Located on the Cours Julien in the heart of city’s creative quarter
The Cours Julien is THE creative quarter of Marseille, welcoming artists, designers, bohemian types and musicians. A very popular part of the city, it boasts numerous cafés, gourmet restaurants and boutiques, all in an atmosphere infused by the soft, floral fragrances of the essential oils used by Savonnerie de la Licorne for its soapmaking.
Until 1970, the Cours Julien was the site of the city’s main food market. Farmers from all of the surrounding areas would arrive just after midnight in preparation for the day ahead and the entire area was dominated by wholesale premises and warehouses, with resellers and middlemen occupying the central square.
It is in one of these historic warehouses that Laurence and Serge Bruna decided to set up their production facilities with the very same machinery used over a century ago by Pierre Bruna, the first “savonnier” of the family.
Today, Savonnerie de la Licorne sells an extensive range of high quality, 100% vegetable oil soaps and soap products that are shipped worldwide and appreciated by a loyal international customer base.
Come to our workshop for a free guided tour of our production facility to learn all about soapmaking, then visit our on-site shop for the chance to buy our great soaps and soap products at factory prices.
the history of marseille soap
ANTIQUITY
By accident, on a rainy rain ...
Soap is born on a rainy day, when a Roman woman notices that a mix of ash, grease and water has amazing cleaning properties. It is in the 2nd century AD that Romans begin to use soap for personal hygiene.
12TH CENTURY
Arrival in Marseille
The soap industry in Marseille first appears in the 12th century. In those days, the soda needed in its manufacture comes from plants. Sodium carbonate is extracted from the ashes of sodium-rich plants such as samphire.
17TH CENTURY
Louis XIV and the Colbert edict
In 1688, under Louis XIV, his minister Colbert issues an edict concerning the manufacture of Marseille Soap, restricting the use of the name exclusively to soaps manufactured with olive oil from the region around Marseille. Only vegetable fats are permissible, with animal fats strictly prohibited.
18TH CENTURY
The best soap in the world
In 1789, chemist Nicolas Leblanc develops a process to manufacture a superior quality soda, thus enabling Marseille to produce the best soap in the world. Within 120 years, the city numbers 90 soapmakers. With the rise of soap, hygiene improves, which is seen as the best way to fight epidemics. The now famous 72% content of vegetable fatty acids becomes guaranteed.
20TH AND 21ST CENTURIES
Decline and renewal
After the Second World War, cheaper synthetic detergents are developed, leading to the closure of many factories producing Marseille Soap. But with the rise in recent years of a greater concern from consumers for environmental and health issues, in particular those related to sensitive skin problems, demand for Marseille Soap has increased sharply. This has led to Savonnerie de la Licorne’s Master Soapmaker developing a large range of high-quality soap products.Video of the workshop
Steps in the manufacture of Marseille soap
STEP 1
SAPONIFICATION
a mixture of oil and soda is brought to the boil and thanks to the chemical reaction known as saponification, soap is obtained.
STEP 2
CASTING
The hot, mud-like raw soap mixture is then poured into trays to cool and dry, after which it is cut into bars.
STEP 3
GRINDING
The soap bars are then ground up by granite rollers to thin out the product and give it extra gentleness.
STEP 4
MIXER
A mixer enables the integration of other specialist ingredients into the soap (eg honey, essential oils, perfumes, lavender seeds, etc).
STEP 5
EXTRUDING
The colored, scented mixture is then put through a soap plodder for extrusion to obtain long pieces of finished soap.
STEP 6
MOLDING
The long pieces of finished soap are then cut into their final size and manually stamped, molded and labelled.
Discover on-site
The workshop team
Founders, Master soapmaker
Serge & Laurence Bruna
Manufacture & Guided tours
Jérôme Monge
Manufacture & Guided tours
Jules Verrier
Manufacture & Guided tours
Ophélie Mouchet
Manufacture & Guided tours
Matthieu Feniou
Manufacture & Guided tours
Antoine Le Guerinays
Useful information
WORKSHOP GUIDED TOURS
Free visits at 11am, 3pm and 4pm except on Sundays and national holidays.
Duration approximately 30 minutes.
Guided tours of the workshop given in the following languages (depending on the guide):
THE WORKSHOP SHOP
Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm and Saturday from 10am to 7pm.
GETTING THERE
> Metro M2, Tram T1, Bus 81 & 509, Noailles Station (5-7 min walk)
> Carpark Cours Julien
GROUPS
Pre-booking recommended for guided group tours of the workshop. please call: (+33) 04 96 12 00 91.
SCHOOLS
For school group visits to our soap museum on the Vieux-Port, we organise fun workshops and quizzes with special learning tools. for more information, please call: (+33) 04 96 12 00 91.
Locations nearby
On site
Cours Julien Shop
Attached to our soapmaking facilities, our factory shop sells our full range of scented and traditional Marseille soap products.
1.4KM away
Marseille Soap Museum
At 25 Quai de Rive Neuve on the Vieux-Port: visit our exciting Soap Museum and create your very own personalized soap.
1.4KM away
Marseille Soap Museum shop
At 26 Quai de Rive Neuve next door the Marseille Soap Museum: on two floors, Savonnerie de la Licorne’s largest shop in Marseille.
1.4KM away
Vieux-port / Town hall shop
Located at 112 Quai du Port near Marseille’s town hall and facing the famous hilltop basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde: discover our shop with the golden unicorn!
1.7KM away
Vieux-Port / Mucem shop
Located at 240 Quai du Port at the foot of the Fort Saint Jean and the Mucem: discover our shop with its huge golden Marseille soap.
Order our products online
Traditional Marseille Soaps
Raw Marseille Soap Cube 300g or 600g
Traditional Marseille Soaps in their famous cube shape — 300g and 600g — olive and ...
Starting at € 4,50
Scented Marseille Soaps
Oval Marseille Soaps 250g
Authentic Marseille Soaps in an oval shape made in our workshop on the Cours Julien in ...
Starting at € 3,50
Gift Sets
La Licorne Yellow Box, 9 Marseille Soaps
Elegant La Licorne presentation box containing 9 Marseille soaps cubes 100g spelling ...
€ 25,00
Liquid Marseille Soaps
Liquid Marseille Soaps 200ml, 500ml & 1000ml
Discover our Liquid Marseille Soaps, made in our workshop on the Cours Julien in ...
Starting at € 4,20
Scented Marseille Soaps
Rectangular Marseille Soaps 100g
Authentic Marseille Soaps in a rectangular shape, made in our workshop on the Cours ...
Starting at € 2,25
Scented Marseille Soaps
Scented Marseille Soaps Cubes 100g or 300g
Scented Marseille Soaps in their famous cube shape made in our workshop on the Cours ...
Starting at € 2,25