Soap factory
of the unicorn

Soap is thought to have originated on a rainy day, when a Roman woman noticed that a mixture of ash, fat and water had amazing cleansing properties. Roman women began using soap for washing in the 2nd century AD.

The soap industry in Marseille first appeared in the 12th century. The soda needed to make it was then extracted from plants. Soda ash was extracted from the ashes of plants such as samphire.

In 1688, under Louis XIV, Colbert issued an edict regulating the manufacture of Savon de Marseille and limiting the use of the name to soaps made with olive oil in the Marseille region. Vegetable oils had to be used, and animal fats were prohibited.

In 1789, Nicolas Leblanc perfected a process for making high-quality soda ash, enabling the people of Marseille to produce the best soap in the world. By the 20th century, Marseilles had 90 soap factories. With the rise of soap, hygiene improved. It was the best way of fighting epidemics. Historically, a fatty acid content of 72 % by mass was guaranteed.

After the Second World War, cheaper synthetic detergents appeared and soap factories closed one after the other. But in recent years, more and more health-conscious people, sensitive to environmental issues, have returned to traditional soap. The master soap-maker at the Marseilles soap factory La Licorne has developed a range of high-quality soaps.