Spotlight on French Soaps

Spotlight on French Soaps

This month’s Grow Up spotlight shines on one of my absolute favourite discoveries French Soaps, a beautiful small business run by the equally lovely Victoria and Paul, who are keeping a centuries-old tradition alive with passion, purpose, and integrity.

Their products are made using the original Savon de Marseille methods — a process that dates back more than 600 years, and you can actually see it in action in a wonderful video on their website (you’ll find it here). It’s a fascinating insight into the making of the oldest soap in the world — and a reminder that sometimes, the old ways really are the best.

The Beauty of Simplicity

What I love about French Soaps is how they’ve gone back to basics. Their soaps and household cleaning products are made using pure, natural ingredients — vegetable oils, natural essences and mineral pigments — and absolutely no harsh chemicals, artificial foaming agents or synthetic perfumes.

In a world that has convinced us that more bubbles equals cleaner, it’s refreshing to remember that those big, frothy lathers come from chemical additives, not nature. And when you think about what we’re putting on our skin — the body’s largest organ — it’s actually a little frightening to realise how far we’ve drifted from simple, natural care.

Here at Grow Up, we spend so much time thinking about what we put into our bodies — growing our own food, eating seasonally, reducing waste — but it’s equally important to consider what we put on our bodies. Our skin absorbs so much of what we use daily, and choosing natural, chemical-free products is another small but powerful way to live more mindfully and sustainably.

Why French Soaps Align So Perfectly with Grow Up

French Soaps isn’t just about beautiful bathroom products. Their traditional Marseille soap has dozens of uses around the home and garden — from cleaning tools (it helps to kill bacteria and prevent the spread of plant diseases) to gentle household cleaning that doesn’t harm the environment. It’s proof that one good, natural product can replace a shelf full of synthetic ones — kinder to you, your garden, and the planet.

That’s exactly what Grow Up is all about: slowing down, simplifying, and reconnecting with nature’s rhythm. Whether it’s making your own compost, growing your dinner, or choosing products made with honesty and care — it all comes back to the same idea: living more naturally and intentionally.

The Old Ways Are the Best Ways

There’s something so grounding about seeing soap made the traditional way — olive oil gently cooked in open cauldrons, stirred and poured by hand, just as it has been for centuries. No factories, no unnecessary packaging, just craftsmanship and care.

Modern life has taught us to crave instant results and artificial scents, but in truth, those “new and improved” shower gels and cleaners are often packed with synthetic chemicals that do more harm than good. French Soaps brings us back to simplicity — products that work, that care for us and our environment, and that remind us that nature already knows best.

So if you haven’t yet discovered them, I can’t recommend French Soaps enough. Have a look at their story, watch their soap-making video, and maybe treat yourself (or your garden shed!) to a bar of Sops, sustainable, and beautifully made — French Soaps truly embody what we at Grow Up stand for.