Marseilles soap

Traditional type of soap made from olive oil or other vegetable oils, in the area of Marseilles, France since ca. 1370. In 1688 Louis XIV introduced regulations limiting the use of the name "savon de Marseille" to soaps made in and around the Marseilles area and only made from olive oil. Today this law still applies, although other vegetable oils may now be used. Often used for cleaning and degumming textiles.