Birgit's Soap Bar

20/09/2026

Only one soap making workshop date left. Sunday, 18th October 2026, 10am to 1pm. You will take over 1kg of soap home, enough to cut into 10-12 bars. It will be ready by the end of November in time to sent away, put in advent calendars and stockings.

And, you will have the knowledge to make more along with being in possession of a mould. (Returning customers get £10 of the workshop as that’s how much I budget for the mould) You only need to buy more fats and sodium hydroxide. You probably can colour it with something in your kitchen cupboard or not at all. You probably will want to scent it and you can chose anything you like.

18/09/2026

Some residual soapy stuff in Avignon. Alas, having seen the real thing I just sneer at the brightly coloured, multi scented imitation of the original. Nearly bought a cute box of lavender Marseille soap with a wee bag of lavender. But resisted.

16/09/2026

Today’s factory Rampal-Latour has been going since 1828, so is nearly 200 years old. Their shop is bright and has the most amazing mosaic wall of soaps. Their website is: https://www.rampal-latour.fr/en/pages/rampal-latour-depuis-1828?_gl=1*26kj36*_up*MQ..*_gs*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAjw_KjVBhAHEiwAnC0N9LIZ-_4wx_fNM7z0MOtF_fQICLZEkWsnauq0ZJyan_qORLWtD6ukkBoC6_8QAvD_BwE&gbraid=0AAAAADmZIVHeKNQaOivBI4JYdzv_X1rSY

The back of the building is the old factory. It’s unused as they have a newer factory on the edge of Salon. But it still has all the equipment, from the old cauldrons, drying floors, cutting and stamping.

They have some very old soap around which still works perfectly well. Can’t say quite how old as my French isn’t good enough. But it should be reassuring to us all as the soaps scents might evaporate and the colours fade to some sort of brown but the functionality remains.

Naturally, I had to buy more soap. They kindly gave me a present of some travelling soaps (little white bars), testers of their creams and liquid soap and what I think is soap in the shape of an insect, cricket 🦗 maybe. It says the sound of Provence on the back.

Alas, this is the end of my soap factory visits. On to Avignon, which I believe is famous for an unfinished bridge. So no more French soap tales, but it has been fascinating.

15/09/2026

I have arrived in Salon-de-Provence, in the South of France. This is soap central, or more precisely Marseille soap. As I approached on the bus there was a statue of a soap bar. I did my first factory tour today. It’s not quite cold process soap. They use a lot of Olive oil and some Coconut oil and then cook it with the lye (sodium hydroxide) for 14 days, adding salt water occasionally. Check out he website for Marius Fabre Savonnier: https://www.marius-fabre.com/en/
Of cause I also had to buy some soap, which is a bit coals to Newcastle. You can buy these soaps in St Just at the market, Saturdays, WI Hall, 9.30am - 12.30pm, (https://m.facebook.com/groups/9126453517440073/?ref=share ) from Sophie Tolomio, just as soon as she returns from the South of France with new supplies.
More soap factory tours tomorrow, I know how to live.

10/09/2026

Get ready for Christmas. As soap needs 6 weeks to cure you need to make it early. I am doing two workshops in October. You will get 10 to 12 bars of soap of your own making.
Get in touch by phone (Text or call) on 07747 546 215 or email to [email protected] to book.
Check out my website to get a general idea what you can do. www.birgitssoapbar.co.uk

30/07/2026

It's that time of year again and this years Arts and Crafts Show in St Just is about to start. The smell of glue is in the air as last minute preparations are made in and around St Just.

It’s on from Monday, 3rd August until Friday, 14th August from 10am until 7pm every day, apart from the last day when it closes at 5pm.

It has raised over £Million over it’s existence for Cancer Research. Last year alone it raised £41000. It’s huge with over 200 exhibitors. Have a look at their website: https://www.stjustcraftshow.co.uk/

30/07/2026

Reasonably priced and a fellow market stall holder has said they are very organised and helpful.

Affordable stalls for businesses and crafters! ✨

Helston Fatstock Show is a fantastic opportunity for visitors to get a head start on their Christmas shopping! 🛍️

Please email Beccy on
[email protected]

We’re looking forward to seeing what new stalls will join us at this year’s show!

25/06/2026

All set up at Morvala Festival. May the festivities begin. It’s very hot, Thunderstorms tonight. Hope the gazebo is still standing tomorrow.

19/06/2026

Morvala- Festival of Arts, Cornwall (but only just…)

Next week I am off to Morvala Festival at Mount Edgecombe Estate, Cornwall. It’s only just in Cornwall, right opposite Plymouth with ferries going to and fro. This will be my biggest selling event so far, so I have been frantically making and packaging stock. Probably way too much. Come and see me if you are there.

This means there will be no order shipping from Wednesday, 24th June 2026 until Monday, 29th June 2026.

I will be off to see the Bay City Rollers (check this old tune out by Nick Lowe: Rollers Show) along with Hawkwind and Hedluv and Passman.

Also poetry, films and books. Dawn French will be there talking about her new book ‘Enough’. Sounds intriguing.

Check out all there is to see on their Morvala Website. Link here: https://www.morvalafestival.com/

27/05/2026

New Market for me at the Queens Hotel in Penzance. Today, Wednesday, 27th May and tomorrow, 28th May from 10am - 4pm. Lots of interesting stuff here and right by the sea.