Regionally, in Africa, Black Soap is often referred to as “Ose (soap) Dudu (black)”. Since African Black Soap is produced by different cultures in several regions of West Africa, and is often associated with tribal practices and spiritual purification customs, its ingredients and method of preparation may vary greatly. Specific sourcing allows Jedwards to provide a consistent product of known ingredients and proportions.
Traditionally, African Black Soap is made from the accumulated ash produced from the burning and charring of locally harvested plant material such as shea tree bark, cocoa pods, palm and banana leaves, and plantain skins. Water is then added to dilute the ash base and the material is filtered to reduce unburned materials and sediment. Shea and cocoa butter, coconut oil, palm oil, and palm kernel oil may be added in varying quantities and proportions, again depending upon local custom and practice. Recipes are typically handed down from one generation to the next. These oils are typically “saponified” whereby the fat or oil is mixed with a caustic agent such as sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide. As is local practice, the mixture is hand-stirred, and then allowed to dry and cure for an extended period. The saponification of materials, along with this manual stirring and final curing, renders the physical product we call soap.
African Black Soap can vary in color due to the quantity and proportions of materials used to
produce the ash. Color ranges from light to dark grey, with browns, and tans, to sometimes black. Flecks of varying colors can also be present. The soap may have an earthy smell in its raw form. The variety and proportions of butters, and/or coconut, palm and palm kernel oils will also compliment the product odor. This amazing products is commonly used for its health benefits as a skin care product, moisturizing agent, and makeup remover. It can also be lathered to form an excellent shampoo.
Jedwards International bulk African Black Soap is comprised of cocoa pod ash, and the saponified natural products of shea nut butter, coconut oil, and palm kernel oil. Our product contains a minimum of 50% shea butter, and is 100% natural. It contains nutritional vitamin and minerals such as Vitamin E, Vitamin A, and iron.