HISTORY 

Savon de Marseille (Marseille Soap), renowned for its versatile nature, has been used for hundreds of years. The first Marseille soap maker can be traced back as far as the 14th century and with such high demand, seven factories in the region were operating by 1660. Like champagne, genuine Marseille soap can only be produced in the Marseille region of France and takes a minimum of 10 days to produce. 

NATURAL INGREDIENTS

Traditionally, Savon de Marseille is made using only four ingredients; vegetable oil, soda, sea salt and water. To this day, it is still made using only these four ingredients, making it 100% natural and biodegradable. Each block of marseille soap must contain 72% vegetable oil, whether this be olive oil, palm oil, peanut oil or coconut oil. This declaration is then stamped on along with ‘Savon de Marseille.’ At Plastic Free Amsterdam, we stock only olive oil based Marseille soap as a more sustainable alternative to palm oil, giving the cubes a distinctive green colour. This makes them not only an eco-friendly product but also a very aesthetically pleasing one.

THE MANY USES

• Treating sensitive skin - So effective in treating dry and irritated skin that dermatologists often recommend using it to treat skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. 
• Taking care of babies - Gentle on soft skin as it has no allergens colouring or synthetic additives so can be used to bathe.
• Cleanser or make up remover - Particularly good for greasy or acne prone skin as it controls sebum (our skin’s natural oils) and naturally balances it without drying out the skin.
• Cleaning makeup brushes - a very efficient way to remove the products from your brushes. Wet your brushes and rub directly onto the soap and rinse with warm water until it runs clear.
• Shaving soap/foam - The soap produces lots of lather and the olive oil base keeps the skin soft and reduces irritation and ingrown hairs, making it ideal for shaving. If you have a shaving brush, just rub the brush on to the soap to create nice lather and apply to desired area.
• Washing hair - Especially efficient at washing greasy hair, offering deep down hair wash. You can rub the soap directly onto your hair with water to make it lather.
• Pet Shampoo - The soap is so gentle on sensitive skin that it can also be used to wash your pets fur. Just rub the soap directly onto your pets fur, lather it up with water and rinse
• Toothcare - hear us out! Due to the natural ingredients, Marseille soap can be used as toothpaste soap and will both clean your teeth and keep your gums healthy. Simply rub your toothbrush onto your marseille soap with some water and get ready for lots of foam.
• Cleaning floors and surfaces - To wash surfaces, just rub the soap directly onto a wet sponge and wipe.. Want to clean your floors? Grate the marseille soap and add to warm water and dip your mop in once it’s all mixed and dissolved together. 
• Washing dishes - You can easily make your own dishwashing liquid out of Marseille soap. 
• Mix around 20g of grated soap with 300ml of boiling water mix and leave to cool.
• Additional tip: add a small drop of white vinegar and a teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda if you want to make it extra effective. 
• Insecticide - A natural and biodegradable alternative to insect killers that will protect your plants. Dissolve some grated soap flakes in water and transfer to a spray bottle (like our amber spray bottles) and spray away.
• Treat small burns, grazes and wounds - A natural antiseptic containing antioxidants such as Vitamin A and E. Soothes sunburn, insect bites and more, contributing to the healing process so don’t forget to take it with you on holiday!
• Laundry detergent -  A great alternative to chemical based laundry detergent as it is more gentle on the skin, the fabrics and the environment. You can either add grated soap flakes directly to your wash or you can make your own liquid. 
• Mix 25g soap flakes with about 1 litre of boiling water and mix until dissolved. 
• Leave to cool and later add some bicarbonate of soda. 
• Feel free to add an essential oil such as lavender or lemongrass! 
• This should last you 5-10 washes depending on how much you like to use.
• Stain remover stick - if you are left with small pieces, use them as a stain remover stick for clothes and other textiles. Just wet the area on which there is a stain and the soap. Then just rub on the stain and wash with a tiny bit of water. For more tougher stains, just let it sit for 10-15 minutes.
• TOP TIP - Let your soap cubes dry off in your wardrobe or cupboard to give your clothes a lovely light scent whilst also repelling moths. Once it’s dried out, put it back in your bathroom and it will be extra gentle to use on your skin. Thank us later!