cleansing power that even sensitive skin will love!

• Savon de Marseille isn't just a pretty face; it's eco-friendly! Bye-bye plastic bottles, hello biodegradable packaging—cleaning the planet one lather at a time!

What is Savon de Marseille?

Savon de Marseille, also known as Marseille soap, is a traditional French soap that has been around for centuries. Many claim it was inspired by Aleppo soaps from Syria. Made from a mix of olive oil, ash, and local seawater, this soap is famous for being gentle and nourishing. Unlike most modern soaps, Savon de Marseille is biodegradable and comes in various forms, bars, blocks, and soap flakes, so it's versatile.

Savon de Marseille has a unique ageing process. The soap is aged in the open air for three weeks, which gives it a specific texture and smell. This traditional process makes it suitable for all skin types, even sensitive skin. Whether you use it for hand washing, bathing, or laundry, Savon de Marseille will give you a soothing and nourishing clean that's straight from France.

History of Savon de Marseille

The history of Marseille soap is as thick as a croissant. It all started in the 17th century when Marseille became the soap capital of France. In the 19th and early 20th century Savon de Marseille was super popular, famous for its high oil content. The recipe and production methods were codified by an edict of Louis XIV in 1688 so only pure olive oil was used.

Imagine the streets of Marseille where soap makers were honing their craft over cauldrons of boiling oil. This was the time when soap was not just a household item but a luxury and quality symbol.

The tradition of Savon de Marseille has been around for centuries and has kept its reputation for being authentic. Today it’s a symbol of the region’s cultural heritage and quality.

Authenticity and Classification of Savon de Marseille

With many fake ones out there, you need to check for strict standards, including 72% vegetable oil content, to get real Savon de Marseille. Traditionally, it’s made with 72% olive or sustainable palm oil and cooked in a copper pot.

Authenticity can be determined by smell. Real Savon de Marseille has a mild olive smell, and any strong or distinct perfume is a warning sign. The Union of Soap Professionals of Marseille regulates the label ‘Savon de Marseille’ to protect the consumer and ensure that the soaps comply with strict production and ingredient standards. Only soaps made in the Marseille region can be certified as authentic.

Look for the Savon de Marseille cube mark to spot a genuine product; it means the soap comes from a certified manufacturer. Authentic soaps are usually green, brown or beige, with no artificial colours or fragrances. Since 95% of “Marseille soaps” on the market are fake, knowing these signs of authenticity is crucial.

Ingredients of Savon de Marseille

Savon de Marseille is the benchmark for simplicity and purity in ingredients. Olive or palm oil is the main vegetable oil used, which gives the soap its quality and nourishing properties. The traditional recipe has only four ingredients, so the soap is natural and gentle on the skin.

With no colourings, fragrances, or preservatives, traditional Savon de Marseille is suitable for sensitive skin. It also contains no artificial ingredients, parabens, SLS, EDTA, or artificial colourings—all for your skin and for the planet.

Savon de Marseille is suitable for dry, sensitive, or normal skin. Its natural composition is gentle for everyone, and it provides a soothing and nourishing cleanse without harsh chemicals.

The Process: From Cauldron to Bar

Making Savon de Marseille is an art, a tradition, and a care. It starts with heating the oils in a large cauldron, a process that has remained unchanged for centuries.

This 5-step process:

1. Heating

2. Salting

3. Cooking

4. Washing

5. Final purification

Impurities are removed from the mixture at the bottom of the cauldron through a three-step refinement process. The soap is boiled with lye for several hours in a process called saponification, then rinsed with pure water to remove any remaining impurities. After drying in moulds, the still-soft soap is cut into bars and left to harden.

The last step is to stamp the hard soap with the manufacturer’s name and brand, a sign of authenticity and pride. This traditional process ensures each bar of Savon de Marseille is top quality and ready to bring a little bit of Provence to your home.

Savon de Marseille Variations

There are two types of Savon de Marseille: green and white. Green soap contains at least 72% olive oil, which is why it’s green and nourishing. White soap is made with palm oil or other vegetable oils.

Although traditional Savon de Marseille is fragrance-free, some modern versions have honey and lavender scents. These perfumed versions are not part of the original recipe; they are a different sensory experience.

Do you prefer the authentic olive oil scent or a hint of Provence’s flowers? There’s a Savon de Marseille for everyone.

Benefits of Savon de Marseille

Switching to Savon de Marseille hand soap has hydrating, moisturising, and repairing properties, and it’s perfect for all skin types. Naturally hypoallergenic, antiseptic, and antibacterial, it’s a soothing and revitalising cleanse.

