Product Review: Dudu Osun Black Soap

Hey there

feels good to be back with this product review. I had to hunt high and low to get this soap after a random disapperance from all the shops I would normally purchase it from, so I decided
whenever I was able to get my hands on it again, I would review it.

If you’re into natural products or have natural hair, I’m sure you would have heard a little about Dudu Osun Soap. Dudu Osun soap is manfucatured in Nigeria (Woop woop) by a company called Tropical Naturals. Dudu Osun literally means black camwood soap. Wikipedia describe camwood (scientific name Baphia nitida, also known as african sandalwood) as a shrubby, hard-wooded African tree. Its wood is commonly used to make a red dye. The earliest dye wood (Camwood) was from West Africa. There’s not a great deal on camwood on Google, but it is described as having antiseptic and skin balancing propeties. (http://shearadiance.typepad.com/shea_radiance/2009/08/african-camwood-for-skincare.html). Do check out this great article about camwood http://tribune.com.ng/index.php/natural-health/44820-scientists-corroborate-usefulness-of-cam-wood-dye-in-skin-conditions.

Dudu Osun is a type of african black soap but not the only type. Though they can be similar, african black soap will differ depending on the area it comes from and its individual batch. African black soap can come from Ghana or Nigeria or somewhere else in Africa but will differ slightly depend on where and who made the soap. As far as I am aware, real african black soap , whether Ose Dudu Osun, a black Soap from Nigeria, a Black Soap from Ghana or somewhere else in Africa SHOULD NOT BE JET BLACK IN COLOUR. If the soap is jet black in colour, this will likely be due to colouring being added and will probably not be a natural soap.

As a side note , Osun is also the name of a state in Nigeria. Osun state which contains the Obafemi Awolowo University. Its capital is Osogbo. The university is also said to be located in the ancient town of Ile-Ife, a important historical site for the Yoruba culture. Oshun, or Ochun, is an Orisha who reigns over love, intimacy, beauty, wealth and diplomacy. She is worshiped also in Brazilian Candomblé Ketu, with the name spelled Oxum. She should not be confused, however, with a different Orisha of a similar name spelled “Osun,” who is the protector of the Ori, or our heads and inner souls. ochun relates mostly to woman but also man (keep checking for the Nigerian history stuff to come, 😉 )

Although it is literally translated as black soap, Dudu Osun is infact brown in colour. It lathers well and produces a brown foam/liquid. It has an earthy smell, it’s difficult to describe, but I think it smells divine.

Ose Dudu Osun

The description of the Dudu Osun Black Soap by its company says that “Dudu- Osun is the age long African black soap made the traditional way by hand from pure natural ingredients and herbs from the tropical rain forest and savannah regions. No artificial colours No preservatives bio degradable Cleanses Nourishes Protects Refreshes your skin”

The listed ingredients are
Pure honey, shea butter, osun (camwood), palmkernel oil, cocoa pod ash, palm bunch ash, aloe vera, lime juice, water & fragrance.

My Review
I loooove Dudu Osun, I think its the Bees Knees. I use as a body soap, a facial soap and as shampoo. I love the fact its ingredients are natural, so I’m not putting unknown chemicals and random stuff on my skin. It retails in the UK black hairshops for about £1 (these are everywhere), which I wouldn’t call expensive. I can’t really speak for other countries but you can always check on Amazon, Ebay for the soap also, although it may be more expensive. I’ve been using this soap for several years with little complaints.

When using Dudu Osun, it is important to allow it to dry after you use it. Because of its natural composition , if it remains wet, it will finish more quickly.

As a word of caution, Dudu Osun can be very drying for the skin on your face (as I learnt the hard way). When using it for your face, I recommend you use it with COLD WATER. As I later learnt, because the soap contains lime juice, using this with warm/hot water can be overkill for facial skin.

It’s a product that speaks for itself, just check out its reviews on the internet. Although it’s a soap of African origin, there are no limitations on who can use it.

So if your natural girl, looking for a staple cleanser … Dudu Osun may just be the way to go!

Let me know how you find it after using it.

Memoirs Of A Yoruba Girl
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