BEsides the great Consumption made of Oil Olive for Works where requisite, for different Foods and for Physick, it is made the Basis or Ground-work of several Sorts of Soap which we sell, I mean those of the best Sorts, the most valuable of which is the Alicant Soap, next the Cartbagena, the third is the true Marseilles Soap, the fourth that of Gayette, the fifth the Toulon Soap, we falsly call Genoa Soap. Soap is a Composition of Oil Olive, Starch, Lime-water, and a Lixivium or Lye of Pot-ashes, mix'd altogether by boiling into a Paste, which is made into Balls or Cakes, in the Form and Figure as they are now brought to us. As to the mixture or sprinkling of their Green and Vermilion together, I shall say nothing, it being a Secret the Soap-boilers keep among themselves; nevertheless I have been assur'd that they mix red Oker of Copperas, and that from Aqua fortis, which is the Caput Mortuum of Vitriol, call'd Colcothar; but as I am not certain, I shall say nothing further of it.
The choice of Soap is to have it dry, well marbled or staind, and true from the Place whence it derives its Name; that is to say, that such as is sold for Alicant be true Alicant, and so of the rest. The Toulon Soap shou'd be dry, of a white tending to a little blewish Colour, cut even, glossy, and of a good Smell, and the least fat or oily that can be. As to the marbled Sort, that which is of a red Vein on the Side, and of a fine green and Vermilion within, is most esteem'd, because it is best mark'd, of most use, and the best Sale. As to the Virtues of Soap, they are well enough known; but as few will imagine it is of any great Use in Medicine, I must nevertheless declare that it is us'd with Success in the Cure of cold Humours, being dissolv'd in Spirit of Wine; and there is a Plaister compos'd of it, call'd the Soap Plaister, which has very great Virtues, as many Authors do affirm. Besides the Sorts of Soap that I have been speaking of, there is a kind made at Rouen, which is of a certain Grease that is found upon the Kettles and Pots of the boiling Cooks and Tripe-Dressers; but as this is a pernicious Soap, I shall say no more of it, but that it serves the poor People. We sell a liquid or soft Soap, which we call black Soap, made at Abbeville and Amiens of the Remains of burnt Oil; but as this Soap is of a brown Colour, there comes from Holland a green Sort, because instead of the burnt Oil they make Use of Hemp-Oil, which is green. The black Abbeville Soap, which we sell in little Barrels, is much in Use amongst the Cap-Makers, and several other Workmen or Artificers. The green, liquid, or soft Soap from Holland, is us'd by several to rub on the Soles of the Feet of such as are in Fevers, which is pretended to carry them off, which ought not entirely to be rejected, since I have known Persons who have been cured by it. But as this Soap is very scarce in France, since none comes there in Time of War, they must content themselves with that of Abbeville.