“Marseille soap” is not protected as a geographical indication, so the name alone does not guarantee how or where a bar was made. That makes “authentic” a claim about meeting a standard someone chose. This guide sets out the best-known standard, shows how to read an ingredient list against it, and lists exactly what is in our own Marseille soaps.
We sell Marseille soaps made by Savonnerie Alpilles, so read this with that in mind. For the wider background, see our guide to using Marseille soap and our explainer on what Marseille soap is.
“Savon de Marseille” is not a protected geographical indication: the INPI database lists the trade group UPSM's application as rejected, and the Aix appeal court dismissed its appeal on 3 March 2025.
The UPSM says a traditional Marseille soap has at most four ingredients, no perfume, colorant, preservative or additive, at least 72% vegetable oil, and a five-step kettle process in the Bouches-du-Rhône.
The 72% is vegetable oil, not olive oil alone: the UPSM page names olive pomace oil and coconut oil as examples of the oils it allows.
Read the ingredient list, not the name. Our scented Authentic Marseille Soap lists Parfum, two chelating agents and a colorant, while our olive oil cube lists five ingredients and no fragrance.
Is “Savon de Marseille” a Protected Name?
No. It is not a protected geographical indication in France, and two attempts to protect it have been rejected. As of September 2026, the INPI's geographical-indications database lists the UPSM’s application (IG 15-003, filed December 2015) with the legal status “Demande rejetée” (application rejected). The Aix-en-Provence appeal court dismissed the UPSM’s appeal on 3 March 2025.
An earlier application to protect the name across all of France was also refused, and the Cour de cassation upheld that refusal on 16 March 2022. Localtis reports that the dispute is over scope: some producers want the name limited to a geographic area such as the Bouches-du-Rhône, others want it tied to the manufacturing process.
In practice, the name on the front of the pack does not by itself tell you what is inside or where the bar was made.
What Does the UPSM Say a Traditional Marseille Soap Is?
The UPSM (Union des Professionnels du Savon de Marseille), a trade association of soap makers, publishes the best-known standard. Its website says a traditional Marseille soap must meet three criteria:
- Ingredients: four at most, and always without perfume, colorant, preservative or additive. Only vegetable fats are used (the UPSM page names olive pomace oil and coconut oil as examples), with soda, water and sea salt, and the soap must contain at least 72% vegetable oil.
- Process: a five-step kettle method: saponification, salting-out, cooking, washing and liquidation.
- Origin: the Bouches-du-Rhône department, the historic Marseille production area.
That is a trade-group charter, not a law, and the UPSM is one side of the dispute described above. Note what the 72% refers to: vegetable oil, not olive oil alone.
How Do You Read a Marseille Soap Ingredient List?
Match each INCI name to what it is, then compare it with the standard you care about. The table sets each common name against the UPSM criteria above; it does not grade a bar.
| INCI name | What it is | Against the UPSM criteria |
|---|---|---|
| Sodium olivate | Saponified olive oil | A vegetable oil |
| Sodium cocoate | Saponified coconut oil | A vegetable oil (the UPSM page names coconut oil) |
| Sodium palmate, Sodium palm kernelate | Saponified palm oil and palm kernel oil | A vegetable oil; the UPSM page does not name palm in its examples |
| Aqua | Water | Part of the process |
| Sodium chloride | Salt | Used in the salting-out step |
| Sodium hydroxide | Soda (lye), which turns the oils into soap | Part of the process |
| Glycerin | A by-product of making soap | Not one of the four ingredients the UPSM lists; its page says traces can remain after washing |
| Butyrospermum parkii butter | Shea butter, a plant butter | Not one of the four ingredients the UPSM lists |
| Parfum / Fragrance | A fragrance blend | The UPSM criteria say no perfume |
| CI 77891 or another CI number | A colorant (CI 77891 is titanium dioxide) | The UPSM criteria say no colorant |
| Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium etidronate | Chelating agents, which bind metal ions | The UPSM criteria say no additive |
What Else Can You Check Before You Buy?
Four things, none of which needs a lab:
- The ingredient list: it shows which oils are used and whether fragrance, colorant or other additives are in the bar.
- The maker and place of manufacture: because the name is not protected, “Marseille” on the pack does not tell you where or how it was made, so look for the maker stated on the label or product page.
- What a percentage refers to: on the UPSM's page, 72% means vegetable oil.
- Whether it is scented: under the UPSM criteria a traditional Marseille soap has no perfume, but scented bars are still sold under the name.
Featured in this guide
Authentic Marseille Soap
Palm and palm kernel oil soap base with shea butter and glycerin, made by Savonnerie Alpilles in more than 30 scents. The full ingredient list is on the product page.
Shop now → ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee · Free shipping over $75
Featured in this guide
Traditional Olive Oil Marseille Soap Cube
An olive oil soap cube made by Savonnerie Alpilles. Ingredients: Sodium Olivate, Aqua, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride, Sodium Hydroxide.
Shop now → ✓ 30-day money-back guarantee · Free shipping over $75What Is in Our Own Marseille Soaps?
Both are made by Savonnerie Alpilles. The product page for our Authentic Marseille Soap describes a soap base of saponified palm and palm kernel oils (Sodium Palmate, Sodium Palm Kernelate) with shea butter and glycerin, sold in more than 30 scents. Its full ingredient list includes Parfum, Tetrasodium EDTA, Tetrasodium Etidronate and CI 77891, and the page says ingredients vary by scent.
The product page for our Traditional Olive Oil Marseille Soap Cube lists Sodium Olivate, Aqua, Glycerin, Sodium Chloride and Sodium Hydroxide, with no fragrance.
We are not claiming on this page that either bar meets the UPSM's criteria or any other single definition. Compare the lists above with the standard you care about.
FAQ
Is Marseille soap a protected name?
No. The INPI database lists the UPSM's application as rejected, and the Aix appeal court dismissed the UPSM's appeal on 3 March 2025, so the name is not a protected geographical indication.
Does Marseille soap have to be made in Marseille?
Not legally, because the name is not protected. The UPSM's own criteria name the Bouches-du-Rhône department, where Marseille sits, as the traditional origin.
Does Marseille soap have to be made with olive oil?
The UPSM page says at least 72% vegetable oil and names olive pomace oil and coconut oil as examples; it does not say olive oil only. Our Authentic Marseille Soap uses palm and palm kernel oils, and our olive oil cube uses olive oil.
Is a scented bar still a Marseille soap?
Under the UPSM's criteria a traditional Marseille soap has no perfume, so scented bars fall outside that standard. Because the name is not protected, scented bars are still sold as Marseille soap, including ours; check the ingredient list for Parfum.
See Our Marseille Soap Ingredient Lists — 30-Day Guarantee