Savonnerie Martin de Candre was founded by Rosine and Dominique Dauge, local farmers seeking to diversify their family estate in the early 1970s. André passed on his knowledge of the endangered hot-process saponification and perfume creation techniques, which Rosine later developed in the old barn of Mestré. The atelier's first clients were doctors and dentists looking for gentle soaps that could withstand constant handwashing.

Today, Savonnerie Martin de Candre is led by Rosine and Dominique’s daughter Hélène and grandson Augustin. The atelier continues to uphold a nearly vanished French technique, safeguarding a three-generation family lineage built on transmission, patience and the quiet precision of artisanal soapmaking. Today, the atelier creates soaps, shampoos, shaving creams and perfumes with Marseille-inspired recipes that meet modern cosmetic standards.