Reviews and Confessions of a Glam Junkie

Friday, June 10, 2011

Marseille Soap

I LOVE this stuff, use it a lot (as well as a fave shower gel), especially in a bath because it's SO moisturising and there are divine colors and scents, however, even though it's not terribly expensive and really lasts, beware imitations that don't give you the benefits of this time honored Marseille Soap and how it's made and probably more important, what it's made with.

So if you've always wondered or never heard of it, do yourself a favor and get some .. read on as to why !

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 processes 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 in large vats.
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 of the soap, and this industry also spun off a candle manufacturing, using by products of the soap manufacturing process. The process has also been exported to other countries, and Marseille Soap can be produced in Italy as well as France, for example.
The soap is cooled and cut into cubes and stamps before being set out to dry and harden outside.
Auithentic Marseille Soap is stamped with the name and also the weight of the soap in grams.

This is my fave, the Le Pere Pelletier Savon De Marseille Soap in the old style container (which resides in my rustic kitchen) and one I use a lot, as well as the large lavender block. I cut them with a heated knife into smaller blocks. It is SUCH good value

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 ?

It is 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). Many use it as a shampoo as well.
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.
For ease of use, you can cut onto smaller pieces, or shave into flakes.