15 Best French Soap Brands for the Ultimate Cleanse 2024

Today, I’m excited to talk about one of my favorite beauty and self-care products – soap! Specifically, French soap. The French have been making soap for centuries and have perfected the art of creating luxurious, fragrant, and effective formulas. From Marseille to Provence, French soap brands are renowned for their use of high-quality, natural ingredients and traditional techniques that result in some of the best soaps in the world.

I’ll be sharing my top picks for the best French soap brands that will leave your skin feeling silky soft, ultra smooth, and more nourished than ever! I’ll also share the best French soaps and scents made by each brand. So, if you’re ready to indulge in a little bit of French luxury, keep reading!

History of French Soap Making in France

Soap making in France has a long and rich history that dates back centuries. The first evidence of soap making in France can be traced back to the 7th century, when soap was produced by blending animal fat, olive oil, and ash.

The early soap makers of France were primarily located in Marseille and the surrounding region. They used the abundant supply of olive oil from nearby groves to make their soap, which they then sold to traders who transported it throughout Europe and the Mediterranean.

In the 17th and 18th centuries, soap-making became a major industry in France, with Marseille becoming the center of production. The soap makers of Marseille perfected a method of making soap using only vegetable oils, rather than animal fats, which was considered superior to other types of soap. This method became known as the “Marseille process” and is still used today.

During the 19th century, French soap makers began to experiment with new ingredients and scents, and the production of scented soaps became a major industry in France. Some of the most famous French soap brands, such as Roger & Gallet and Savonnerie Fer à Cheval, were founded during this time.

Today, France is still known for its high-quality body and hand soaps, and many of the traditional soap-making techniques developed centuries ago are still in use!

Top French Soap Brands

If you are in the market for some new soap to add to your French body care steps, these are the top French soap brands you must consider!

L’Occitane

L’Occitane is a natural body care brand founded in 1976 by Olivier Baussan in Provence, France. The brand is known for its luxurious hand, body, and skincare products and fragrances, including its popular shea butter soaps. Some of their best-selling soaps include the Shea Verbena Extra Gentle Soap and the Shea Milk Sensitive Skin Extra Rich Soap.

Here are a few more of the best L’Occitane soaps to try:

Shea Lavender Soap
Bonne Mère Soap Trio: set of three scented soaps (tangerie, rhubarb with basil and linden, and sweet orange) using the traditional cauldron method
Almond Scrubbing Soap: an exfoliating soap with ground almond shells
Cherry Blossom Soap

Roger & Gallet

Roger & Gallet was founded in 1862 by Armand Roger and Charles Gallet. The soap brand is known for its scented soaps and fragrances, with scents inspired by nature.

Here are the best Roger & Gallet soaps to use:

Jean Marie Farina Perfumed Soap: This soap has the scent of the brand’s first cologne, created by a man named Jean Marie Farina.
Roger & Gallet makes similarly scented soaps in the same format with dreamy fragrances like: Fig flower, sandalwood, tea leaf, red ginger, green tea, royal lavender, and carnation.

Diptyque

Diptyque was established in 1961 by Parisian friends Christiane Gautrot, Desmond Knox-Leet, and Yves Coueslant. The brand is known for its high-end fragrances, candles, and soaps, with scents inspired by exotic locations and natural ingredients.

Here are the best Diptyque soaps for a luxurious and sophisticated experience:

Fragonard

Fragonard was founded in 1926 by Eugène Fuchs. The brand is known for its luxury perfumes and scented soaps, with fragrances inspired by the flora and fauna of the French Riviera.

Here are the best Fragonard soaps that deserve a test:

Floral Soap Set: lavender, jasmine, verbena, rose
Jasmin Pearl Tea Soap
Magnolia Soap
Rose Lavender Soap

Bastide

Bastide was founded in 2017 by French hairstylist Frédéric Fekkai and his wife Shirin von Wulffen. The Provence-based brand is known for its luxury skincare and fragrance products inspired by the natural beauty and traditions of the south of France.

