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What we use · Why it matters
Ancient knowledge.
Honoured, not extracted.
Every ingredient in a Luyana formulation carries a history. These are not fillers or trend-chasing additions — they are botanicals that generations of women across Africa have understood intimately, pressed and prepared long before the beauty industry came looking. We source them with care, use them at concentrations that make a difference, and believe you deserve to know exactly what you are putting on your skin.
"It is not just about what goes into the formula. It is about the people behind the supply chain, the environmental footprint, and whether the brand can honestly account for every step between the earth and your hands."Mari-Anne & Melinda — Founders, Luyana Skincare
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Source Oils & Butters
Cold-pressed, single-origin, unrefined wherever possible. These are the carriers of the ritual — oils and butters that have nourished skin across Africa for centuries, each selected for what it uniquely delivers to the skin rather than for price or availability.
Baobab
Adansonia digitata — oil & fruit pulp
Sub-Saharan Africa
Origin & tradition
The baobab tree — called the Tree of Life — can live for thousands of years. Its fruit, which dries naturally on the branch, has been eaten and applied to skin across sub-Saharan Africa for generations. The oil is cold-pressed from the seeds; the pulp dried and powdered. Both carry a depth of nutritional complexity that few plants match.
For the skin
Exceptionally rich in Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids alongside Vitamins A, D, E and F. The oil absorbs without heaviness and restores suppleness over time. The fruit pulp is among the most concentrated natural sources of Vitamin C on earth — a brightening and antioxidant-rich active.
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Marula
Sclerocarya birrea — cold-pressed oil
Southern & East Africa
Origin & tradition
Pressed from the nut of the marula fruit — a tree deeply embedded in the cultural life of Southern Africa, from Zimbabwe to Namibia to Mozambique. Zulu and Swazi women have pressed marula oil for skin and hair for centuries, and the fruit is ceremonially significant in many communities.
For the skin
Exceptionally high in oleic acid, which makes it deeply moisturising while absorbing rapidly without residue. Naturally rich in antioxidants. Lightweight, skin-identical in feel, and non-comedogenic — it works for every skin type, including oily and combination.
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Moringa
Moringa oleifera — oil & leaf powder
East Africa
Origin & tradition
Moringa has been cultivated and used across East Africa for centuries — in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Uganda the leaves are eaten for nutrition, the seeds pressed for oil, and the powder used in traditional medicine for a range of conditions. Communities across the Horn of Africa have long understood what research now confirms: that almost every part of the tree is useful. The oil has historically been traded along East African routes and prized for its stability in the heat.
For the skin
One of the most stable plant oils available — high in behenic acid, which gives it an unusually long shelf life without synthetic preservation. Powerfully antioxidant and anti-inflammatory. Absorbs cleanly and leaves no residue. The leaf powder adds gentle detoxifying and brightening properties.
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Kalahari Melon
Citrullus lanatus — cold-pressed seed oil
Botswana · Namibia · South Africa
Origin & tradition
Pressed from the seeds of the wild melon that grows across the Kalahari Desert — one of the harshest, driest environments on earth. The San people have used it for generations as a skin protector against extreme heat, wind and sun. An ingredient the desert itself made resilient.
For the skin
Extraordinarily high in linoleic acid — an essential fatty acid that the skin cannot produce itself and must receive from the outside. Lightweight and fast-absorbing, it restores the lipid barrier with precision. The desert origin is not incidental: an oil evolved to survive that climate has unusual protective properties.
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Ximenia
Ximenia americana — wild plum oil
Tanzania · Ethiopia · Kenya
Origin & tradition
Pressed from the seeds of the wild plum, which grows across tropical East Africa. Highly prized in traditional East African beauty rituals for hair and body, but rarely seen in commercial skincare — partly because the yields are small and the press is slow. It is an ingredient that rewards patience to source.
For the skin
Exceptionally high in erucic acid, a unique fatty acid with remarkable skin-softening and elasticity-improving properties found in few other natural oils. Penetrates deeply, plumping the skin from within rather than simply coating the surface.
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Shea Nilotica & Shea Nut Oil
Vitellaria nilotica / V. paradoxa — butter & oil
East & West Africa · Nile Basin
Origin & tradition
Two expressions of one of Africa's most ancient and important plants. Shea Nilotica — the finer variety — grows only along the Nile basin in Uganda, South Sudan, and Ethiopia, hand-harvested and cold-pressed by women's collectives. The shea nut oil, pressed from Vitellaria paradoxa, comes from the savannah belt of West Africa where the shea tree has been central to community life for thousands of years. Both forms have nourished skin across the continent for generations.
For the skin
Shea Nilotica's higher oleic acid content means it melts at body temperature and absorbs cleanly rather than sitting on the skin. The liquid nut oil brings the same nourishment in a lighter, more fluid form — suited to cleansers and formulations where a butter's density would be too much. Together they appear across our range wherever deep, lasting moisture is needed.
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Rosehip
Rosa canina — cold-pressed seed oil
Southern Africa · Chile
Origin & tradition
Pressed from the seeds inside the dried hips of the wild rose — a plant that grows across Southern Africa and the Andes of Chile, where the Mapuche people have used it for generations for skin healing and protection. The hips are harvested after the first frost, when the concentration of active compounds reaches its peak. Cold-pressing preserves what the heat of other methods destroys.
