Since 1887, Claus Porto has perfected the art of soap-making. A journey of heritage, craftsmanship, and distinctive Belle Époque and Art Deco design.
The journey begins on a narrow street in Porto, where a three-story, 19th-century townhouse stands as both a boutique and a silent storyteller. Inside, polished brass details meet Estremoz marble floors, setting the stage for a world that has been shaping Portuguese elegance for over a century. This is Claus Porto, a brand that has turned everyday rituals into timeless gestures of beauty.
The Enduring Legacy of Claus Porto
Founded in 1887 by two German entrepreneurs, Ferdinand Claus and Georges Schweder, it was Portugal’s first soap and fragrance factory. Their vision was bold for the time: to make fine perfumery and crafted soaps accessible. Their creations quickly gained international recognition, winning gold medals at the Paris and Saint Louis Universal Exhibitions.
But history intervened. With the onset of World War I, the founders were forced to leave. It was Achilles de , a long-time partner, who safeguarded the company and gave it the name we know today: Claus Porto.
Claus Porto has always been about craftsmanship. The brand’s soaps are still produced with traditional milling methods honed over 135 years. Using a 100% vegetable oil base, enriched with pistachio and mango seed oils, each bar achieves a creamy, lasting lather, the kind that feels both indulgent and honest.
But Claus Porto’s true artistry lies in its aesthetics. Each soap is wrapped by hand, dressed in labels that are as collectible as they are beautiful. Inspired by the Belle Époque and Art Deco eras, these intricate designs have become icons of Portuguese visual culture. Since 1953, the brand’s in-house lithography studio has produced this artwork, a bold decision at the time that elevated soaps into objects of design, each one a small work of cultural heritage.
Beyond Soap: A World of Fragrance and Ritual
Though Claus Porto’s name is inseparable from soap, today the brand is more than that. Over the decades, its universe has expanded into perfumes, colognes, hand creams, body care, and candles, each created with the same balance of heritage and contemporary refinement.
What started as a single object of beauty has now expanded into fragrances, candles, and body care, each piece carrying the same heritage, authenticity, and artistry.
The Musgo Real collection, launched in 1936, exemplifies this evolution. What began as a line of men’s grooming essentials has become a cultural icon. Passed from father to son, its scents remain instantly recognizable, while its packaging has been thoughtfully updated for modern sensibilities. It is proof of Claus Porto’s ability to adapt without losing its soul.
Born in Porto and deeply woven into the city’s cultural fabric, Claus Porto has grown into a brand of international stature, admired from Lisbon to New York, from Tokyo to Paris. Its boutiques are sanctuaries of quiet luxury, where authenticity meets design and tradition finds new expression for a global audience.
Claus Porto has never followed trends. Instead, it shows us that true luxury is timeless, found in constancy, in refinement, and in the power to make even something as simple as a bar of soap feel extraordinary.
We invite you to discover this world of scented treasures, and to see how Claus Porto continues to transform the everyday into an act of beauty.
