FER À CHEVAL

Fer à Cheval Savon de Marseille, Liquid Soap & French Soap Bars

Discover Savonnerie Fer à Cheval, the historic French soap factory preserving the traditions of Marseille soapmaking since 1856.

Based in Marseille, Fer à Cheval continues to make soap using expertise passed through generations of master soapmakers.  Its traditional Savon de Marseille is created through slow saponification in cauldrons according to the historic Marseille method, while its contemporary liquid and perfumed soaps bring that soapmaking heritage into the modern bathroom and home.

Malmaison's current Fer à Cheval edit centres on beautifully practical Marseille liquid soaps, fragrance-free soap, gentle perfumed soap bars and selected French bathroom gift sets, with fragrances such as Fig Leaves, Rose Petal and Energising Lavender available according to the current collection.

These are products that reflect something Malmaison particularly values about French living - everyday objects with genuine history behind them, designed not simply to be admired but to be used.

Explore our French Soaps, Bathroom Accessories, Andrée Jardin and Bath Towels collections for more pieces designed to bring beauty and practicality to everyday bathroom rituals.

Discover the Malmaison Fer à Cheval Edit

Marseille Liquid Soap

Fer à Cheval's Marseille liquid soaps bring generations of soapmaking expertise into an easy everyday format for the bathroom or kitchen.

Cooked in cauldrons and naturally rich in glycerine, selected formulas combine a vegetable-oil cleansing base with ingredients chosen for a gentle, comfortable wash.

Malmaison's collection may include fragrance-free Marseille liquid soap, olive oil liquid soap and perfumed varieties such as Fig Leaves, Rose Petal and Energising Lavender, depending on current availability.

Use them beside the bathroom basin, in a guest powder room or at the kitchen sink where the simple French presentation can become part of the room rather than something that needs to be hidden away.

Fragrance-Free Marseille Liquid Soap

For those who prefer soap without added fragrance, Fer à Cheval's fragrance-free Marseille liquid soap offers a particularly simple option.

Made in France and cooked in cauldrons, the formula is fragrance free and dye free and is naturally rich in glycerine.

Its understated character makes it equally suitable for a bathroom or kitchen and particularly appealing to customers who prefer to avoid unnecessary fragrance in everyday hand and body care.

Gentle Perfumed Soap Bars

Fer à Cheval's gentle perfumed soaps bring a more sensory character to the company's Marseille heritage.

Formulated with a Marseille soap base and enriched with selected plant oils and butters according to the individual formula, the bars are designed for everyday hand and body cleansing.

Fragrances such as Fig Leaves, Rose Petal and Energising Lavender take their inspiration from Provence, bringing floral, green and aromatic notes to a traditional French household staple.

Their compact size and beautifully considered presentation also make them an easy addition to guest bathrooms, powder rooms and small gift collections.

Andrée Jardin x Fer à Cheval Bathroom Sets

Two French houses come together in the selected Andrée Jardin x Fer à Cheval bathroom sets carried by Malmaison.

Andrée Jardin contributes beautifully made French brushware and bathroom accessories, while Fer à Cheval brings authentic Marseille soapmaking heritage.

Beechwood brushes, soap holders and French soap create a bathroom setting centred on natural materials, traditional craftsmanship and objects made for regular use.

The collaboration feels particularly at home at Malmaison because it brings together two different French savoir-faire traditions within one practical everyday collection.

Marseille Soapmaking Since 1856

The Fer à Cheval story began in Marseille in the nineteenth century.

A candle factory was established in the Marseille countryside in 1850, and around 1856 part of the site was transformed into a soap factory. Fer à Cheval was born.

More than a century and a half later, soap continues to be produced in Marseille using knowledge passed through generations of master soapmakers.

Fer à Cheval describes itself as the oldest Marseille soap factory still in operation, preserving both the place and the skills associated with one of Provence's most recognisable household products.

Its Marseille factory itself has become part of that history and is listed as a French Historic Monument.

What Makes Authentic Savon de Marseille?

Traditional Savon de Marseille is defined by more than a name or a Provençal fragrance.

Authentic Marseille soap follows three fundamental principles: it is made from vegetable oils without added perfume, colourants or preservatives, it is saponified in cauldrons according to the traditional Marseille process, and it is made in Marseille or the surrounding Marseille region.

Fer à Cheval is a founding member of the Union des Professionnels du Savon de Marseille, an organisation established to protect and promote this traditional definition.

Traditional Fer à Cheval Marseille soap is therefore quite different from a decorative soap simply labelled "Marseille style" or scented to evoke Provence.

This distinction is an important part of what makes the Fer à Cheval heritage worth preserving.

The Traditional Marseille Process

Authentic Marseille soap cannot be hurried.

Fer à Cheval continues to saponify its soap in large cauldrons under the supervision of experienced master soapmakers, following a process handed down through generations.

Traditional production takes close to ten days, during which vegetable oils are transformed into soap through a sequence of cooking, washing and finishing stages.

