Pleas help me find this type of French soap

December 10, 2014 1:23 PM

My favorite aunt is retired from her job where she traveled widely; she misses her favorite French soap. I am looking for sources as my Google-Fu has failed.

I have checked the previous questions and have not found precisely what I am looking for. My aunt is one of the caregivers for my ailing grandmother, I'd love to be able to find her the exact same thing as these soaps she used to buy when she went to Europe a lot. They are from Provence (I think), they are either smooth or nubbly with herby bits (she likes the smooth) and they have their scents in raised letters (Menthe, Ananas, etc.) I have found Marseilles soaps and French soaps but I think she finds these particular soaps' texture/design/scents/colors particularly pleasing. Can I buy these soaps online? Or is this something I have to post on MeFi Jobs (wanted: 1 French soap exporter) or start hounding my network to find?

Thank you; things are tough because of aging mother/grandmother and I'd love to be able to surprise her with this by her March birthday if not before to cheer her.

posted by pointystick to Shopping (9 answers total)

Best answer: I know you say you found Marseilles soaps, but the soaps in your picture seem to be entirely identical to this line of Marseilles soaps (with the same logo, etc.).
posted by Admiral Haddock at 1:32 PM on December 10, 2014

Response by poster: Yes, Admiral! I am hoping to find a shop that sells them closer to home (I'm in the US) or has click-and-order online shop but this is doable!
posted by pointystick at 1:39 PM on December 10, 2014

Best answer: Suzan Becker from Shop France Inc. can get them for you from France for a 10% commission. She travels there every couple of months for personal shopping. I have not used her, but some online acqaintances use her frequently for perfume, and she is very reliable.
posted by matildaben at 1:58 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]

Best answer: Are these the soaps here?
posted by culfinglin at 2:35 PM on December 10, 2014 [3 favorites]

Best answer: I swear I have seen these soaps for sale in the US...like in Whole Foods or Anthropologie? Or maybe one of those little shops in San Francisco that imports everything right down to the floorboards?

I would email or call the soap company and see if they have a list of American resellers.
posted by ananci at 2:35 PM on December 10, 2014

Best answer: These are available online (I think that's the right one?). Looks like they charge 5 Euros for shipping.
posted by jabes at 3:34 PM on December 10, 2014 [1 favorite]

Best answer: The Soap Opera based out of Madison, Wisconsin has a very large selection of imported soaps. I remember a very large selection of Marseilles and Provencal soaps when I was there.
posted by jadepearl at 6:10 PM on December 10, 2014 [2 favorites]

Best answer: Would these be suitable for your aunt?
posted by angiep at 8:12 PM on December 10, 2014

Response by poster: AskMe has done it again! I will be checking out all of these! Thank you so much - my aunt is so excited as she has heard Tales of the Wonder of Metafilter :)
posted by pointystick at 4:51 AM on December 11, 2014