Marseille soap

There are many French products that I like, so it is very fortunate that I live so close to the French border (its less then an hour drive to the closest big city). Of course the French wines are on the top of my list, but another favorite of mine is Marseille soap. 

Savon de Marseillie is originally 100% olive oil soap crafted in the Mediterranean port city - Marseille. The first documented soapmaker in that region is recorded in about 1370. Due to the quality the soaps quickly became famous throughout Europe. In 1688 French law declared that only soaps produced according to certain methods could bear the mark Savon de Marseille. 

Traditionally Savon de Marseillie is produced by mixing sea water from the Mediterranean Sea and olive oil from local groves with soda ash (sodium carbonate) and lye (sodium hydroxide). The mixture is heated and stirred for several days. Afterwards it is poured into molds, allowed to set, and cut into bars of various sizes. All bars are stamped with the weight in grams (the weight is of the fresh bar, therefore as it dries it will lose weight) and dried out in the sun. Usually it takes several months before the soap is ready to be sold. Original Marseille soap must contain 72% olive oil. 

Savon de Marseille is a very gentle soap recommended by dermatologists for dry and sensitive skin. It is recommended for people suffering from eczema and children. It is very economical as it lasts almost twice as long as regular bar soap. It is also a perfect shaving soap as well as stain remover (our grandmothers used it as a laundry detergent!)