The result is the extra-pure soap associated with the traditional Marseille method.

It is a process built around time, temperature and experience rather than speed, and it remains at the heart of Fer à Cheval's identity.

What Does 72% Mean on Savon de Marseille?

The familiar 72% marking found on traditional Savon de Marseille refers to the minimum proportion of active ingredients derived from vegetable oils or oil extracts in the finished soap.

The remaining portion is primarily water, which gradually evaporates as the soap ages.

This is one reason traditional Marseille soap may become harder, slightly smaller or lighter over time. Rather than indicating deterioration, these natural changes are characteristic of a soap that continues to dry after production.

Traditional Fer à Cheval Marseille soap contains no added fragrance, colourants or preservatives.

Traditional Marseille Soap & Perfumed French Soap

Fer à Cheval today makes both authentic traditional Savon de Marseille and a wider collection of contemporary French soaps.

The distinction is useful.

Traditional Savon de Marseille follows the classic fragrance-free formulation and Marseille manufacturing criteria.

Fer à Cheval's gentle perfumed soaps and Marseille liquid soaps draw on the company's soapmaking expertise but may also contain fragrance, glycerine, plant oils, shea butter or other ingredients according to the individual formula.

The perfumed range therefore offers a more sensory interpretation of Fer à Cheval's heritage, with fragrances inspired by Provence and formulas designed for contemporary everyday hand and body care.

Both belong to the Fer à Cheval story, but they should not be confused as exactly the same formulation.

Fig Leaves, Rose Petal & Lavender

Fragrance brings a softer, more expressive side to Fer à Cheval.

Fig Leaves has a fresh green character inspired by fig trees beneath the Provençal sun.

Rose Petal offers a more delicate floral fragrance, with the timeless character of rose given a contemporary French interpretation.

Energising Lavender draws on one of the aromatic plants most closely associated with Provence.

The fragrances allow customers to choose according to the mood of a bathroom or their own preference while retaining the unmistakable French identity of the brand.

For a quieter approach, fragrance-free Marseille liquid soap lets the soapmaking itself remain the focus.

A French Living Heritage

Fer à Cheval is not simply reproducing the appearance of historic Marseille soap.

Its continuing expertise has been recognised through the French Entreprise du Patrimoine Vivant, or Living Heritage Company, distinction, which recognises exceptional artisanal and industrial know-how.

The Marseille soap factory is also listed as a Historic Monument, acknowledging the site's importance to the city's nineteenth-century soapmaking heritage.

These distinctions help explain why Fer à Cheval occupies a different position from brands that simply borrow the words Marseille or Provence as part of their aesthetic.

Its story is connected to an actual place, an operating soap factory and skills that continue to be practised there.

Why Is It Called Fer à Cheval?

Fer à Cheval translates to horseshoe.

In nineteenth-century France, businesses were often given names or symbols associated with good fortune and prosperity.

Fer à Cheval's horseshoe emblem follows that tradition and is distinguished by seven nail holes, another traditional symbol of luck.

It is a small detail, but one that connects the identity of the brand directly with the period in which the Marseille soap factory was established.

French Soap for Everyday Living

One of the enduring qualities of French soap is that it belongs naturally to everyday life.

A beautiful bottle beside the kitchen sink, a bar of perfumed soap in a guest bathroom or traditional Marseille soap paired with a simple wooden soap dish can transform an ordinary practical object into something more considered.

There is no need to save these pieces for guests.

The pleasure lies in using them - washing hands after cooking, refreshing a bathroom, preparing a guest room or simply appreciating the scent and feel of a well-made French soap throughout the day.

Fer à Cheval brings history into these small moments without making them feel formal.

French Soap for Gifting

Fer à Cheval also makes a thoughtful gift for anyone who appreciates French craftsmanship, Provence or beautifully useful objects for the home.

Perfumed soap bars are ideal for smaller gifts, hosts, Mother's Day, housewarmings and French-inspired hampers.

For something more substantial, selected Andrée Jardin x Fer à Cheval bathroom sets combine French soap with beautifully made wooden bathroom accessories.

They are gifts that feel considered but remain practical - pieces intended to become part of everyday life rather than simply being put away.

Why Choose Fer à Cheval from Malmaison?

Malmaison has been curating authentic French and French-inspired homewares since 2003, with a particular appreciation for products that combine genuine provenance with practical everyday use.

Fer à Cheval fits naturally within that philosophy.

Rather than offering soap chosen simply for French-looking packaging, the collection connects customers with a working Marseille soap factory whose history reaches back to 1856.

Our current edit focuses on the Fer à Cheval pieces most suited to the Malmaison home - elegant liquid soaps for kitchens and bathrooms, perfumed French soap bars and selected collaborations with fellow French heritage brand Andrée Jardin.

Pair Fer à Cheval soap with French bathroom accessories, natural Haomy bath towels and simple wooden brushware to create a bathroom that feels collected rather than overly coordinated.

