Traditional Soap Specialists — Savon de Marseille, Aleppo Soap & Provençal Soap
French Soaps is a UK specialist retailer dedicated to traditional soap. Established in 2012 and based in North Yorkshire, we focus on Savon de Marseille, Aleppo soap and Provençal vegetable-oil soaps produced using established soapmaking methods.
These soaps belong to long traditions of practical soapmaking where plant oils are transformed into durable soaps used for washing, laundry and household cleaning. Their value lies in their simplicity: reliable soap made from straightforward ingredients and designed for everyday use.
Our role is to make these traditional soaps more widely available in the United Kingdom while preserving the knowledge that surrounds them.
A Focus on Traditional Soap
Savon de Marseille and Aleppo soap are among the most recognisable soap traditions in the world. Made from simple plant oils and cooked in large soap cauldrons, they produce dense, long-lasting bars valued for their reliability and versatility.
Over time these soaps became essential household products across southern Europe and the Mediterranean. Their usefulness came directly from their composition: straightforward soap made from oils, water and alkali, without unnecessary additives.
French Soaps focuses on these traditional formulations because they represent a different philosophy of cleansing — practical soaps designed to do many everyday jobs well.
Working with Established Savonneries
Our range is sourced from established savonneries in Provence, Marseille and beyond. Many of these producers continue soapmaking traditions that have been refined over generations.
Each savonnerie brings its own expertise. Some specialise in traditional Marseille soap cooked in large cauldrons, while others focus on Aleppo soap maturation or the perfumed soap traditions associated with Provence and Grasse.
By working directly with these makers we are able to offer a range that reflects the diversity of traditional soapmaking rather than a single interpretation of it.
Traditional Soap in the Modern Home
For generations Marseille soap and Aleppo soap were everyday household staples. A single bar might be used for personal washing, laundry, stain treatment or household cleaning.
Today many households are rediscovering the practicality of these traditional soaps. Their durability, versatility and simple formulations make them a straightforward alternative to many modern specialised products.
A UK-Based Specialist
French Soaps operates from North Yorkshire in the United Kingdom, supplying customers across the UK with authentic soaps sourced from traditional savonneries.
Orders are packed and dispatched from our Yorkshire base, allowing customers to access authentic Marseille and Aleppo soaps without importing directly from overseas retailers.
Proper Soap
Traditional soap remains one of the simplest and most effective forms of cleansing. Made from plant oils and water, it has served households for generations.
French Soaps exists to present these soaps clearly and honestly — not as lifestyle products, but as practical, well-made soaps that continue to do their job exceptionally well.
Beyond Soap
Alongside traditional soaps we also offer a small range of related products including natural deodorants, body balms, toothpaste tablets, soap dishes and home fragrance.
These products are chosen for the same reason as the soaps themselves: simple formulations, practical usefulness and a close connection to traditional craft production.
They sit alongside the soap traditions that remain the focus of French Soaps.