Our Mandarin Route

Tiphaine, artisan soap maker and founder of the brand in 2011

"As a mother of three, I have become particularly sensitive to the food and toiletries I choose for my family. One day, in a book on natural cosmetics and aromatherapy, I discovered that one could make excellent natural, ecological, and "cold-process" soaps at home... Without knowing it yet, in 2006, I had put my little finger in the soap pot!"

In 2010, it all clicked!

"During a beautiful trip to Reunion Island, in the hotel bathroom, amidst the hibiscus flowers, I was surprised to find a very pretty handmade, "cold process" soap. Its lather was so creamy and it smelled so good of vetiver essential oil that on that day, I knew I would turn my new passion into a profession... It was my turn to introduce, in my region, Brittany, the pleasure of beautiful, natural, handmade, "cold process" soaps.

Born in Polynesia, in Tahiti, I was very lucky to spend my entire childhood surrounded by colours and fragrances, in complete communion with nature, so generous and so accessible in these climates. I have retained my love of Nature and travel.

Today, I live in Brittany, my family home, a region with a less easy climate, I grant you, but with such a strong personality and such beautiful and wild nature. A region of sailors, of great travellers... I drew a lot of inspiration from it to offer you the range of solid soaps "Invitation au Voyage".

Very curious to learn everything about the technique, I took a course
with a couple of artisan soap makers in Béarn, Leanne and Sylvain
Chevallier, pioneers of "cold process" soap making in France. Their
enthusiasm and conviction for natural cosmetics, and
above all the quality of their soaps, finally convinced me.

Since then, I have never stopped making this type of soap for my
family and friends, who have become enthusiastic users. To progress,
I practised a lot, read a lot on the subject and followed other
training courses to deepen my technique (UESS, Université européenne
des senteurs et des saveurs de Forcalquier, Soap Session by the very
talented Karine Estermann, Kafée)."

Why "Mandarin Road"?

I am often asked about the rather surprising choice of name for our soap factory... First of all, my great passions, after soaps, are Nature, Travel, Exoticism, and the scents and flavors of other continents, other oceans... "The Mandarin Road", which crosses Vietnam from North to South, is one of the travel routes that has always made me dream. This road was created in ancient imperial Indochina so that all the mandarins could meet their emperor each year in the
magnificent imperial palace of Hue, in the center of the country. Translated into French, the sound of "Route Mandarine" evoked both travel and the orange fruit, which is invigorating, fragrant, and warm.
Then, there was an original and unexpected side to this choice. Deliberately, just to show you that while we put a lot of care, heart, and passion into imagining and making our soaps, we don't want to take ourselves too seriously and want to keep the pleasure and spontaneity of creating beautiful and good products. Finally, the creation of my soap factory represents for me a new professional path, a new adventure in which I strongly believe. Thus, we hope that thanks to you, who are interested in our universe and our products, the "Road" will be very long and exciting!

The team today

Tiphaine
Head of Production and R&D
Soizic
Administrative and Commercial Assistant
Hélène
Production Assistant
Delphine
Workshop Manager

Miniature de l'illustration de l'anniversaire route mandarine

En 2026, Route Mandarine fête ses 15 ans !

Nous avons collaboré avec l'agence DILA de Brest pour réaliser une illustration qui raconte notre histoire. Chaque mois, de avril à octobre, nous vous dévoilons une partie de cette illustrations, avant de nous retrouver en octobre pour découvrir l'illustration en entier et célébrer ce bel anniversaire !

Découvrir notre histoire