Savon de Marseille

I think my favorite purchase from Portland was a big block of rose and olive oil soap from the french import store nationale. It's one of those soaps that you can use on practically anything from your skin, to dishes, and even your floors. It's kind of like the french dr. bronners, but it smells nicer. It smells like flowers and sunshine. I'm mildly obsessed.



From their website:
Big blocks of olive oil based soap have been crafted for one thousand years in the South of France. Since 1688 French law has declared that only soaps that are crafted using ancient methods, and containing only the purest ingredients, shall bear the famous mark “Savon de Marseille.”

It takes the Maitre de Savon (soapmaster) two weeks to make Marseille Soap. The delicate mixture of olive and vegetable oils, alkaline ash from sea plants and Mediterranean Sea salted water are heated for ten days in antique cauldrons.