WHITE GOLD: sea salt, a prized purifying mineral

A purifying mineral, sea salt is a true gem of nature

Harvesting salt from the Île de Ré by hand

The salt harvest on the Île de Ré is an artisanal and manual process, perpetuated by the salt workers (saliniers) according to ancestral know-how. It takes place during the summer, when the evaporation of water under the effect of the sun and the wind allows the crystallization of the salt in the salt marshes.

Salt forms at the bottom of basins called oeillets, where it is harvested using a traditional tool called a las. The finer and more delicate fleur de sel develops on the surface and is collected manually with a lousse, a delicate gesture requiring great precision.

This 100% natural process requires no refining or additives, allowing the salt to retain its minerals and trace elements . This manual harvest ensures a high-quality product, prized for its subtle flavors and health benefits.

In cosmetics

Sea salt has numerous cosmetic properties, particularly for skin and hair. Thanks to its exfoliating properties, it removes dead skin cells and promotes cell renewal, leaving skin softer and brighter. Its purifying and antibacterial properties help regulate excess sebum, prevent acne, and soothe certain skin conditions such as eczema or psoriasis. It is also detoxifying, absorbing impurities while firming the skin.

For hair, it acts as a natural cleanser , ridding the scalp of product residue and limiting sebum production, while providing volume and texture. Used in the form of a body scrub, bath salts or even a hair spray, it is an effective natural treatment for radiant skin and revitalized hair.

To release negative energies

Salt is a powerful purifier, used for centuries to eliminate negative energy and protect both spaces and people. In the home, it absorbs negative vibrations when placed in bowls in the corners of a room or dissolved in washing water to clean floors. It can also be sprinkled in front of doors and windows to create a protective barrier.

For oneself, a salt bath can help release tension and recharge energy, while a sea salt scrub helps purify the skin and remove negative influences. Sea salt cleanses the body of stagnant energies and provides a sense of rebalancing and renewal . Rubbing your hands or feet with salt, then rinsing them, is also an effective ritual after a stressful day. Finally, carrying a small sachet of salt on your person or placing it under your pillow helps protect yourself from unwanted energies.

Thanks to its richness in minerals and trace elements , sea salt not only purifies: it also regenerates and recharges the energy of the body and the environment, promoting more stable anchoring and inner harmony.

Composition

The main difference between coarse salt and fleur de sel from the Île de Ré lies in their harvesting method, their texture and their mineral composition.

Flower of salt

It is a natural and pure sea salt, harvested manually from the surface of the salt pans. Its composition is very close to that of coarse salt, but it is distinguished by its purity and richness in essential minerals, as well as its low sodium content compared to refined salt.

Fleur de sel is 97-98% sodium chloride (NaCl) and contains essential minerals and trace elements. It is rich in magnesium (for the nervous system and muscle relaxation), calcium (for bones and teeth), potassium (for electrolyte balance), iodine (for the thyroid), zinc and iron (for the immune system), as well as manganese and copper (for cellular protection and collagen formation).

Coarse salt

Coarse sea salt from the Île de Ré is a natural, unrefined salt harvested by hand. It contains 97-98% sodium chloride (NaCl) and is rich in minerals such as magnesium (for muscle relaxation and nervous system balance), calcium (for strong bones and teeth), potassium (for hydration), and trace elements (zinc, iron, manganese, copper, iodine) that are beneficial for overall health.

Both salts are rich in minerals and trace elements, but fleur de sel is generally purer because it is harvested from the surface and contains fewer impurities than coarse salt, which is in direct contact with the bottom of the salt pans.

Main colors of sea salt

• Light gray: The dominant color of coarse salt is a soft gray, which comes from the minerals present in the clay of salt marshes.

• Pinkish-grey or pinkish: This tone is the result of the interactions between salt and the natural elements of salt ponds. Sometimes, it can have pinkish reflections due to the presence of certain algae and microorganisms in the water.

• Pearly white: Fleur de sel, harvested from the surface of carnations, can have a slight pearly white tint, especially when it is freshly harvested and very pure.

The coarse salt from the Île de Ré has a unique chromaticity due to its artisanal harvesting method and its proximity to the clay of the salt marshes. Its color varies slightly, but is generally dominated by light gray to gray-pink hues, sometimes with highlights. brown or beige.

Fleur de sel from Île de Ré has a delicate and nuanced color that reflects its purity and careful hand-harvesting. Its color varies depending on weather conditions and the season, but is generally characterized by white, ivory, or slightly pinkish hues.

History: Salt tax

Salt taxes, used for centuries, have been a major source of revenue for governments due to salt's value in food preservation and other applications. It has also played a key role in social and political struggles throughout history.

Salt Taxes in the Middle Ages

In the Middle Ages, monarchies and lords imposed taxes on salt to finance their wars, notably the gabelle in France, established in the 14th century under Philip VI. This tax, highly unpopular and unfair, was perceived as oppressive because it was unequal across regions and affected all social classes, particularly the poor, who used salt to preserve their food.

The Salt Revolt (1789)

The salt tax revolt, linked to the salt tax and other taxes, was one of the root causes of the French Revolution. On December 15, 1789, the salt tax was abolished, symbolizing the fight against the fiscal and social injustices of the Ancien Régime.

The salt chair

A traditional piece of furniture associated with the practice of gabelle , the salt tax that was levied in France since the Middle Ages. This piece of furniture has an interesting history and is particularly symbolic of the time when salt was heavily taxed.

Find salt from the Île de Ré in our CHROMATIC rituals, a revitalizing scrub for the body and scalp, and SANCTUARY , an anti-oxidant oil for the face, body and hair.