Earth Alkemie's African black soaps

**Try our brand new Ghana soap!

Earth Alkemie Ose Dudu and Alata Samina

African black soap is made in Africa using traditional soap making methods. Plant matter such as agow, plantain skins or bark, or cocoa pods are burned, and the ashes are mixed with water to form an alkali, which is then mixed with a variety of carrier oils and/or butters (such as palm, shea, or coconut). (Please note: as in any other properly made real soap, once the oils/butters react with the alkali, they are converted to the final products: soap and glycerine, and no alkali is left). Each village, family, and region of West Africa have their own recipes, made with various ingredients, so African black soaps from different places greatly differ from each other (due to differences in ingredients, soap making techniques, formulation, quality of ingredients, etc). Even ones made with the same ingredients, but in different proportions or techniques, can vary widely in how they clean, lather, and feel across the skin.

The color of African black soap ranges from a deep dark (almost black) brown color to light tan color, depending on the plants and techniques used (for example, the types of plant matter and how long the plants are roasted). African black soaps have a pleasant mild scent and are rich in natural glycerine, so are very soft and crumbly.

Earth Alkemie carries four kinds of African black soap, from Togo and Ghana (all very distinct from each other). We have searched and sampled many different African black soaps from various regions, and we offer the best that we've found! Our African black soaps are offered plain (as is, with no additional additives, scent free). They are super gentle and clean without over drying the skin.

We hope you enjoy the African black soaps we carry, and also our bar and liquid cleansers made with African black soap (coming soon)! We plan to offer many other soaps in the near future!

Alata Samina and Ose Dudu are the traditional names for African black soap for soaps made in those regions. Karite is another name for the shea plant. Our Ghana soap was made in Ghana.

Our African black soaps are part of our Legends cosmetics.

Use our African black soaps to clean the facial skin, the body, and also the hair! :) (see directions).

Ingredients

Directions

Eco notes: The shea butter and palm oil used in our African black soap is organic (but not certified) and/or sustainable. They are all fair trade and made by women co-ops. Our soaps come in a biodegradable cello bag made from sustainable sourced wood cellulose, please reuse the bag or compost after use! :)

**See our Legends gift sets (with African black soaps)!

Pictured above is the xiao and grande sizes of Alata Samina. Alata Samina Alata Samina is an African black soap from Ghana. It is made with organic shea butter and a small amount of sustainable palm oil. It forms a very rich lather, and is completely non-drying; perfect for dry skin, but also great for oily and blemished skin too. Suggested for all skin types, especially dry, dehydrated, combination, blemished, and sensitive skin. It is a light brown to tan color. This is Li's personal favorite out of the three African black soaps that we carry. Grande (full size bar) is approximately 3.0 ounces, and xiao (small bar) is about 2 ounces.
Grande: $5.50
Xiao: $3.75 **Note: the new batch of Alata Samina (for the xiao bars) is a little darker than previous batches (due to natural color variations). It's color is mix of beige, tan, and brown.

Pictured above is the xiao and grande sizes of Alata Samina.

Alata Samina

Alata Samina is an African black soap from Ghana. It is made with organic shea butter and a small amount of sustainable palm oil. It forms a very rich lather, and is completely non-drying; perfect for dry skin, but also great for oily and blemished skin too. Suggested for all skin types, especially dry, dehydrated, combination, blemished, and sensitive skin. It is a light brown to tan color. This is Li's personal favorite out of the three African black soaps that we carry.

Grande (full size bar) is approximately 3.0 ounces, and xiao (small bar) is about 2 ounces.

Grande: $5.50

Xiao: $3.75

**Note: the new batch of Alata Samina (for the xiao bars) is a little darker than previous batches (due to natural color variations). It's color is mix of beige, tan, and brown.

Pictured above: close up of Ghana soap. New!!! Ghana Ghana is an African black soap made in northern Ghana. This is a lovely soap made with plenty of coconut and palm oils. Suggested for all skin types, especially combination, sensitive and blemished skin. It is a mix of light brown, dark brown, and tan colors. Grande (full size bar) is approximately 3.0 ounces, and xiao (small bar) is about 2 ounces. Ghana is part of our Ephemeral (limited edition) collection.
Grande: $4.00
Xiao: $2.75

Pictured above: close up of Ghana soap.

New!!! Ghana

Ghana is an African black soap made in northern Ghana. This is a lovely soap made with plenty of coconut and palm oils. Suggested for all skin types, especially combination, sensitive and blemished skin. It is a mix of light brown, dark brown, and tan colors.

Grande (full size bar) is approximately 3.0 ounces, and xiao (small bar) is about 2 ounces.

Ghana is part of our Ephemeral (limited edition) collection.

Grande: $4.00

Xiao: $2.75

Pictured above is the xiao size of Karite (1.5 oz) Karite soap Our Karite soap is also made in Ghana. It is made with only organic shea butter (in addition to the water and wood ash). It is very crumbly, more than our other two African black soaps. This soap forms a creamy, rich cleanser when wet. It does not lather very much (compared to the other two which lather a lot!) but it will get your skin very clean without overdrying it. It is a light brown to tan color. For all skin types. Grande (full size) is 4 ounces (please note: Karite soap does not come formed as a bar, but rather are small and large pieces/chunks). Xiao (small size) is 1.5 ounces. Karite is part of our Ephemeral (limited edition) collection.
Grande: $5.00
Xiao: $2.10

Pictured above is the xiao size of Karite (1.5 oz)

Karite soap

Our Karite soap is also made in Ghana. It is made with only organic shea butter (in addition to the water and wood ash). It is very crumbly, more than our other two African black soaps. This soap forms a creamy, rich cleanser when wet. It does not lather very much (compared to the other two which lather a lot!) but it will get your skin very clean without overdrying it. It is a light brown to tan color. For all skin types.

Grande (full size) is 4 ounces (please note: Karite soap does not come formed as a bar, but rather are small and large pieces/chunks). Xiao (small size) is 1.5 ounces.

Karite is part of our Ephemeral (limited edition) collection.

Grande: $5.00

Xiao: $2.10

Pictured above is the xiao (left) and grande (right) sizes of Ose Dudu. Ose Dudu Ose Dudu is made in Togo from almost equal amounts of sustainable, organic palm kernel oil and organic shea butter. It is a beautiful deep brown (almost black) color with lighter brown mixed in. We recommend this one for most skin types, including mildly dry skin, but very dry skin may want to try the Alata Samina, Karite, or use our cleansing oil. Grande (full size bar) is approximately 3.0 ounces, and xiao (small bar) is about 2 ounces.
Grande: $3.95
Xiao: $2.75

Pictured above is the xiao (left) and grande (right) sizes of Ose Dudu.

Ose Dudu

Ose Dudu is made in Togo from almost equal amounts of sustainable, organic palm kernel oil and organic shea butter. It is a beautiful deep brown (almost black) color with lighter brown mixed in. We recommend this one for most skin types, including mildly dry skin, but very dry skin may want to try the Alata Samina, Karite, or use our cleansing oil.

Grande (full size bar) is approximately 3.0 ounces, and xiao (small bar) is about 2 ounces.

Grande: $3.95

Xiao: $2.75