African Black Soap
Deep Cleansing, Naturally
What it is, what it's made of, what it does
African black soap is a traditional West African cleanser made by roasting plantain skins, cocoa pods, and other agricultural biomass into alkaline ash, then cooking that ash with oils such as coconut or palm kernel oil to form a true soap. The roasting process produces the natural potash that gives black soap its characteristic basic pH (typically around 8–9) and its ability to cleanse deeply. Unlike many commercial soaps that remove glycerin during processing, authentic black soap retains naturally formed glycerin, giving it better moisture balance and a less stripping feel on the skin. Its fine plant ash particles act as a mild, natural exfoliant, supporting smoother texture and reducing excess oil without harsh surfactants — which is why it is often preferred by people with oily, acne-prone, or combination skin.
Key Properties
- Basic pH (typically around 8–9)
- Retains naturally formed glycerin
- Mild, natural exfoliant from plant ash
- Deep-cleansing without harsh surfactants
- Minimally processed, culturally authentic
- Easily traceable to origin
Useful when you're under pressure to deliver
"Deep clean but not stripped" positioning for face and body cleansers
A culturally authentic, traceable base for blemish, oily-skin, and "reset" routines in a market moving away from harsh synthetic surfactants