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Have you ever heard of the Paris catacombs? Considered the world's largest burial ground, the catacombs lie beneath the streets of Paris, covering 150 miles of dark, eerie tunnels lined with the bones of over 6 million souls....rows upon rows of neatly stacked bones. Not a place for the faint of heart! 

 

The history of the catacombs is fascinating. Towards the end of the 18th century, the cemeteries in Paris started to become overcrowded and unsanitary. The largest and oldest cemetary at the time had already reached capacity and there was nowhere left to bury the dead. Locals complained of the foul odors emanating from the bodies left rotting in shallow dug graves atop older gravesites. An alternative solution was urgently needed. At the very same time, Paris was also experiencing another serious issue- the quarries below the city were starting to collapse. The quarries had been used to mine limestone to build the city. It made perfect sense to then line these crumbling tunnels with the bones of the dead to prevent the entire city from collapsing into the void. A win-win....albeit a bit creepy and dark. All remains from Paris' cemetaries were ordered to be exhumed and transferred to the catacombs. Originally the remains were unceremoniously dumped in the tunnels, but eventually, the skulls and femurs were organized into eye-catching designs. How thoughtul! 

 

The Paris catacombs are open to the public (though only a small portion of the maze-like miles of tunnels) and is a popular tourist attraction. A sign above the entrance reads, “Arrête! C’est ici l’empire de la Mort”.... “Stop! This is the Empire of the Dead”.

 

While you wouldn't want to get lost in the catacombs (some people have...I dare you to google it!), you might just get lost in the captivating design of our Catacombs soap bar! Made with recycled soap shreds that mimic layers of remains and white swirls to mimic bones, these bars embrace the eerie aesthetic of the Paris catacombs. Lol, we have to chuckle at ourselves for being a little too literal sometimes! Because, of course, we've scented this unique bar in a deeply earthy blend of oakmoss, warm amber, subtle herbal notes, and.....dirt.  Petrichor lovers, this is the bar for you!  Heaps of dirt, ha!  We've also adorned these bars with a soap skull for all you fans of horror and spook. (Some bars were left unadorned for those of you that would prefer that.)

 

 

Approx 4-4.5oz bar

Handcrafted soap will continue to evaporate water and lose weight over time. This makes for a finer, harder, and longer lasting bar. 

 

Ingredients: Distilled water, Coconut oil, Hi-oleic sunflower oil, Olive oil, Sodium hydroxide*,Mango butter, Cocoa butter, Avocado oil, Castor oil, Fragrance, Citric acid, Sodium lactate, Titanium dioxide & Mica; includes soap shreds from previous batches**

*None remains in final product

**Soap shreds are randomly selected from previous batches and may contain different ingredients. If you have particular allergy concerns, please contact us before purchasing.

 

 

Catacombs Artisan Botanical Soap

$9.00 Regular Price
$7.00Sale Price
  • Handmade soaps need to breathe! We recommend storing your soap on a slatted or free draining soap dish so that it can air dry in between uses.

    • Remove botanical toppings prior to use.
    • Don't allow your soap to sit in a puddle of water.
    • Use a wash cloth, loofah or soap saver bag to extend the life of your soap bar. 
    • Use your soap bar within one year of purchase. I know they're pretty to look at, but they're intended to be used so enjoy them! :)
    • Store unused soap out of direct sunlight and away from extreme temperature fluctuations and high humidity conditions.
    • You may experience colored lather with dark or brightly colored bars; however, no permanent staining should occur. 
    • Discontinue use if irritation occurs
    • Soaps are for external use only & are not edible
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