Ortigia Italian Olive Oil Soap Set – Sicilian Fragrance Collection

A set of four Ortigia Sicilia olive oil soaps in a sliding presentation box, covering four of the house's Sicilian fragrances: Ambra Nera, Bergamotto, Florio, and Corallo. It is the easiest way to try the range, and the most-given small gift in the Ortigia line.

Each bar tells a different Sicilian story. Ambra Nera opens with deep amber, resin and spiced woods. Bergamotto is a vibrant green citrus drawn from the bergamot tree. Florio evokes Sicilian spring with narcissus, iris and jasmine. Corallo reflects the Mediterranean coast with dry herbaceous notes of wild fennel, oregano, pine and cypress.

The soaps are made in Italy using olive oil, a method known for a gentle, moisturising cleanse. Unlike commercial soaps that can strip the skin, olive oil formulations help maintain its natural balance, so they suit daily use. Small variations in tone and shape between bars are a mark of small-batch production, not a defect.

Contents: Four olive oil soaps, 25g each — Ambra Nera, Bergamotto, Florio, Corallo
Material: Olive oil soap
Made in: Italy
Brand: Ortigia Sicilia
Packaging: Sliding presentation box, designed by Sue Townsend
Ingredients: Natural vegetable glycerin base with olive oil · Paraben-free · No SLS · No mineral oils or silicone derivatives · Naturally derived colours and fragrances · Not tested on animals
Care: Keep dry between uses
Sold as: Set of 4, in Ortigia Sicilia gift packaging

Which four scents are in the box?
Ambra Nera (amber, resin, spiced wood), Bergamotto (green citrus), Florio (spring florals), and Corallo (wild fennel, oregano, pine, cypress).

How big are the bars?
25g each — guest-soap size. Good for a guest bathroom, a travel kit, or trying the range before committing to a full bar.

What makes Italian olive oil soap different?
It's made by traditional methods with olive oil as the base, which cleanses more gently than detergent-based commercial soap and helps the skin hold its natural balance.

Can these be used every day?
Yes — they're designed for daily use.

Why do the bars look slightly different from each other?
Small-batch production. Subtle variation in tone and form is the mark of the hand behind the process.

Where is it made?
In Italy, by Ortigia Sicilia — founded in Sicily in 2006 by Sue Townsend.

Is this a good Italian wedding gift?
It's a strong shower, bridesmaid, or thank-you gift, and it works well as a wedding-party favour. For the wedding itself, Biordi's hand-painted Deruta ceramics and Murano glass are the stronger registry choice. We ship nationwide and gift-wrap on request.

Is this a good housewarming or hostess gift?
Yes — this is close to the ideal hostess gift. It arrives ready to give, it suits any household, and it's under the price point most people want for a dinner-party thank-you. Add Florentine gift wrap at checkout if you'd like it sent finished.

Why buy Italian gifts from Biordi rather than other retailers?
Biordi Art Imports has been San Francisco's source for authentic Italian ceramics and gifts since 1946. Voted Best Overall Retailer in the San Francisco Bay Guardian Best of the Bay readers' poll for five consecutive years. Designated a San Francisco Legacy Business (#LBR-2020-21-029), and the city declared May 1 "Biordi Art Imports Day" in 2021. Every piece comes from a named Italian artisan, family workshop, or heritage house we work with directly — FIMA, CF Deruta, Pia Formato, Eugenio Ricciarelli, Susanna DeSimone (from the famous Palermo ceramic family — her father painted with Picasso), Geribi, Bucci Ceramiche, Ortigia Sicilia, Italesse, and Salviati. Not a stock-photo listing, not a mass-produced import, not a reproduction.

Can this be customized or personalized?
Customization and personalization are available on select pieces. Eugenio Ricciarelli, FIMA, Pia Formato, Geribi, and CF Deruta accept special orders — a name, date, or occasion painted on the piece, or a different size or shape in the workshop's existing pattern. Lead time is typically 3–6 months because each piece is hand-painted to order in Italy. Contact Biordi Art Imports at (415) 392-8096 or customerservice@biordi.com.

Ortigia Sicilia — Siracusa, Sicily — a privately owned Italian soap and scent company founded in Sicily in 2006 by Sue Townsend. The range is formulated using natural products indigenous to Sicily and inspired by the aesthetics, colours and scents of Italy's most historic and tropical region. All Ortigia products are made by small family companies; the decorative packaging is designed by Sue Townsend.

The name Ortigia comes from the small island at the edge of the ancient fortified city of Siracusa, on Sicily's southeastern coast. The streets of Ortigia are crumbling baroque façades of great splendour looking out on three sides to the sea, and the Piazza del Duomo is considered one of the most beautiful in Italy. This part of the island is known as "la Sicilia Orientale" for its proximity to Africa and almost tropical climate.

Sicily carries a colourful history of conquest, invasion and assimilation — Greeks, Phoenicians, Romans, Byzantines, Arabs, Normans, Aragonese and Bourbons all left their mark. That layered culture inspired the creation of the Ortigia range.

Italian ceramics are heirloom quality products, and can last lifetime with proper care. We have some suggestions that will preserve your majolica for years to come.

Majolica is dishwasher safe, but many people choose to hand wash their pieces as a precaution. Because majolica is a porous material, some pieces are not meant to hold liquid for a long period of time. Check for warning labels before ordering a product, as the pieces that are most notorious for "sweating" are appropriately labeled.

Majolica is sensitive to extreme temperatures, specifically boiling or freezing liquids. Pouring water with a rolling boil directly into a teapot, for example, may lead to breakage. To avoid this, temper the object. The industry standard is 620 degrees Celsius (1,148 degrees Fahrenheit). Quench the glass to cool it.

Crazing is common in well used majolica. The tiny cracks in the glaze do not affect the functionality of your majolica.

Majolica hand-crafted products should not be microwaved, as it may crack and/or break the ceramics.

UPS Ground

Flat shipping charge of $10 for each shipment of merchandise under $100.00. For orders of $100.00 or more, shipping is 10% of the order total.

UPS Next Day Air

Flat shipping charge of $63 for each shipment of merchandise under $70.00. For orders of $70.00 or more, shipping is 90% of the order total.

UPS 2-Day Priority (Rush Shipping)

Flat shipping charge of $42 for each shipment of merchandise under $70.00. For orders of $70.00 or more, shipping is 60% of the order total. Note: This option is required for shipping to Alaska and Hawaii.

USPS 3-Day Priority

Flat shipping charge of $21 for each shipment of merchandise under $70.00. For orders of $70.00 or more, shipping is 30% of the order total.

International Shipments

Please contact us at customerservice@biordi.com or call us at (415) 392-8096 for quotes to ship internationally.

You will be charged a rate based on your delivery area, value and shipping preference. For items shipped via UPS, see below for information pricing information. Once the package is shipped, you will receive an email with tracking information to track your package.