Gifting couldn't be easier
Add a gift message to be emailed to when their parcel arrives, or at a time of your choice.
MAISON BERTHE GUILHEM
Couldn't load pickup availability
STANDARD DELIVERY - £3.95 (tracked 48hr)
NEXT DAY DELIVERY* Free over £50 or £4.95
ORDER BY 11AM SATURDAY FOR SUNDAY DELIVERY*
CLICK & COLLECT - Free
Order by phone: 01423 803080
Made in Ariège in the Pyrenees
📐
Botanical Laundry Soap with Essential Oil
These botanical soap flakes are a traditional laundry soap made from cold-saponified vegetable oils, lightly fragranced with pure patchouli essential oil.
Produced from organic sunflower and coconut oils, the soap cleans fabrics effectively while remaining gentle on fibres and skin. The flakes dissolve easily in warm water and can be used for both machine washing and hand washing.
Because the formulation is based on true soap rather than synthetic detergents, it washes clothing thoroughly while avoiding optical brighteners, enzymes and artificial fragrances.
The Character of Patchouli
Patchouli essential oil has a long association with textiles.
Historically it was used in the transport of fine Indian fabrics and shawls, where its distinctive aroma helped protect garments from insects. Today it remains valued for its warm, earthy scent and its naturally deodorising qualities.
In laundry, patchouli leaves fabrics with a subtle, grounding fragrance rather than the strong perfumes common in many detergents.
Cold-Saponified Vegetable Soap
This laundry soap is produced by cold saponification, a traditional soapmaking method where vegetable oils react with alkali to form soap and natural glycerin.
The resulting formulation provides:
• effective cleansing from coconut oil soap
• fabric-friendly conditioning from sunflower oil
• naturally retained glycerin that helps prevent fabrics becoming dry or brittle
This simple soap structure allows dirt and oils to lift from fibres and rinse away cleanly.
Suitable for Everyday Laundry
These flakes can be used for:
• everyday clothing
• bedding and household textiles
• delicate fabrics
• hand washing garments
• homemade liquid laundry soap
They dissolve easily in warm water and work well in both machine washing and hand washing.
Laundry Tips
For whitening or heavier cleaning, sodium percarbonate can be added to the wash.
White vinegar used occasionally as a fabric rinse helps soften fabrics and prevents mineral deposits from forming in washing machines.
Sodium Sunflowerseedate **
A gentle organic vegetable soap that cleans effectively while caring for fabrics.
Sodium Cocoate **
A natural soap derived from organic coconut oil, valued for lifting grease and stubborn odours.
Aqua (Water)
Ensures even dissolution of the soap flakes.
Glycerin **
Naturally produced during saponification to help maintain fabric softness.
Pogostemon cablin (Patchouli) Leaf Oil *
An organic essential oil with a deep, earthy aroma. Traditionally deodorising, antibacterial, antifungal, and used to help repel moths and insects.
Sodium Chloride
Helps stabilise the soap structure.
Citric Acid
Balances the formula and improves rinsability.
Tetrasodium Glutamate Diacetate
A readily biodegradable chelating agent that enhances performance in hard water.
Sodium Hydroxide
Used during soap making to saponify the oils. Fully reacted and not present in the finished product.
* Ingredients from Organic Agriculture
** Made using organic ingredients
Sodium sunflowerseedate**, sodium cocoate**, aqua, glycerin**, pogostemon cablin leaf oil*, sodium chloride, citric acid, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, sodium hydroxide.
* Ingrédients issus de l’Agriculture Biologique
** Fabriqué à partir d’ingrédients biologiques
Contains Patchouli essential oil (Pogostemon cablin), a naturally occurring fragrance ingredient. Free from synthetic fragrance, dyes, enzymes, optical brighteners, and preservatives.
Those with very sensitive skin or fragrance sensitivities are advised to test on a small wash before regular use.
Each pack provides approximately 200 washes, making it an exceptionally economical and low-waste laundry solution.
This impressive longevity comes from the highly concentrated nature of true soap flakes. With no added fillers, thickeners, or synthetic bulking agents, only a small amount is needed per wash. The flakes dissolve fully and work efficiently, even in cooler washes and short cycles.
Fewer washes per pack also means:
Less packaging over time
Fewer repeat purchases
Lower transport and environmental impact
It’s a clear example of how traditional formulations often outperform modern detergents, delivering both performance and long-term value without compromise.
Directions for Use
Prepare a Liquid Soap in Advance
Dissolve around 20g of soap flakes
in 1 litre of boiling water.
Allow to cool and store in a bottle or reused liquid detergent container.
Hand
Dissolve a handful of soap flakes in 2 litres of boiling water.
Allow to cool slightly before washing, or use the prepared liquid soap with extra hot water.
Wash thoroughly, then rinse well.
Machine
Shake the prepared soap mixture well. Pour 40–50ml into the detergent drawer of your machine.
Maison Berthe Guilhem is an artisan family savonnerie that hand make all their soaps.
Berthe Guilhem made her first goat's milk soaps in 1956 alongside ointments and the famous gardener's balm. Initially she made all the products for herself, her children, friends and neighbours.
