23/07/2026
To make authentic African black soap, you need two major ingredients.
The first is a natural alkali. This is traditionally made by burning plant materials, also known as biomass, such as baobab pods, plantain peels, millet stalks, or sorghum stalks into ash. The ash is mixed with water and filtered to produce an alkaline solution. That solution is then gently boiled to increase its concentration, creating the natural potassium hydroxide used in soap making.
The second major ingredient is the selection of natural oils. Depending on the desired qualities of the soap, oils such as shea butter, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, and others are carefully chosen. The type and proportion of these oils determine how cleansing, moisturizing, and nourishing the final soap will be.
The oils are gently heated, and the concentrated natural alkali is slowly added. This starts the traditional soap-making process that has been passed down through generations across Africa.
While this soap can be used, it is not recommended for people with sensitive skin.