* Equality - Empowerment - Beauty * All-in-One * Body Wash * Shampoo * Shaving Soap & More * Fair Trade Shea Butter * For All Skin & Hair Types * Handcrafted * Domestic Packaging * No Parabens * No Animal Testing * No Synthetic Fragrance * Non-GMO * No SLS * Gluten Free * Biodegradable * Fair Trade * Fair for life In West Africa, authentic black soap is known by its Yoruba name, Osse Dudu. "Dudu" means the color black, which comes from extensive "cooking" of the soap to the point of charcoal. Many cultures in West Africa use charcoal to detoxify & purify the skin. This is an integral aspect of our true African black soap. Alaffia"s authentic black soap is made from a centuries old recipe of handcrafted shea butter and West Africa palm kernel oil. Saponification is provided by adding ashes to the hot oils, then cooking the soap in the sun for three weeks, resulting in a gentle hand & body wash for all ages.