Keep your bristles soft with Savon de Marseille

 There is always a nice big block of Savon de Marseille next to the sink in the studio. David keeps his oil painting brushes supple by cleaning them thoroughly at the end of each day by rubbing them on the block.
 

The production of this soap is a traditional Provencal industry, dating back to the early middle ages.  Pliny credits the ancient Gauls with the invention of soap which they made with beech ash and goats grease. Thankfully they later moved on to using the abundant olive crop as the source of the grease in the soap!

Savon de Marseille makers used the natural resources of the Carmargue to manufacture their soap - olive oil, sea salt and seepweed from which they extracted soda.  By the Middle Ages Marseille was at the centre of a growing soap industry.  In 1688 Colbert issued a decree that Marseille was to uphold the highest standards in soap manufacture and that the oils used in Savon de Marseille were to be only pure olive oil.

By 1786 there were 48 soap factories many of which were still in operation up until the beginning of the second world war.  Now there are three families still producing the soap in the traditional way : Boetto, Rampal and Marius Fabre.  Only the heat source for the melting process has changed from wood fire to electricity, otherwise the soap is produced in exactly the same way as it has always been. 

The soaps are cut into big blocks which are then air-dried on racks for three months following which the soap is cut into blocks and stamped with its distinctive lettering. 

Remember Savon de Marseille when you are at the market at L'Isle sur la Sorgue.  It is easy to slip in your suitcase and can also be used to wash your laundry, to remove stubborn stains, keep moths out of your clothes and even to bring you good luck!