A couple of days ago, I shared a very affordable daily body wash. But as it goes with mass and affordable products, it doesn’t satisfy the needs of those who prefer something natural or organic. So here’s one that is. Natural and organic I mean.
Introducing Marius Fabre, a brand I warrant few of us have come across thus far. It is distributed locally by The Brand Story, alongside other niche brands and products, primarily in the bath and body department – a category I love to indulge in!
Marius Fabre is the name of the founder of the brand, who started up brewing potions and soaps in his garden shed in Salon-de-Provence at the tender age of 22, back in 1900. Yes folks, 1900. This is a soap company that is over a century old! Their speciality are their solid soaps but I suppose we have to move with the times. Modern times call for shower gels, and Marius Fabre delivers in this one from the Olivia range – an Organic Relaxing Shower Gel with Bitter Orange Flower essential oils.
The first thing I noted was the packaging. The shower gel is packaged in an opaque bottle that looks very much like frosted glass, but is in fact, plastic! Now, as much as I like the use of glass in my skincare products, I opt for plastic every time for the shower. I had a glass jar of body scrub once. An accident in the shower left me with a lot of cleaning and a bloody foot. So, lesson learnt. No more glass thingamajics in the shower!
So yes, I like the rather old school packaging, with the metal twist off cap and all. I’m not crazy about the wide open mouth, because it does get hard to control the amount of product you use, and to be honest, you don’t need very much.
The shower gel uses olive leaf extract and orange flower water, and it is scented with essential oils of bitter orange and mandarin. You might be wondering at this point how something that sounds so zesty and citrusy could possibly be relaxing, right? Shouldn’t it be uplifting? Energizing?
Ah, have you smelled bitter orange? It has a mellow, slightly musky masculine scent that isn’t zesty at all. Contrary to what we have been led to believe, it is truly a relaxing scent and a wonderful way to wind down at the end of the day. On days when the weather feels cool, the scent makes me feel warm, as if it is infused with the warm sun.
As with many natural and organic products, the shower gel does not lather up very much, but it does clean, the essential oils do a lot to relax you in the hot shower, and it really does mellow my mood. Just what I reach for, at the end of a long, tiring day.
In a nutshell
The Marius Fabre Olivia Organic Relaxing Shower Gel with Bitter Orange Flower essential oil extracts is a certified organic product by EcoCert and Cosmetique Bio. The non-drying shower gel contains olive leaf extract and the scent is that of bitter orange and mandarin, which is a very surprisingly relaxing scent. It smells slightly spicy, warm and a little masculine. A little product does go a long way, and I also like the simple packaging that looks old school, yet is in modern plastic. Looks lovely in the shower, smells lovely and feels lovely. Pricetag is a little unlovely, but that’s the trade off I guess.
Pros: Natural and certified organic product, Non drying, Smells lovely and relaxing in the shower
Cons: Rather pricey
Who will like this: Anyone who wants a natural and certified organic shower gel
Here is the ingredient list.
I noted that it contains Cocamidopropyl betaine, which is a coconut derivative and alternative to SLS. My skin doesn’t tolerate that ingredient very well, so my sensitive hands can’t handle me using this more than twice a week, not consecutively. A good thing for me, because this bottle then lasts longer 😛
Not many people know this, but I am really into bath and body products. Skincare and bath and body products are my crack haha! 😀 I can never resist trying a new brand 😀
Have you heard of Marius Fabre before this? Are you into natural or organic bath products?
I’d never come across them before this, but I’m going to try the bar soap next. After all, if the founder built his company on soap, it must be quite impressive! I’m not personally into nor against natural or organic products. Guess I could take it or leave it. Not terribly fussed, although of course, if a good natural option was available, then it would make sense to use it 🙂
Paris B
Marius Fabre Olivia Organic Relaxing Shower Gel Bitter Orange Flower Price: RM67.95/230ml Availability: The Brand Story website (Malaysia) or Internationally at any website or store that carries the brand
Love the packaging on this! I also love the way glass bottles look, but find them awkward to use and am scared to use them near the bath because of an incident very similar to the one you described.
Yes! I loved how the bottle looked like glass but wasn’t 😀 Excellent for butter-fingered me 😀
The first thing I thought when I saw this post was: I could never have a glass bottle in my shower, I’ll end up hurting myself in no time!
But it’s plastic so I can go back to just love the packaging, it’s so nice.
I’ve tried a few organic bath products -mainly soap bars bought at farmers’ market and things like that- and I like them.
This sounds really good, I’d love to try it!
I’ve found a couple of italian e-shops that sell the range, I’ll give it a try soon 🙂
Hahaha I felt the same way S! The first time I saw it, I thought “Oh no! Glass bottle = disaster!” but it wasn’t so I’m happy 😀 I think this one should be easy enough to find in Europe. It’s got such a lovely history behind it, that I love it just for the fact its over 100 years old LOL
I’ve been ordering Marius Fabre products from their website and having them delivered to my Paris apartment. The olive oil bar soaps are amazing. I like the savon liquide de Marseille (thym et aneth) and the savon noir liquide (very gentle cleansing for clothes, dishes, etc.).
How interesting! That’s good to know, thank you
I’m so happy you featured this brand. Been looking for Malaysian sites who are bringing in the cube Marius Faber soap! Will be ordering one soon
Ooh! You’re the first person who seems to know what I’m talking about Adrianna LOL 😀 Happy to have helped you out – I’m going to try the solid soap next!
Thanks for the sharing Paris B! I never heard of this brand before. I’m also not personally into nor against natural or organic products. However, usually I ll go for affordable everyday body wash in view of the prices. Anyway, it is still worth a try!
I’d never come across it before either but it’s quite nice. Something different, I’d say – maybe for gifting especially with the gifting season almost upon us!
Nope never heard this brand before. That’s impressive for being over a century old… yet not very well known… HAHAHAH… sorry. Impressive nonetheless. 🙂
Just the name alone is very attractive. Aiyoh Paris… this past weeks you posted many reviews that is no-good to my control power… :p
I think it makes a very lovely present. Thanks for introducing this brand. 🙂
I checked this out after commenting, and found its website with interesting info. It’s really intriguing about this family business company. If I ever have a chance to go to Provence, I should visit this factory. 😀 Now I am asking my sil to check for me in Germany, if they have it there. haha 🙂 See? Weak control power. :p
Hahaha! You totally crack me up 😀 I’m sure it’s easily found in Europe and they have various other bath and body products too! Very interesting 😀 I’d love to visit Provence – so many good French brands have come out of there.
Hahaha Maybe they are well known in the organic circles or maybe in Europe where small family outfits do better somehow 😀 You’re right about it making a good gift. Especially with the gifting season just around the corner, something different and unique is always interesting