Top Brands for Authentic African Black Soap

African black soap has become increasingly popular due to its natural ingredients and myriad skin benefits, including its ability to deeply cleanse and clarify the skin. With its origins in West African traditions, the demand for authentic and effective black soap brands has led to a variety of options in the market today. Each company brings its unique formulation and heritage to the table, offering customers diverse choices tailored to different skin needs. If you're curious about which African black soap brands stand out and why they might be the right fit for you, we invite you to check the curated list below.

Illustration of african black soap

Best brands of african black soap in 2025

Alaffia

Alaffia, founded in 2003 by Olowo-n'djo Tchala and Prairie Rose Hyde, is a recognized producer of authentic African black soap, using traditional methods and fair trade practices with ingredients like unrefined shea butter and West African palm oil. They are certified For Life by Ecocert, ensuring that they pay fair wages, typically 15-25% above market price, to their cooperative members in West Africa. This contributes to community empowerment projects like reforestation and maternal care while promoting ecological sustainability. Alaffia's commitment extends to using sustainable, wild-crafted ingredients and offering unscented options for sensitive skin, making it a great choice for those seeking effective, ethically produced skincare. Their dedication to both social and environmental responsibility makes them a leader in the industry. You can find more information about their products and mission on their website.

Dudu-Osun

Dudu-Osun, a renowned brand of African black soap, is traditionally handcrafted in Nigeria using a blend of natural ingredients such as shea butter, honey, aloe vera, camwood, and citrus juices, with the first mass production dating back to 1995. It is known for its cleansing, moisturizing, and healing properties that help with eczema, acne, and dark spots, making it suitable for all skin types and a popular choice globally. Its unique dark color comes from the ashes of plantain peels, cocoa pods, and palm bunches. You can find more details on their official website.

SheaMoisture

SheaMoisture is a popular brand known for its African Black Soap products, which combine traditional ingredients like palm ash and plantain peel with moisturizing shea butter, often ethically sourced from women's cooperatives in Ghana, along with other beneficial ingredients like oats and aloe. This combination creates a cleanser that helps balance oily skin, and can calm and clear blemishes, with many users reporting softer, smoother, and more hydrated skin after use. It has become a favorite for those with acne, eczema, or psoriasis. The bar soap is usually large, around 8oz, offering great value.

Nubian Heritage

Nubian Heritage, established in 1992, is a well-regarded brand for African Black Soap, which combines shea butter, known for its hydrating properties, with soothing ingredients like oats, aloe, and cocoa pod ash, to create a deep-cleansing formula that is effective for treating skin conditions like eczema and acne, offering a detoxifying exfoliation for healthy-looking skin, with many customers praising its quality and moisturizing effects.

Sky Organics

Sky Organics, a family-founded company established in 2015, is known for producing authentic African Black Soap sourced from Ghana, which is made with ingredients like cocoa pod ash, shea butter, and coconut oil to effectively cleanse and soothe skin, particularly for oily and blemish-prone complexions. This vegan and cruelty-free soap, available in a 16 oz bar, is crafted in small batches and is known for its deep cleansing properties while leaving the skin refreshed. With a 4.9 out of 5-star average rating, consumers appreciate its light scent and gentle formula. Sky Organics is dedicated to using certified organic ingredients where possible, and responsibly sources them while being a certified B Corporation.

Tropical Naturals

Tropical Naturals, founded in 1995 as Cosmos Chemicals and becoming fully operational under its current name in 2007, is a leading Nigerian producer of authentic African black soap, with their flagship product, Dudu-Osun, which is made with traditional ingredients like shea butter, honey, and camwood, and is known for its deep cleansing and skin-healing properties. Their commitment to natural ingredients is evident in their 100% pure formulations, which also include other skincare items like body lotions and shea butter, and the brand's black soap is often recommended for various skin issues such as eczema and acne. The global African black soap market was estimated at approximately USD 250 million in 2023, with projections to reach USD 540 million by 2032, and Tropical Naturals is a significant player in this expanding market. You can find their products at Tropical Naturals' official website.

African Black Soap by Neter Gold

Neter Gold, established as a top producer of African Black Soap, offers a raw and authentic product with key ingredients like shea butter, coconut oil, and cocoa pod ash, available in 5.5 oz, 10 oz, and 15.5 oz sizes; this soap is known for its deep cleansing and moisturizing properties, also working to improve skin texture, while being gentle enough for both face and body. Some customers have noted that it clears pigmentations, and leaves the skin feeling nourished and soft, making it suitable for various skin types. Neter Gold also offers a version with plantain skin ash and palm oil for those without shea and coconut oil. You can explore their products at Neter Gold's African Black Soap.

Wonderfully Natural

Wonderfully Natural is a highly-regarded producer of authentic African black soap, known for its raw, unrefined bars that are imported from West Africa and are celebrated for their natural ingredients including plantain ash, shea butter, and coconut oil; many users report improved skin texture and reduced acne after consistent use of their products, often made in a 1lb bar and available on various platforms; their black soap is praised for its effectiveness in addressing skin issues like eczema and psoriasis, often leaving skin feeling soft and clear, even though the raw soap is not uniform in shape; the brand's commitment to quality and natural ingredients has garnered positive customer reviews, highlighting its ability to cleanse while also moisturizing and nourishing the skin.

Soap Works

The Soap Works, a family-run company founded in 1982, is a notable producer of natural soaps, including African black soap, using biodegradable ingredients, and while they don't specify a percentage of black soap in their products, they focus on being kind to both skin and the environment, maintaining the founders' original passion for quality. With a history of over 30 years making small-batch soaps, they are known for their commitment to natural, chemical-free products with minimal packaging. You can find more about their products on their website: The Soap Works.

Raw Apothecary

Raw Apothecary is a well-regarded producer of authentic African black soap, crafted with a traditional recipe using plant-based oils, cocoa pod, and plantain ash for exfoliation, offering a 100% all-natural product that is fair trade, cruelty-free, organic, and unrefined. Often sold in a 1-pound bar, it provides antibacterial and antifungal properties capable of treating various skin issues such as acne, dry skin, and dark spots. This soap, while not having a set expiration date, is best stored in a cool, dry place and has a shelf life of 2-3 years, ensuring you have long-lasting natural skincare.