The Power of Olive Oil, Nature’s Best Cleaner

When it comes to soap, not all ingredients are created equal. For centuries, soap makers in the Mediterranean have trusted olive oil as the foundation of their craft, creating gentle, effective, and sustainable soaps. But in more recent years, palm oil has become common in many commercial soaps because it’s cheap and easy to produce.

So, what makes olive oil so special? And why should we think twice about palm oil?

Olive oil has been the hero of Mediterranean soap making for over 600 years. The legendary Savon de Marseille is made with at least 72% olive oil, delivering a pure, biodegradable product that is kind to both skin and environment.

Benefits of olive oil in soap:

• Gentle & nourishing – rich in antioxidants and Vitamin E, it leaves skin soft, never stripped.

• Moisturising – perfect for sensitive skin, eczema-prone, or dry skin.

• Biodegradable – breaks down naturally, leaving no harmful trace in waterways.

• Sustainable – olives are grown across the Mediterranean without the vast deforestation linked to other oils.

• Versatile cleaner – olive oil soaps clean everything from skin to linens and even delicate household surfaces.

Beyond caring for your skin, olive oil soap is one of the most versatile natural cleaners you can have in your home. For generations in Provence (along with Syria &Turkey), it’s been used not just in the bathroom but across the household.

Olive oil soap is a gentle but effective multi-surface cleaner:

• Ideal for kitchen counters, wooden furniture, and tiled areas.

• Naturally cuts through grease without harsh chemicals.

• Leaves no toxic residue – safe for homes with children and pets.

Before modern detergents, families in Provence relied on olive oil soap for washing clothes. Today, it’s still a powerful, natural, economical and highly effective alternative:

• Removes stains without damaging fabrics.

• Perfect for sensitive skin and baby clothes as it’s free from synthetic fragrances and sulfates.

• Can be grated or dissolved to make a simple, biodegradable laundry detergent with no environmental foot print.

• A slice or cube of Olive Oil soap can also be tucked into wardrobes to deter moths naturally and keep linens fresh.

Marseille liquid soap made with olive oil is excellent for floor cleaning:

• Diluted in hot water, it cleans tiled, stone, or wooden floors without leaving a film.

• Naturally antibacterial and safe, unlike harsh floor cleaners full of chemicals.

• Traditional in Provence farmhouses for keeping stone and wood floors spotless.
  

Yes – olive oil soap can even be used as a dishwashing product:

• Cuts through grease on plates, pots, and pans.

• 100% natural and biodegradable, so it won’t harm rivers or seas when it goes down the drain.

• Long-lasting solid bars make a plastic-free alternative to liquid dish soaps.

Olive oil soap isn’t just for cleaning – it has long been used as a natural remedy and is ideal as a travel companion!

• Gentle enough for sensitive skin.

• Applied with cool water, it can help soothe the irritation of insect bites and stings.

• Can be placed under your pillow or sheets to ease muscle cramps.

It doesn't have to be plain and fragrance free! Olive oil is frequently used as a key ingredient in fragranced soap bars. Normally blended with other plant based oils you still get the benefits of the olive oil alongside a product that perhaps feels more of a luxury! 

French Soaps say: olive oil soap is the original all-in-one multi-purpose soap.  From your body to your home and eco-friendly zero waste too. Sustainable living without compromise.