Origin and history of Marseille soap

History of Marseille Soap

Marseille soap is intertwined with the history of the city of Marseille, when maritime trade and industry were flourishing. While today only remnants of this rich industrial past remain, soap production has been uninterrupted since the Middle Ages, and steadfast master soapmakers continue to perpetuate this tradition. Nowadays, only a handful of soap factories remain in Marseille and its region, such as the Savonnerie du Midi, for example. Traditional manufacturing faces increasingly tough competition from counterfeit products on one hand, and multicolored fancy soaps that do not adhere to the Marseille manufacturing process on the other.

One of the reasons behind this is the absence of a protective label, such as a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) sought in vain by manufacturers gathered under a syndicate (UPSM, Union of Marseille Soap Producers). But that's for the current situation; let's delve into the origins, which take us far back, to the founding of Massalia, the Greek city, grappling with the Gaul and Celtic tribes that occupied the territory.

Origin of Marseille Soap

The origin of Marseille soap is intertwined with the product itself. It is believed to have been invented by the Gauls. Originally, it was not used for washing but rather as a mixture to dye the beard and hair red. It was a preparation based on beech ashes and goat tallow. Its use was manifold, as the Gauls also used it as an ointment to treat skin diseases. This process, which used animal fats and washed forest ashes, remained unchanged for centuries. Dye, medicinal remedy, what would become soap would only be used as a toiletry product from the 4th century onwards.

Before the benefits of using fats to clean fabrics without damaging them were discovered, people made do with what they had. For example, the Romans used clay to clean their laundry. The Arabs knew how to make use of the residues of incinerated plants to make their detergent. In addition to ashes, the other main ingredient, animal fats, would be used until the 8th century. Only then would vegetable fats, mainly olive oil, be used.

The Marseille Soap Industry from the Middle Ages to the 20th Century

Soap has been made in Marseille at least since the Middle Ages, without interruption. Indeed, the first soapmaker recorded in the region is a certain "Crespus Davin," described as a "saponerius" in notarial records. In 1431, a Nicaise Letellier appears in the city's records as a master soapmaker, "magister saponerius." It is at this time that Marseille begins to export its production abroad. This is despite the already very tough competition, especially from Spain and Italy. Soap factories were established in Saint Victor, but also outside the walls of the city at that time, in the Joliette district.

In the 16th century, soda ash replaced ashes washed with hot water, and the industry flourished to the point where the city's aldermen tried to limit the establishment of new soap factories. In vain.

17th Century : Marseille Soap Achieves Renown

It is in the 17th century that Marseille soap achieves the renown it should no longer lose. It is also during this period that the "Marseille process" is defined for the first time, which was first described on October 5, 1688, by a decree of Colbert precisely defining the manufacturing conditions. The royal power does everything to stimulate the industry. Especially Colbert, minister of Louis XIV, who taxed foreign soaps and made Marseille a duty-free port. The Sun King himself wants to "bring this factory to perfection." Because, a victim of its success and the increasing number of soap factories, some of which were unscrupulous, the quality of the product suffered. Determined to restore order in all this, the government clearly defined the manufacturing conditions, as well as the ingredients to be used. In this case, exclusively olive oil, and not animal fats. Other rules were established, such as the prohibition of working in summer, as heat affects the consistency of soap. It was the manufacturers themselves, aided by the Chamber of Commerce, who ensured the proper observance of these rules. Marseille soap, now a royal product, was exported to Northern Europe, England, and within the Ottoman Empire.

18th Century : Industrial Boom of Marseille Soap Factories

The 18th century witnessed major upheavals such as the plague of 1720 and the Revolution, which dealt severe blows to the industry. However, industrial growth was inevitable. This is evidenced by the number of soap factories and the volume of production. In 1789, there were 75 manufactures, and production had doubled in the space of 60 years. In the 18th century, soap makers were mainly clustered in the southern part of the city, in the Rive-Neuve district, beyond the arsenal of the galleys towards the Pharo, around the streets Saintes and Notre Dame. This was a strategic location because oils were unloaded at the port, near Place aux Huiles, which was connected to the port by canals. On the docks, oils and lye were readily available and could be used immediately. Conversely, once the soaps were produced and ready for sale, they were easily transported to the port, where they were loaded into the holds of ships.

