Wandering around Udaipur’s spice market one blistering morning in June with rivulets of sweat dripping down every part of my body, I zeroed in on something familiar and momentarily forgot that the back of my neck was about to turn the same color as the chilies in the burlap sacks.
Soap. Not just any soap: handmade black soap. “Black” soap ranges in color from light brown to almost black, depending on the ingredients used to make it. It’s very basic, raw soap. No chemicals, no perfumes. It just smells earthy and soapy.
I first learned about black soap when I lived in West Africa. It’s known for being a cure for many types of skin conditions, including rashes and acne. Oil or fat is one of the main ingredients of this type of soap, so it leaves your skin very soft. I do get more breakouts and rashes than usual in tropical temperatures, so I was delighted to see that it’s available in India.
It’s incredibly cheap: 20 rupees apiece for the large blocks pictured here, which is about 33 cents. I got some that was darker in color, just because that’s what I’m used to.
Cheap incredibly excellent massage, cheap incredibly excellent soap, and cheap incredibly excellent Indian food. India really is heaven.
Travels in India 
So good, that black soap. I’ve tried it in Turkish hammams, but that stuff was like soft goop which you left on for about 10mins. Makes bathing a real luxurious pleasure. I love the photo of the store, Marie. Can’t wait to plan a trip to Udaipur and buy some too.
I’m not sure I could find this market again, but I know several guides who can. I can hook you up!
I adore this soap. It looks good enough to eat!
Funny you should say that. I have a photo in the same market of some raw sugar, and it looks very much like chunks of black soap!