Black Soap

African black soap

African black soap, or simply black soap, is a kind of soap originating in Nigeria, invented by the Yoruba people. It is made from the ash of locally harvested African plants and dried peels, which gives the soap its characteristic dark colour as well as oils derived from plant sources. Black soap has become a popular toiletry product in North America. In Nigeria, black soap is often made by women using traditional recipes and is often exported through fair trade groups.

Soap

Soap is a salt of a fatty acid used for cleaning and lubricating products as well as other applications. In a domestic setting, soaps, specifically "toilet soaps", are surfactants typically used for washing, bathing, and other types of housekeeping. In industrial settings, soaps are used as thickeners, components of some lubricants, emulsifiers, and catalysts.

Black

Black is a color that results from the absence or complete absorption of visible light. It is an achromatic color, without chroma, like white and grey. It is often used symbolically or figuratively to represent darkness. Black and white have often been used to describe opposites such as good and evil, the Dark Ages versus the Age of Enlightenment, and night versus day. Since the Middle Ages, black has been the symbolic color of solemnity and authority, and for this reason it is still commonly worn by judges and magistrates.

Lavender (color)

Lavender is a light shade of purple or violet. It applies particularly to the color of the flower of the same name.

black

Adjective

1. Absorbing all light and reflecting none; dark and hueless.
2. Without light.

Noun

1. The colour/color perceived in the absence of light, but also when no light is reflected, but rather absorbed.
2. A black dye or pigment.

soap

Noun

1. A metallic salt derived from a fatty acid, commonly used in cleaning products.
2. Some other substance, often a detergent or another surfactant, able to mix with both oil and water, used for cleaning.

Verb

1. To apply soap to in washing.
2. To cover, lather, or in any other manner treat with soap, often as a prank.