--- title: "Savon de Marseille Recipe Causes Debate for French Groups" id: "34499" type: "post" slug: "savon-de-marseille-recipe-causes-debate-for-french-groups" published_at: "2016-08-05T20:38:11+00:00" modified_at: "2026-11-09T16:48:19+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/08/05/savon-de-marseille-recipe-causes-debate-for-french-groups/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2016/08/05/savon-de-marseille-recipe-causes-debate-for-french-groups.md" excerpt: "Savon de Marseille, which is being considered for a geographical indication, is very popular, but the exact recipe—both in terms of ingredients and location—has led to bitter conflict between groups representing soap-makers." taxonomy_category: - "Advocacy" taxonomy_post_tag: - "AssociationsNow" - "Business" - "French soap" - "geographical indications" - "product regulation" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Industry Professionals" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Savon de Marseille Recipe Causes Debate for French Groups From [Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese](https://associationsnow.com/2016/02/parmesan-filler-controversy-highlights-cheese-integrity-issues/) to [Champagne](https://associationsnow.com/2013/12/pop-open-the-bubbly-what-champagne-says-about-the-economy/) , industry groups have been fiercely protective of their most popular products—especially those linked to a famous location. But a trade group for a popular variety of French soap is in hot water over an attempt to allow modern ingredients into locally produced variations of “savon de Marseille,” or Marseille soap. The Association of Makers of Savon de Marseille, which has asked the French government to establish a “geographical indication” for the soap to distinguish it from cheaper versions made in China and Turkey, is making the case that additives such as palm oil or copra oil should be acceptable additions to the the traditional recipe. But AFSM, which represents large companies, including the cosmetics retailer L’Occitane, [has run into resistance from a group of master soap makers (opens in a new tab)](https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/blogs/insight/france-s-showdown-over-soap-and-why-it-s-happening-161310194.html) who want to preserve product purity. Their view is supported by the Union des Professionnels du Savon de Marseille, which [which has established its own set of criteria (opens in a new tab)](http://www.marius-fabre.com/en/content/14-union-of-professionals-of-marseille-soap) for verifying the integrity of the soap, including a requirement that it be produced by soap makers in the city of Marseille—while ASFM currently represents makers in a larger region. The purist approach appears to have won the public’s favor: [A Change.org petition (opens in a new tab)](https://www.change.org/p/inpi-sauvons-le-savon-de-marseille) seeking a narrow definition of savon de Marseille has received nearly 125,000 signatures. Despite this, the ASFM has remained steadfast. The group says there’s good reason to update the recipe to allow for materials like lavender. “The ancient recipe is outmoded,” ASFM General Secretary Emilie Grangeon [told The New York Times (opens in a new tab)](http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/03/world/what-in-the-world/france-savon-de-marseille-recipe.html) . “We should be able to improve the quality.” The conflict has apparently gotten bad enough, [France24 reports (opens in a new tab)](http://www.france24.com/en/20160612-french-soapmakers-lather-over-traditional-recipe) , that the sides are only talking to one another through intermediaries. Meanwhile, the French government has set up a panel to investigate the debate and is expected to issue a decision in September. If it grants the request for a geographical indication, savon de Marseille would be the first manufactured product to receive the honor, which is generally associated with food and drink. (iStock/Thinkstock) [Ernie Smith](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Ernie Smith is a former senior editor for Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/ernie-smith/) Tags: [#Business](https://associationsnow.com/tag/business/) [#French soap](https://associationsnow.com/tag/french-soap/) [#geographical indications](https://associationsnow.com/tag/geographical-indications/) [#product regulation](https://associationsnow.com/tag/product-regulation/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## You Might Like - [VideoUrban Land Institute- Project Recovery: Rebuilding Los Angeles After the January 2025 WildfiresSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/urban-land-institute-project-recovery-rebuilding-los-angeles-after-the-january-2025-wildfires/) - [VideoThe Career Moves Every Association Leader Needs Right NowSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/the-career-moves-every-association-leader-needs-right-now/) - [VideoNCRA: Safeguarding Cancer Surveillance: An Advocacy Response to FY26 Budget ThreatsSeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/ncra-safeguarding-cancer-surveillance-an-advocacy-response-to-fy26-budget-threats/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: All for the Love of Chicago: Rethinking the Destination ExperienceSeptember 10, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/10/associations-now-presents-all-for-the-love-of-chicago-rethinking-the-destination-experience/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2016%2F08%2F05%2Fsavon-de-marseille-recipe-causes-debate-for-french-groups%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !