THE ART OF SOAP MAKING

Craftswoman holding L'OCCITANE Bonne Mère Soap Bar and stamp used in the manufacturing process, Savon de Marseille, Provence Craftswoman holding L'OCCITANE Bonne Mère Soap Bar and stamp used in the manufacturing process, Savon de Marseille, Provence

The Art of Soap Collection looks to L’OCCITANE’s roots, finding inspiration in Provence and its heritage of simple solutions for well-being. This collection reflects not only the colours, scents and ingredients of this region, but also its spirit - an art of living that embraces simple pleasures.

Redefining Tradition

The Provençal art of soap is a savoir-faire that has been passed down by craftsmen and craftswomen who have made artisanal soap for generations in the countryside and villages surrounding Marseille, in the south of France. Our own soap story begins in one of these tiny villages, with the Savonnerie de Mane. In 1980, just as the first seeds of L'OCCITANE's story were being sown, Olivier Baussan founded a soap factory, with knowledge passed down to him from a master soap-maker, and our long history with soap making began. From these beginnings, Mr. Baussan endeavoured to reinvent and reinterpret the recipes he inherited while remaining true to their origins.

Inspiration

The Art of Soap Collection revisits the origins of L'OCCITANE through memory, a crucial ingredient in every one of our products that connects us to our heritage. It's these memories of just washed linens drying in the sun and freshly scrubbed hands after a day's work in the garden that inspire us to celebrate this Art de Vivre Provençal, shining a light on the ingredients and evoking the minimalist philosophy that has shaped the art of soap-making in Provence for centuries, a legacy that L'OCCITANE EN PROVENCE continues today.

Made with at least 78% vegetable oils, such as sunflower, coconut and olive oil, our simple formulations delicately cleanse the skin, leaving it gently perfumed after each use. The addition of Provence's iconic ingredients -like Verbena extract, Almond, Olive Oils or Lavender Fine essential oil, that elevate these simple soaps to the sublime. Vibrant hues and evocative scents are balanced by a modern, sleek aesthetic that pays tribute to these natural soaps as the true works of art they are.

L'OCCITANE Bonne Mère Collection, Lemon and Tangerine, Linden and Sweet Orange, Rhubarb and Basil, Rosemary and Clary Sage, Pure Soap L'OCCITANE Bonne Mère Collection, Lemon and Tangerine, Linden and Sweet Orange, Rhubarb and Basil, Rosemary and Clary Sage, Pure Soap
L'OCCITANE Bonne Mère Rosemary & Clary Sage Soap, Fresh Rosemary from Provence, Vegetable Oil in conical flask, Natural Ingredients L'OCCITANE Bonne Mère Rosemary & Clary Sage Soap, Fresh Rosemary from Provence, Vegetable Oil in conical flask, Natural Ingredients

Tradition Meets Modernity

Balancing the simplicity of tradition and the art of modernity has been the cornerstone of L'OCCITANE's philosophy since the beginning. Our Art of Soap Collection perfectly embodies this harmony through its reinterpretations of traditional artisan soap, including the well-known Savon de Marseille.

Our recipes celebrate authenticity and quality through traditional techniques and ingredients: each of our artisanal soaps is cauldron cooked and composed of at least 78% vegetable oil. And while our recipes remain loyal to their heritage, we have added our own touches of modernity ushering in a new era of innovative soap-making.

Our Local Ingredients

Our iconic ingredients are synonymous with the South of France and are sourced locally in Provence, with the exception of our Shea Butter.

Our PDO Lavender Fine is distilled to the northeast on the Plateau de Sault, and to the south, in the heart of Provence, where we find our Verbena producers, Philippe and Magalie Mary.

Our Almond Oil from Provence is produced just down the road by our neighbour Jean-Pierre Jaubert in the Plateau de Valensole. Other iconic ingredients are found further afield but the same attention to quality and ethical sourcing is applied.

The Art of Soap Making, Natural Soap Bars, Ingredients, Freshly Picked Olives, Blossoming Cherry Blossom Trees, Freshly Picked French Lavender, Lavender Relaxing Exfoliating Body Soap, Respecting Biodiversity, Reducing Waste, Sustainable, Caring for the Environment Natural, Fair Trade The Art of Soap Making, Natural Soap Bars, Ingredients, Freshly Picked Olives, Blossoming Cherry Blossom Trees, Freshly Picked French Lavender, Lavender Relaxing Exfoliating Body Soap, Respecting Biodiversity, Reducing Waste, Sustainable, Caring for the Environment Natural, Fair Trade

But even as we look to the future, we find inspiration in our past. Since L'OCCITANE's very beginnings, our art has been creating products that bridge simplicity and innovation, products that are at once rooted in time and timeless. More than two decades later, the result of this delicate balance can be seen in our new and reformulated Art of Soap Collection.

Like all artisans, we have spent years perfecting our craft and elevating it to art. Since the early 2000s, we have renewed our dedication to revisiting and refining The Art of Soap. Our formulas have continued to improve as we develop new techniques and perfect our own recipes, in partnership with our soap-makers, compelled by our commitment to our craft and to the planet.


Environmental Impact

In our continual effort to minimise our impact on the environment, we have modernised the cauldrons we use for maximum efficiency. These new cauldrons are closed and use steam for a more uniform heating process, instead of using coal or wood-fire to heat from below. These cauldrons are able to reach the necessary temperatures in less time using less energy, significantly reducing energy consumption in our soap production.

Woman's hand covered with coal, L'OCCITANE Uses Sustainable Methods of Production, Cauldrons heated with Steam Woman's hand covered with coal, L'OCCITANE Uses Sustainable Methods of Production, Cauldrons heated with Steam
Woman holding L'OCCITANE Bonne Mère Extra Pure Soaps, Savon de Marseille, Provence Woman holding L'OCCITANE Bonne Mère Extra Pure Soaps, Savon de Marseille, Provence

Commitment To Sustainability

Our Natural Soap Bar recipes, contain an average of 95% ingredients that are easily biodegradable and recyclable packaging, or no packaging when possible, to ensure we continue our commitment to sustainability up and down the production line. Furthermore, by 2023 we have pledged to remove palm oil from all the soaps on the shelves of L'OCCITANE EN PROVENCE boutiques around the World, starting with our Art de Vivre soaps and now our Art of Soap Collection, which are all palm free.