A 100% Mediterranean olive oil Marseille soap
No more copra oil instead of Asia for the Fer à Cheval soap factory in Marseille (Bouches-du-Rhône). After two years of research and testing, this company, which employs around sixty people in the northern districts, has just developed an exclusive formula for a Marseille soap that is 100% Mediterranean olive oil, compared to only 70% previously.
“The weakness of pure olive oil was that it imparted a soft, crumbly soap. To avoid this phenomenon, our process plays on the acidity and humidity levels during cooking and drying with very precise settings, ”explains Mario Pontarollo, commercial director of the soap factory founded in 1856 and listed as a historic monument. “This new soap is now available in the 40 references of our range. “
A return to the traditional recipe
This composition is a return to the traditional recipe for Marseille soap, codified by an edict by Colbert fils in 1688, which guarantees the place of manufacture in the Marseille region, the cooking process in a single cauldron and the ingredients: olive oil. olive, soda, water and salt. Copra and palm oils were added during the 19th century, making the soap both harder and sparkling.
“We are coming back to raw materials that are close to us. Olive oil comes from Spain, Italy and Greece, soda from Fos-sur-Mer, salt from the Camargue and water from Marseille ”, conclusion Mario Pontarollo in front of the 7 cauldrons from which 1200 come. tons of soap every year. They are distributed by 850 resellers in France and exported to 23 countries. “This allows us to lower the carbon footprint of soaps by 68% by avoiding distant imports! “