Helpful Notes & FAQs

What is Fer à Cheval and where is it made?

Fer à Cheval is a historic French soap factory based in Marseille, France.

Established in 1856, it continues to produce authentic Savon de Marseille as well as French liquid soaps, perfumed soaps and other household products using generations of Marseille soapmaking expertise.  The site began as a candle factory in 1850 before part of the operation was converted to soapmaking several years later.

Malmaison's current Fer à Cheval collection is made in France.

Is Fer à Cheval authentic Savon de Marseille?

Yes. Fer à Cheval is a founding member of the Union des Professionnels du Savon de Marseille and continues to manufacture authentic Savon de Marseille according to the traditional Marseille process.

However, it is useful to distinguish the company's traditional Savon de Marseille from its contemporary perfumed and liquid soap formulations, which contain additional ingredients according to the individual product.

What makes a soap authentic Savon de Marseille?

Traditional Savon de Marseille is made from vegetable oils, without added perfume, colourants or preservatives.

It must be cooked in cauldrons according to the traditional Marseille saponification process and produced in Marseille or the surrounding Marseille region.

What does 72% mean on Marseille soap?

The 72% traditionally marked on Savon de Marseille refers to a minimum of 72% active ingredients derived from vegetable oils or oil extracts in the finished soap.

The remainder includes water, some of which naturally evaporates as the soap dries and ages.

How is Fer à Cheval Marseille soap made?

Traditional Fer à Cheval Marseille soap is saponified in cauldrons according to the historic Marseille process.

The process takes close to ten days and is overseen by experienced master soapmakers.

Is all Fer à Cheval soap fragrance free?

No. Traditional Savon de Marseille contains no added perfume, while Fer à Cheval also produces a contemporary range of perfumed liquid and solid soaps with fragrances such as Fig Leaves, Rose Petal and Lavender.

What is the difference between Savon de Marseille and Fer à Cheval's gentle perfumed soap?

Traditional Savon de Marseille follows a very simple vegetable-oil formulation without added fragrance, colourants or preservatives.

Fer à Cheval's gentle perfumed soaps are formulated using the company's Marseille soapmaking expertise and include fragrance together with selected plant oils and butters according to the individual formula.

They are designed as gentle everyday hand and body soaps rather than as the traditional multipurpose Savon de Marseille cube.

Are Fer à Cheval perfumed soaps made with naturally derived ingredients?

Fer à Cheval states that its scented soap range contains at least 96% ingredients of natural origin.

Individual formulas differ, so refer to the product page and current packaging for the exact formulation of the soap you are considering.

Is Fer à Cheval palm oil free?

Not every Fer à Cheval Marseille soap formulation is palm oil free.

The brand's Pure Olive Marseille soap is palm oil free, while its traditional beige vegetable Marseille soap may contain RSPO-certified palm and palm-kernel oils.

Always check the ingredients of the individual product if avoiding palm oil is important to you.

Is Fer à Cheval suitable for sensitive skin?

Suitability depends on the individual formula.

Fer à Cheval describes its fragrance-free Marseille liquid soap as hypoallergenic, fragrance free and dye free and recommends it for sensitive skin.

Perfumed soaps contain fragrance and different ingredients, so customers with particular sensitivities should always check the individual ingredient list before use.

Can Fer à Cheval liquid soap be used on the body?

Selected Fer à Cheval Marseille liquid soaps are designed for both hand and body washing.

Always refer to the directions on the individual product, as usage can vary across the wider Fer à Cheval range.

Why can traditional Marseille soap change colour or weight?

Traditional Marseille soap continues to lose water as it dries and ages.

As a result, its colour, weight and appearance may change slightly over time. Fer à Cheval describes Marseille soap as a living material, and these natural variations do not necessarily affect its effectiveness.

What does Fer à Cheval mean?

Fer à Cheval means horseshoe in French.

The name reflects a nineteenth-century tradition of choosing symbols associated with luck and prosperity. The Fer à Cheval emblem features seven nail holes, with seven itself traditionally considered a lucky number.

What is the Andrée Jardin x Fer à Cheval collaboration?

Andrée Jardin is a French brushmaker specialising in traditional wooden household and bathroom accessories.

Its collaboration with Fer à Cheval pairs French-made brushware, soap dishes and other accessories with authentic Marseille soap, bringing together two complementary French craft traditions.

Does Fer à Cheval soap make a good gift?

Yes. Fer à Cheval perfumed soap bars and liquid soaps make thoughtful gifts for housewarmings, hosts, Mother's Day, birthdays and anyone who appreciates authentic French products.

Selected Andrée Jardin x Fer à Cheval bathroom sets offer a more substantial gift combining French soap and traditional brushware.

Does Malmaison stock the complete Fer à Cheval range?

Malmaison carries a curated selection rather than Fer à Cheval's complete international range.

Our assortment focuses primarily on Marseille liquid soaps, gentle perfumed soap bars and selected bathroom gift sets, with fragrances and individual products changing according to availability.