Savon de Marseille, tradtional French soap

Savon de Marseille, like Opinel knives, is a treasured part of French country life. It is an artisanal olive oil soap that's been made for some 600 years near Marseille using traditional methods and ingredients. The huge 1kg (2.2lbs) blocks were, and still are, often found next to farm, factory, and bike shop sinks, as well as in homes all over the French countryside.

Like Opinel knives, this soap is something that I have used for many years. I find that it cleans and moisturizes in a way that modern factory-made soaps don't. I use it for hands, body and hair. It doesn't have that strong chemical-like perfume of modern soaps; instead it is mildly scented with bay leaf. I also like that it doesn't leave skin feeling dry. It really is quite different from modern soap. 

The 1kg blocks last very very long time. But if you don't want that much we also stock it in 600gm (1.3lbs) blocks. I cut some into small bars, with a bread knife (my Opinel isn't big enough), for camping and travel. Keep spare blocks in a plastic bag so they don't dry out. There is more about Savon de Marseille and how it's made in this Wikipedia article.