Alaffia’s simply unscented Authentic African Black Soap is made from a centuries-old recipe of handcrafted shea butter and West African palm oil†. Black soap is known by its Yoruba name, Ossé Dudu. Dudu means “black,” which comes from extensive cooking of the soap to the point of charcoal. Many cultures in West Africa use charcoal to detoxify and purify the skin.

Alaffia’s Authentic African Black Soap is likened to the home remedies of Togolese mamans. It’s made from a centuries-old ?recipe of handcrafted shea butter and Orangutan-safe West African ?palm oil. Saponification is reached by adding potash to the hot oils, ? then cooking it for six hours. The last step is curing the soap in the sun ?for three weeks, resulting in a gentle and effective soap that gently cleanses, clarifies and softens skin. Sulfate-free.