Besides its skin benefits, Savon de Marseille is an eco-friendly option. Fragrance-free, it has a mild olive oil scent and lasts much longer than regular soaps. It’s cost-effective and sustainable for your household.

How To Choose The Best Savon de Marseille

To choose the best Savon de Marseille, consider a few things to ensure you get an authentic, high-quality product.

First, look for the “Savon de Marseille” logo, a sign of authenticity that guarantees the soap meets the traditional standards of at least 72% vegetable oils. This logo means the soap is made according to the ancient process in the Provence region.

Then, look at the ingredients list. Authentic Savon de Marseille should be free of artificial additives and perfume. Instead, it should be made with high-quality plant oils like olive and palm oil, which give it nourishing and soothing properties. Avoid soaps with harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin.

Finally, consider the size and price of the soap. Larger bars may be better value, but smaller bars are more convenient to use daily. Some soaps may also have extra benefits, like extra moisturising properties or subtle natural fragrances. By choosing a high-quality Savon de Marseille, you can enjoy the luxury and eco-friendly benefits of this French soap in your daily routine.

Eco-friendly and Sustainable

In a world where sustainability is increasingly important, Savon de Marseille is an eco-friendly option. Made of natural ingredients, the soap doesn’t need animal testing and reduces environmental impact. The 1970s revival of natural and ecological products brought Savon de Marseille back to the forefront.

Using biodegradable packaging is one of the eco-friendly practices, minimising waste. Choosing bar soap over liquid soap in plastic bottles reduces plastic waste. Many Savon de Marseille producers have adopted zero waste, making it even more sustainable.

Savon de Marseille producers work with sustainable organisations to promote eco-friendly practices across the industry. Each bar of Savon de Marseille takes care of your skin and the planet.

Savon de Marseille Brands

Although the number of soap factories decreased, several good brands still produce authentic Savon de Marseille. As of 2018, there are only 5 soap factories in Marseille and Salon-de-Provence, down from 122 in 1924. The remaining factories still respect traditional methods and high-quality standards.

Brands like La Maison Du Savon de Marseille, Fer a Cheval, and La Corvette are well known for their quality. These brands ensure each soap bar meets the strict standards of the Union of Soap Professionals of Marseille, a piece of French heritage.

How To Use Savon de Marseille

Savon de Marseille is versatile as a hand soap; it’s a great addition to your daily routine.

• As a facial cleanser, it gently cleans without stripping natural oils, leaving your skin hydrated and refreshed.

• As a hair care, rub the soap directly on your scalp to create a natural shampoo that cleans without removing essential oils.

• As a body wash, Savon de Marseille is a gentle cleanser.

• As a shaving soap, it creates a lather that lubricates the skin to give it a smoother shave. 

• As a laundry soap, and for your all-round household chores

With so many uses, this traditional soap is a multi-tasker.

Where To Buy Savon de Marseille

Finding real Savon de Marseille is easier than you think. In fact, they are available on this very website! Here at The Natural French Soap Company, we offer traditional Savon de Marseille soaps in cubes, flakes, and tranches from Fer à Cheval.

Alternatively, we offer the most extensive range of perfumed soaps from Marseille, shipped directly from France.

Many online retailers offer free standard delivery on orders over 65€, so you can stock up on this soap without leaving home. Whether you shop locally or online, there are plenty of options to get the real deal.

Conclusion

In summary, Savon de Marseille is more than a soap; it’s a piece of French heritage and proof of traditional craftsmanship. From its history and natural ingredients to eco-friendly practices and multiple uses, this soap has been around for a long time. By choosing Savon de Marseille, you’re not only treating your skin to the best but also sustainable and ethical.

Whether you’re a long-time fan or new to Savon de Marseille, we hope this guide has helped you better understand and appreciate this soap. So go ahead, indulge in a little bit of Provence, and let Savon de Marseille bring a bit of French chic to your daily life.

FAQ

How can I tell if my Savon de Marseille is real?

To spot the real Savon de Marseille check for that cube mark—it’s like the soap’s diploma! And if it’s green, brown or beige with an olive smell you’ve got the real deal… no fake soap here!

What’s in Savon de Marseille?

Savon de Marseille is an olive oil party, at least 72% of it! Imagine soap that’s more into vegetables than a health nut at a salad bar—no artificial crap here!

Is Savon de Marseille good for sensitive skin?

Yes! Savon de Marseille is like a gentle hug for your sensitive skin—hypoallergenic and no synthetic crap!

What are the benefits?

Using Savon de Marseille is like having a spa day while saving the planet and your wallet—hydrated, protected and eco-friendly all at once! So go ahead, pamper yourself without the guilt!

Where can I buy real Savon de Marseille?

Buy Authentic Savon de Marseille at The Natural French Soap Company