The current site of the Savonnerie, which was built in 1870, was once a mill fed by the waters of the Aygalades stream. It was in turn a flour mill and a semolina factory. In the mid-20th century the site was operated by a certain Mr Garbit, an avid herbalist who became an entrepreneur. His company also owns the Savonnerie du Midi, which was then based in the Canet neighbourhood of northern Marseille. The Savonnerie’s facilities were transferred to the Aygalades site in 1970.
The Savonnerie du Midi still draws on the talents of a master soap maker to manufacture its traditional Marseille soap.
When the Savonnerie was founded in 1894 there were three brands: Aubépine, Aigle Blanc and La Corvette. The first two lasted until the late 1980s, whilst the third – which can be recognised by its navy blue logo depicting an 18th century sailing ship – is still sold today. Indeed, La Corvette represents 120 years of the Savonnerie’s history in a single soap.
The PRODEF group is a historic player in the hygiene and cleaning products industry, and has owned the Savonnerie du Midi since 2013. Since PRODEF was founded in 1924, four generations of directors have backed its growth based on a single ambition: to continually improve the quality of life of its fellow citizens, foreshadowing what we now call sustainable development.
By putting innovation at the centre of its strategy, the group has created or developed many historic brands that are familiar to the general public both in France and overseas. These include the Solitaire range of cleaning products, Lion Noir polishes, Ideal dye and Opalor, the first powder detergent for dishwashers.
PRODEF’s acquisition of the Savonnerie du Midi via La Compagnie du Midi marks its commitment to cultural heritage and reinforces the values that have shaped its history spanning 90 years: innovating, acting on behalf of the environment and enhancing human expertise.
1894: Foundation of the « Savonnerie du Midi » factory in the 14th district of Marseille and lauching of La Corvette brand.
1970: Transfer of the factory to the current production site in the 15th district of Marseille.
1990: La Savonnerie du Midi innovates by being the first Savonnerie to offer liquid soap.
1994: La Savonnerie du Midi joins Chimitex, a French company specialized in professional cleaning products since 1973.
1995: Creation of the Maître Savon de Marseille brand, and roll-out in supermarkets.
2005: ISO 9001 version 2000 certification.
2007: Reinforcement of a organic commitment : »Plaisir Bio », Maitre Savon de Marseille’s cosmetic range is labelized by ECOCERT (referential of ecological and biological cosmetics).
2011: La Savonnerie du Midi founded with 3 other establishments the UPSM, the Union of Soap Professionals of Marseille, to defend and promote the traditional Marseille soap.
2013: La Savonnerie du Midi and Chimitex – now Compagnie du Midi- join PRODEF, a French family group specialized in hygiene and maintenance products for 4 generations.
2014: La Savonnerie du Midi celebrates 120 years of existence and launches a renovation program of its production site: restoration of buildings and renovation of its cauldrons.
2017: La Savonnerie du Midi wins a price for Responsible Consumption Industries in the category « Sustainable consumption methods » by the ESSEC Grand Prix.
2018: La Savonnerie du Midi opens to the public with its Museum dedicated to Marseille Soap and its factory shop.
A cosmetic range, with soaps from Marseille, Provençal soaps and liquid soaps, as well as a range of products for the house and for washing clothes (most of which bear the Ecocert label). Available in large stores.
A body-care line inspired by the East: soaps from Aleppo made from argan oil, scented massage oils, etc. Available in large stores.
The historic Savonnerie du Midi brand, which has been in existence since 1894, offers products made of 100% vegetable oil. Available in chemists.
Marseille has been the home of natural soap made from olive oil for more than 800 years. The town had several manufacturers as far back as the 12th century, with the soap being made using oil extracted from olives harvested in Provence and natural ash derived from plants grown in saline environments in the Camargue. With its hot weather and its famous wind, the Mistral, Marseille’s particular climate is also conducive to drying soaps.
Crescas Davin was Marseille’s first official soap maker in 1371. The earliest industrial factories appeared in the 15th century, and soon began to export their products to Europe and across the Mediterranean region thanks to the city’s geographical location and its historic activities as a port. Marseille soap was sold in the form of green bars weighing 5 kg or more.
There were seven soap factories in the city of Marseille in 1660. Louis XIV decided to support the development of the industry by publishing an edict in 1688 (via his Minister, Colbert) regulating the manufacture of soap and its constituents: ‘When manufacturing soap with saltwort, soda or ash, no fat, butter or other materials may be used, but only pure olive oils, and without mixing in fat, under penalty of confiscation of goods.’ In addition, to ensure optimal quality levels, production had to be halted during the three summer months due to the intense heat.
The number of soap factories in Marseille had risen to 62 by 1812. Napoleon, aware of the benefits of traditional Marseille soap, adopted a decree in December 1812 that established a special trademark for the now-famous bars of soap ‘in the shape of a pentagon, in the middle of which shall be inscribed the words “Olive oil”, followed by the name of the manufacturer and the city of Marseille.’ The decree ended with a warning: ‘Any citizen residing in a town other than Marseille who shall partake in the selling of soaps bearing the registered trademark shall be punished by a fine. The soaps, moreover, shall be confiscated.’
The early 20th century was a period of great prosperity for the Marseille soap industry, which boasted 90 factories at the time, before experiencing an initial downturn during the First World War. Marseille soap was redefined as a product made exclusively from vegetable oil (72 % minimum) in 1927 by the Court of Appeal of Aix en Provence, and in 1928 by the Court of Cassation. Production recovered after the war, reaching 120,000 tonnes in 1938, driven mainly by advances in mechanisation. Following a new dip in business during the Second World War, the soap industry in Marseille suffered a sharp decline as it was hit hard by the competition from synthetic detergents.
Marseille soap has undergone a genuine revival since the 1980s in response to increasing consumer demand for natural and authentic products. The Savonnerie du Midi is particularly proud to have been carrying on this tradition for 120 years.
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