Marseille’s most historic Savonnerie

Fer à Cheval is the oldest surviving soap factory in Marseille and one of the historic guardians of authentic Savon de Marseille.

Founded in 1856, the Savonnerie continues to produce traditional vegetable oil soap using the classic Marseille cauldron method — a slow, meticulous process that has defined the region’s soapmaking for generations.

Today Fer à Cheval remains independently owned and one of the very few manufacturers still producing genuine Savon de Marseille in Marseille itself.

A Living Heritage of Marseille Soap

For more than 165 years Fer à Cheval has preserved the traditional knowledge of Marseille soapmaking, passing techniques from one generation of soapmakers to the next.

This long continuity of craft has earned the Savonnerie the prestigious Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant (EPV) designation — an official recognition from the French state for companies that preserve exceptional artisanal and industrial expertise.

Fer à Cheval is also a founding member of the Union des Professionnels du Savon de Marseille, the organisation responsible for protecting the authenticity and definition of traditional Savon de Marseille.

Traditional Cauldron Soapmaking

Authentic Savon de Marseille is defined not only by its ingredients but by its method of production.

At Fer à Cheval, vegetable oils are slowly saponified in large traditional cauldrons before being washed, purified and dried. This extended process produces a dense, long-lasting vegetable soap naturally rich in glycerin and free from unnecessary additives.

The Savonnerie in Marseille remains one of the few places where this traditional production method is still practiced at scale.

Savon de Marseille for Everyday Life

Historically Savon de Marseille was never a specialised product. The same soap was used for washing skin, clothing and household surfaces.

Fer à Cheval continues this tradition today with a range that includes:

• traditional Savon de Marseille cubes
• laundry soaps and soap flakes
• household cleaning products based on vegetable soap

and newer products that have expanded their range, based on their core formula include 
• fragranced liquid and bar soaps
• Ready to use fragranced home cleaning soaps

These products reflect the practical versatility that made Marseille soap a household essential across Europe.

A Historic Soap Factory in Marseille

Fer à Cheval’s soap factory remains located in Marseille and is recognised as part of the city’s industrial heritage and  now protected as a 'historic monument' by the French Government. 

Today visitors can still see traditional soap production taking place in the historic workshop — a rare opportunity to witness a craft that has shaped Marseille’s identity for centuries.