Savonnerie Fer à Cheval

Savonnerie Fer à Cheval is one of the most respected manufacturers of authentic Savon de Marseille, operating continuously from its Marseille factory since 1856. In an era when industrial alternatives have displaced countless traditional crafts, Fer à Cheval stands as one of a small handful of manufacturers who produce genuine Savon de Marseille according to the traditional process that dates back over 600 years to the first royal decrees regulating Marseille soap production under Louis XIV. The authentic Marseille soap process involves cooking vegetable oils — a minimum of 72% of the total composition — in large cauldrons called chaudières with water and soda ash over several days, salting the mixture to separate the soap paste, then washing, drying, and cutting the characteristic cubic blocks by hand. The Fer à Cheval factory at 66 Chemin de Sainte-Marthe in Marseille has been classified as a Historic Monument — one of only 90 buildings in Marseille to hold this distinction, and the only soap factory. Guided visits are free and open to the public year-round, allowing visitors to observe each stage of the traditional method from an observation gallery above the active production floor. The factory boutique offers the full range: the iconic pure vegetable Marseille soap cube in olive and vegetable oil versions, liquid soaps, black soap, and natural household cleaning products. Fer à Cheval is a founding member of the Union des Professionnels du Savon de Marseille, holds the Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant label, and carries the Origine France Garantie certification.