A soap factory in Marseille in the 18th century: "A significant construction surrounded by high walls, the Marseille soap factory opens outward through a monumental arched gate (…). The organization of work is divided into three levels: the ground floor, with the reception area and further on the large boilers where saponification takes place, the basement which houses the boilers, as well as fuel reserves and oils, the upper floors where the soap drying rooms and the master manufacturer's apartments are located (…). The choir of this vast nave is occupied by large boilers sunk into the ground. A coping of cut stone crowns them (…). The lumpy paste trembles there, rises, and cracks to release wisps of smoke. Below, in underground galleries, heating is done with open fire, burning lignite from Provence which has replaced the wood from the surrounding forests already largely sacrificed. Coming from the vats, these immense tanks also buried, the olive oil must cook for several consecutive days with alkalis and salts extracted by various types of soda lye and Mediterranean ashes. (…)

Excerpt from "Le savon de Marseille" (The Marseille Soap), Patrick Boulanger, Equinoxe editions. There were about fifteen soap factories of this type in Marseille at that time."

19th AND 20th CENTURIES : THE TIME OF PROFESSIONALIZATION AND INDUSTRIALIZATION

In 1810, Marseille established a council of prud'hommes to oversee soap production and suppress any frauds. In 1812, a Napoleonic decree created the "Marseille soap" brand with the famous pentagon containing the mentions "olive oil," "Marseille," and the manufacturer's name. By 1842, soap manufacturing became the leading industry in the Bouches du Rhône region. In 1855, the Universal Exhibition showcased the excellence of Marseille soap. Starting from 1873, when the railway appeared, Salon de Provence became the capital of oils and soaps. By 1885, the 82 Marseille soap factories produced over 94,000 tons, with flourishing exports. Before 1914, there were 16 soap factories and 400 oil and coffee traders.

In 1900, with the rise of hygiene awareness, the role of soap in everyday life and the economy increased. Marseille soap was used in hospitals and clinics, especially for handwashing during surgical operations. Oil mills merged with soap factories to conquer new markets. Technological advancements in the industry enabled production to grow.

1906 saw François Merklen publishing his works, providing a physico-chemical explanation for soap production. This had a significant impact on the soap industry.

In 1907, it was the era of advertising, with paintings on facades, posters, and talented illustrators creating remarkable compositions. Scenes depicting the daily lives of washerwomen were common, accompanied by somewhat unoriginal slogans.

Previously sold in twenty-kilogram blocks cut by grocers, Marseille soap eventually received packaging. These cardboard packages contained five-kilogram blocks pre-cut into cubes. Soap makers began adding small gifts to their packages, such as candles, ladles, spoons, or even toys. These premiums generated genuine enthusiasm in what was the beginning of a consumer society.

By 1913, there were 90 Marseille soap manufacturers producing 180,000 tons. A Marseille chemist named Jules Ronchetti invented laundry powder under the Persil brand. However, the soap industry faced a new crisis due to rising oil prices. Marseille soap began to be copied in Switzerland, Germany, and Northern Europe. Faced with these large trusts, small family businesses in Marseille could hardly compete. The First World War further exacerbated this situation. Marseille production plummeted during the war, from 102,443 tons in 1917 to 52,814 tons in 1918.

Soap knowledge progressed in the 1920s, with improved working methods. The absorption process of soap factories by oil mills continued.

By 1924, production had returned to its pre-war 1913 level.

In 1929, the financial crisis from Wall Street had repercussions on the industry, leading to many bankruptcies.

The war on washing powders began, with detergents becoming popular, especially with slogans like "the laundry washes itself." To adapt, Marseille soap was marketed in flakes and chips, as housewives were accustomed to grating it to facilitate solubility.

By 1938, soap production fell to 120,000 tons, with only 54 establishments remaining.

In 1940, rationing during the war caused a collapse in trade.

After the war, changes in habits, political upheavals, and the emergence of detergents from the United States occurred. With the baby boom, housewives sought more comfort and wanted to be freed from tasks such as laundry. Marseille soap lost its status as a necessity. Facing giants like Cadum, Monsavon, and Palmolive, and their scented and colored soaps, Marseille soap couldn't compete.

From 1956 to 1968, the number of washing machines multiplied by five, marking bleak years for the Marseille soap industry.