Bestseller
Italian laundry tradition since 1870
Our story
Sapone di Toscana brings the more than 150-year-old Tuscan laundry tradition of the Italian family company Cantini Raffaello to the Netherlands. Six generations of craftsmanship, rooted in Sesto Fiorentino near Florence, come together today in Italian laundry detergents, laundry perfumes and cleaning products centred on quality, care and an authentic Italian fragrance experience.
Where our story begins
A remarkable Italian family story
Behind Sapone di Toscana lies a remarkable Italian family story.
The products of Sapone di Toscana are developed and produced by Cantini Raffaello, a family company from Sesto Fiorentino, just outside Florence, in the heart of Tuscany. The company's history goes back to 1870, when Luigi Guarnieri began producing and selling laundry soap made from ash and soda.
What began with traditional laundry soap grew, generation after generation, into a modern Italian family company. More than 150 years of experience and six generations of craftsmanship form the foundation on which Sapone di Toscana builds today.
When washing was still a craft
From wood ash to ranno
In the Tuscany of 1870, electric washing machines and modern detergents did not yet exist. Clothes and linen were soaked, washed and rinsed by hand.
An important aid in this was wood ash. Wood ash was used to make an alkaline washing solution, known as liscivia or, in Tuscany, ranno. The ash was carefully sieved and combined with hot water. This released alkaline substances from the ash into the water, which helped loosen grease and stubborn dirt from textiles.
Wood ash was also readily available. The wood fire was used for cooking and heating the home. Even the ash left over afterwards was put to good use once more.
Waste nothing, use everything.
Washing with ranno was no quick household chore, but a craft that required knowledge, time and experience. The right ash, the temperature of the water and the way of washing all made a difference. That knowledge was passed down from generation to generation.
Ash stood for tradition. Soda stood for progress.
In 1870, Luigi Guarnieri began producing and selling laundry soap made from ash and soda in Sesto Fiorentino. Wood ash belonged to the centuries-old way of washing, while soda offered new possibilities for more consistent quality.
That combination reflects the development of Cantini Raffaello: respect for the knowledge of the past, combined with the will to keep innovating.
Sei generazioni
Six generations of craftsmanship
- 1870
Luigi Guarnieri begins producing and selling laundry soap made from ash and soda in Sesto Fiorentino.
- 1921
At the Esposizioni Riunite del Lavoro in Milan, Luigi and his son Mario receive a gold medal for their dedication and the quality of their products.
- 1940s
Raffaello Cantini, Mario's grandson, builds on the knowledge of earlier generations, develops new products and mechanises parts of production.
- 1980–present
From the eighties, Marco and Fabio carry on the family company, later followed by Francesco and Andrea — the sixth generation.
Today
Tradition also means continuing to innovate
The wooden washtub gave way to the washing machine, and traditional washing methods to modern formulas and technology. Cantini Raffaello kept evolving too.
Today it is not only about quality, scent and ease of use, but also about topics that belong to our time, such as more sustainable packaging, solar energy and more environmentally conscious product lines.
Because tradition does not mean everything has to stay the same. It means knowing where you come from, while continuing to look at what can be done better.
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MixingCarefully composed formulas -
CheckingQuality at every step -
FillingFrom the production line to your washing machine
Sapone di Toscana
Soap from Tuscany
Sapone di Toscana grew out of the many years of knowledge and experience of Cantini Raffaello.
The name tells where the brand finds its origins: Sapone di Toscana — soap from Tuscany.
A reference to the region where the family history behind the products began in 1870, and to a tradition of washing, cleaning and caring that has now been passed down for six generations.
From traditional laundry soap to today's laundry detergents, laundry perfumes and cleaning products: Sapone di Toscana brings that Tuscan heritage to the modern household, with special attention to quality, care and an authentic Italian fragrance experience.
All the way to your home
From Sesto Fiorentino all the way to your home
Today, Sapone di Toscana finds its way from Tuscany to the Netherlands. From Rotterdam, we bring the products, scents and Tuscan family tradition of Cantini Raffaello closer to Dutch consumers.
Behind Sapone di Toscana stand the knowledge and experience of an Italian family company with more than a century and a half of history.
- From Luigi Guarnieri to the sixth generation.
- From ash and soda to today's laundry detergents, laundry perfumes and cleaning products.
- From Sesto Fiorentino to the Netherlands.
Rooted in more than 150 years of Italian craftsmanship.
Experience it yourself
Experience the Tuscan tradition
Discover our Italian laundry detergents, laundry perfumes and cleaning products and experience the Tuscan tradition for yourself.
Unique scent
Unique scent
Mix & match laundry perfume 250 ml · 3 bottles €13.32 each · 10 bottles €10.00 each
View the whole collection