Today Marc & Jean-Luc, Berthe Guilhem's grandsons, and their families, continue using her original methodology and recipes that adhere to strict and uncompromising respect for their formulations and for the environment.
Their believe "you can work in a human-sized laboratory, maintain an artisanal identity while manufacturing effective, efficient and state-of-the-art organic cosmetic products."
Marc Guilhem, grandson of Berthe Guilhem, is also a former student of the European Center for Applied Naturopathy
Creamy and durable, our soaps are made by hand
Maison Berthe Guilhem use a cold saponification method; The combination of organic vegetable oils and organic goat's milk in an unaltered state gives them exceptional results. Always cold, the formulation is kneaded before being vigorously pressed and molded. The soaps are hand cut and stamped after several weeks of drying. Their lifespan is extended due to their low percentage of humidity (8 to 10%).
100% natural ingredients
They make all their own infusions, decoctions, macerations and mother tinctures ensuring they make the best use of their natural properties.
What is cold saponification?
Cold saponification is the result of a mixture of soda in water, then later in oil. This manufacturing method is called Cold Saponification because it does not use the heat like traditional Savon de Marseille: The heat is naturally induced by the addition of soda to the water and then to the Oil that raises the temperature of the mixture until it blends. Once this process has occurred the ‘soap’ is left to dry for several weeks before Organic Goats Milk and other ingredients for example Avocado Oil, Shea Butter or Essential Oils are added.
Certified organic natural artisanal know-how
The Berthe Guilhem laboratory is certified to the National Agency for the Safety of Medicines and Health Products (A.N.S.M.). The majority of products are labeled COSMEBIO and certified organic QUALITÉ FRANCE and COSMECERT. At each stage of their manufacture, they are subject to dermatological tests and quality controls proving their safety. These tests, carried out by an independent laboratory, are done on healthy volunteers.
Berthe Guilhem: highly organic products
Maison Berthe Guilhem ensures the quality of its products and their composition. They all contain between 55% and 100% organic ingredients, which is very important compared to the 20% needed to obtain an organic certification!
Call us old fashioned if you want. We are real humans who love our landline telephone.
If you have any questions about our products or your order, please call us T.01423 803080 or email bonjour@frenchsoaps.co.uk.
You can also read our FAQs here
DELIVERY
All orders are sent from North Yorkshire without any additional taxes or charges.
ORDERS OVER £50
FREE Priority Delivery with Royal Mail 24hr* or DHL Next Working Day.
Order by 1pm Mon - Fri for DHL.
Order by 4pm Mon- Fri or 11am Saturday for Royal Mail
Royal Mail: Saturday is a standard working day. Sunday delivery: They deliver in most areas on a Sunday for orders collected Saturday lunchtime and sent on 24hr tracked.
DHL deliver Monday - Friday, at peak seasonal times and in some areas they deliver Saturday, this is not something in our control and do not advise you to rely on this. Use Royal Mail for weekend delivery.
Signed for - this is the same as Royal Mail tracked 24hr with the inclusion of a signature on delivery. These parcels will not be left if you are out.
ORDERS UNDER £50
STANDARD DELIVERY Royal Mail, 3-5 working days: £3.95
PRIORITY DELIVERY Royal Mail tracked 24hr or DHL Next Working Day: £4.95
LOCAL DELIVERY
FREE - We delivery locally on a Thursday. Order value above £15 for free delivery. If you shipping postcode is within our catchment this will be offered to you at the checkout.
_____________
*ISLANDS & HIGHLANDS & NI Tracked Royal Mail 24hr or 48hr: Deliveries may take longer, this is beyond our control.
_____________
COLLECTION
FREE from our warehouse in North Yorskhire.
Monday - Friday 8:30- 4:30pm and Saturday morning 8:30 - 11:30am.
_____________
I mixed these to wash a pure wool jumper in my washing machine and the results were outstanding. The cream jumper is perfectly clean and smells beautiful. Also, can’t believe how economical these will be.
I bought the trial pack to start and was impressed. It seems to wash well and I like the fact there isn't lots of nasty ingredients. I am converted to this now !
Am pleasantly surprised at the cleaning power of the laundry soap flakes! Guilt free washing for a change. No nasty chemicals or unneccessary additives. Scent not as strong as I would have liked but will definitely buy again.
Easy to make up and use. Smells divine and very economical
Live the smell with clothes
We love these soap flakes. The smell is great, washes well and lasts forever. Very economical. Second purchase and won't be the last.
This is the 3rd time I have bought these I just love them. It actually works out more economical too.
Leaves a subtle scent of patchouli and fabric really soft
Telephone or Whats App: 01423 803080
Email: bonjour@frenchsoaps.co.uk
Social: @FrenchsoapsUK
Address: Unit 14 Ousegill Business Park, Carr Side Road, Great Ouseburn, North Yorkshire, YO26 9AE
Sign up for our newsletter and get all the latest news, offers and more delivered straight to your inbox. You can unsubscribe at any time. By 'submitting' you are agreeing to our T&C's and Privacy Policy.
Gifting couldn't be easier
Add a gift message to be emailed to when their parcel arrives, or at a time of your choice.