African black soap, or black soap (also known by various local names such as ose dudu, sabulun salo, and ncha nkota), is a kind of soap originating in West Africa. It is made from the ash of locally harvested African plants and dried peels, which gives the soap its characteristic dark colour.[1] Black soap has become a popular toiletry product in North America.[2] In West Africa, black soap is often made by women using traditional recipes and is often exported through fair trade groups.