Here are the best Bastide soaps to put in your home:

Figue d’été Soap: summer fig scent
Ambre Soir Soap: amber scent
Rose Olivier Soap: rose and olive tree scented

Yves Rocher

Yves Rocher is a natural skin and body care brand founded in 1959 by Yves Rocher. The Bretagne-based brand is known for its natural, plant-based skincare products and cosmetics, including its soaps. Their soaps are made with natural ingredients grown in 60 hectares of organic fields and come in luscious fragrances.

Here are the best Yves Rocher soaps with fruity and floral scents:

Marius Fabre

Marius Fabre was founded in 1900 by Marius Fabre. The brand is known for its traditional Marseille soap, which is made using traditional techniques and only natural ingredients. The brand has several stores in the heart of Paris. The best Marius Fabre soap available in the USA is the Olive Oil Marseille Soap Block which comes with its own soap cutter. It’s made with 100% vegetable oils including 72% extra virgin olive oil.

Compagnie de Provence

Compagnie de Provence was founded in 1990 by two friends, Pascal Bourelly and Philippe Boigeol. The brand is known for its modern take on traditional Marseille soap, with sleek packaging and unique scents.

Here are the best Compagnie de Provence soaps for a south-of-France hand wash:

Savonnerie Fer à Cheval

Savonnerie Fer à Cheval was founded in 1856 in Marseille, France. The brand is known for their traditional Marseille soap, which is made using a traditional method and only natural ingredients.

Here are the best Savonnerie Fer à Cheval soaps for traditional soap lovers:

Le Petit Marseillais

Le Petit Marseillais was founded in 1980 in Marseille, France. The brand is known for their affordable, gentle, natural soaps inspired by the scents and ingredients of Provence. This brand is sold in grocery stores across France and always has the best prices.

Here are the best Le Petit Marseillais soaps if you’re on a budget:

Panier des Sens

Panier des Sens was founded in 2001 by Jérôme Lambruschini. The brand is known for its natural soaps and skincare products, made using ingredients sourced from the south of France.

Here are the best Panier des Sens soaps that will make you feel like you’re in the south of France:

Savonnerie du Midi

Savonnerie du Midi was founded in 1894 in Marseille, France. The Made in France soap brand is known for its traditional Marseille soap, made using a traditional method and only natural ingredients.

The best Savonnerie du Midi soaps straight from Marseille are the company’s Olive oil soaps and extra pure soaps.

Le Petit Olivier

Le Petit Olivier was founded in 1996 in Salon-de-Provence, France. The French grocery store brand is known for its natural, gentle soaps made with olive oil, a key ingredient in many traditional Provencal recipes. Its name means “the little olive tree” in French. Soap bars are wrapped in recyclable Kraft paper.

Here are the best Le Petit Olivier soaps used by real French people:

Pré de Provence

Pré de Provence was founded in 1975 in France. The brand is known for its luxurious soaps, made using traditional techniques and natural ingredients sourced from the south of France.

Here are the best Pré de Provence soaps with super-high ratings:

Artisanal Soap Bar: Lavender, Honey Almond, Milk, Rose, Verbena
Luxury Gift Box (Set of 9)
Marseille Olive Oil Soap Cube: called “Savon à L’Ancienne,” this soap is made in the traditional craft, multi-purpose soap for hands, body, laundry, and dishes

A la Maison de Provence

A la Maison de Provence was founded in 1996 by François du Coton. The brand is known for its traditional French soaps, made using traditional techniques and only natural ingredients. Their soaps come in a variety of enticing fragrances.

Here are the best A la Maison de Provence soaps suitable for an authentic French farmhouse:

Luxury French Soap Brands

A number of luxury beauty brands in France have launched soap divisions where they sell scented soaps that smell like their best-selling fragrances. Dior and Hermès are two examples of high-end brands that have expanded in the soap business.