Savon de Marseille Specialists - Since 2012

Proper Soap - Packed and Dispatched from North Yorkshire

For Washing, Laundry & Cleaning
Soap Flakes for Laundry

Soap Flakes for Laundry



Soap Flakes are one of the simplest ways to wash your laundry with soap. Dissolve them in hot water to make a liquid laundry soap at home, then use it in your washing machine or for hand washing.

We stock Traditional Savon de Marseille and Aleppo Soap Flakes alongside cold-saponified coconut oil flakes from Maison Berthe Guilhem, fragranced with essential oils. They're all soap flakes, and they're all used in much the same way, but the soap itself and the way it's made can be quite different.

If you're new to Soap Flakes, start here. We run through how to make them up, how much to use and help you choose where to begin.

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Soap Flakes for Washing Machines 

Make the soap liquid first 

We recommend dissolving soap flakes in hot water before using them in a washing machine rather than adding dry flakes directly to the drum or drawer. 

This gives the soap the opportunity to dissolve before the wash begins and makes it easier to measure from one load to the next. 

The amount of soap and the way you use it will depend on the formulation, the laundry and your water. Our traditional laundry guide explains our starting method, including how to make up liquid soap from flakes and how much to use. 

Which Soap Flakes Should I Buy? 

Choose Natural Marseille Soap Flakes if you want a fragrance-free, neutral formulation, or Olive Oil Marseille Soap Flakes if you want the character of traditional olive-based Marseille soap. 

Choose Aleppo Soap Flakes if you specifically want an olive and laurel oil formulation or Pyrenean Soap Flakes if fragrance matters more to you. And if you're still undecided, start with a Soap Flake Trial Pack. 

Frequently Asked Questions 

Q: What is the difference between Marseille Soap Flakes and other soap flakes? 

A: Savon de Marseille Soap Flakes are flakes of Marseille soap, so their identity comes from the soap itself and how it is made. Other soap flakes may use different oils and completely different soap-making processes. “Soap flakes” tells you the format; “Savon de Marseille” tells you much more about the soap. 

Q: Are your soap flakes fragranced? 

A: Some are and some aren't. Our traditional Savon de Marseille and Aleppo options are available without added fragrance, while the Maison Berthe Guilhem Pyrenean Soap Flakes are fragranced with essential oils. Check each product before choosing. 

Q: What are soap flakes? 

A: Soap flakes are finished soap cut, shaved or produced in small flakes so that it can be dissolved more readily in water. They are a format of soap rather than a separate type of detergent. 

  • Traditional Marseille or Aleppo Soap Flakes?

    Our Traditional Savon de Marseille Flakes are hot-saponified vegetable oil soap made in Marseille, while Aleppo Soap is traditionally made from olive and laurel oils. Both are fragrance-free and both have a long history of being used for laundry.

    For most people starting with Soap Flakes, I'd begin with Traditional Savon de Marseille. If you already use and like Aleppo Soap, there's absolutely no reason not to wash your laundry with that instead.

  • What about our fragranced Soap Flakes?

    Maison Berthe Guilhem make theirs rather differently. They're made from cold-saponified coconut oil soap and fragranced with essential oils, so they're not Traditional Savon de Marseille and we don't pretend that they are.

    They are simply another way to wash with soap, and a particularly lovely one if you want the fragrance to be part of your laundry soap rather than adding it separately.

  • Soap, Washing Machines and Soap Scum

    There is quite a lot of conflicting advice about using soap in modern washing machines, and some washing-machine manufacturers and plumbers advise against using traditional soap flakes because of the possibility of soap deposits building up in the machine.

    It is a valid concern. Soap can contribute to what we commonly call soap scum, particularly if too much soap is used, it isn't properly dissolved or you repeatedly wash at low temperatures. Hard water can make this more of an issue too.

    It doesn't mean you can't wash with Soap Flakes, but it does mean it's worth looking after your machine. Don't use more soap than you need, make sure your flakes are properly dissolved before use and regularly run a cleaning cycle to remove any build-up.

    We use white vinegar or citric acid for this. Both help break down the limescale and soap deposits that can accumulate over time, and a regular hot cleaning cycle keeps on top of it.

Proper soap, since 2012
Packed and dispatched from North Yorkshire.

Unit 14, Ousegill Business Park, Carr Side Road, Great Ouseburn, YO26 9AE