For the skin
Among the highest natural sources of trans-retinoic acid — a form of Vitamin A — alongside essential fatty acids and Vitamin C. Clinically studied for its effects on scarring, hyperpigmentation, and skin cell renewal. One of the few natural oils that genuinely earns the word regenerative, and one of the reasons our Ancestral Glow Cleanser performs as a treatment as well as a cleanser.
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Mongongo
Schinziophyton rautanenii — nut oil
Zimbabwe · Zambia · Botswana
Origin & tradition
The mongongo nut is a staple food of the San people of the Kalahari — calorie-rich, long-lasting, and gathered from wild trees that need no cultivation. The oil pressed from the nut has been used for skin and hair for centuries. It is rarely seen in skincare outside Africa, which is a significant oversight.
For the skin
Extraordinarily high in eleostearic acid — a unique polyunsaturated fatty acid with exceptional antioxidant and UV-protective properties not widely found in other plant oils. Brightening and protective. An ingredient that the rest of the beauty world is only beginning to notice.
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Argan
Argania spinosa — cold-pressed oil
Southwest Morocco
Origin & tradition
Pressed from the kernels of the argan tree — a species that grows only in the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve of southwest Morocco. The nuts are cracked by hand by women's collectives, a process that cannot be meaningfully mechanised. It is one of the most labour-intensive oils in the world to produce, which is why we use it where it counts.
For the skin
Rich in tocopherols (Vitamin E), phenols, and a balanced ratio of oleic to linoleic acid. Smoothing, protective against oxidative damage, and deeply conditioning. In our formulations it contributes both nutritive depth and a silkiness that no synthetic can replicate.
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Castor
Ricinus communis — cold-pressed seed oil
Ancient Egypt · East & West Africa
Origin & tradition
Castor seeds have been recovered from ancient Egyptian tombs dating to around 4000 BC, and the Ebers Papyrus records its use for skin conditions and hair. Ancient Egyptians called it kiki and applied it topically and medicinally. From Egypt it spread across the continent, and castor plants grow widely across East and West Africa, where traditional communities have pressed and used the oil for generations since.
For the skin
Uniquely high in ricinoleic acid — a fatty acid found in almost no other plant oil in nature. This gives castor its distinctive viscosity and its remarkable ability to seal in moisture. In our Silk Oil Cleanser it contributes the emulsifying quality that allows the formula to bind with impurities and rinse cleanly without stripping.
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Mafura Butter
Trichilia emetica — seed butter
Zimbabwe · Zambia · Mozambique
Origin & tradition
Pressed from the seeds of the mafura tree — also known as the Cape mahogany — which grows across Southern Africa. Used in traditional Zimbabwean and Mozambican skincare and hair preparations for generations. Like many of Africa's most valuable cosmetic ingredients, it has been known and quietly used by local communities while remaining largely invisible to the global beauty industry.
For the skin
Rich in oleic and stearic acids with a light texture that belies its moisturising depth. Particularly gentle and soothing — which is why it finds its place in our Sacred Beginnings Baby Oil alongside chamomile and calendula.
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Cocoa Butter
Theobroma cacao — extracted seed fat
Ghana · Côte d'Ivoire
Origin & tradition
The fat extracted from cocoa beans during processing — a byproduct that West African communities have long applied to skin and hair. Solid at room temperature, it melts on contact with the skin. The faint scent of cocoa in our lip butters is natural, not added — it comes from the butter itself.
For the skin
Rich in stearic, palmitic, and oleic acids. Forms a protective barrier on the skin's surface that seals in moisture for extended periods — particularly important for lip formulations, which face constant exposure. Combined with Shea Nilotica in our lip butters, the two butters complement each other's texture and function.
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Tamanu
Calophyllum inophyllum — cold-pressed oil
Mozambique · Tanzania · Madagascar
Origin & tradition
The tamanu tree grows along the coastal regions of East Africa — in Mozambique, Tanzania, and Madagascar — where communities have applied the oil to wounds, skin infections, and persistent skin conditions for generations. The extraction requires patience: the nuts must be sun-dried for weeks before pressing releases the dark, intensely aromatic oil. In Madagascar and along the Swahili coast, it has long been a trusted ingredient in traditional healing practices.
For the skin
Uniquely contains calophyllolide, a compound with clinically studied anti-inflammatory and wound-healing properties. Exceptional for hyperpigmentation, scarring, stretch marks, and problematic skin. A transformative ingredient for skin that has been through something.
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Papaya Seed
Carica papaya — cold-pressed seed oil
Tropical Africa
Origin & tradition
Though papaya arrived in Africa via Portuguese traders in the sixteenth century, it has been so thoroughly integrated into tropical African medicine that it is now inseparable from it. Across sub-Saharan Africa — from West Africa to East Africa to the Great Lakes region — the whole plant is used: the fruit eaten and applied to skin, the leaves used medicinally, the latex of the unripe fruit applied to wounds. The seeds, typically discarded, contain compounds the fruit itself does not.
For the skin
Contains naturally occurring papain enzyme, which gently exfoliates and brightens by dissolving dead skin cells without abrasion. High in oleic acid for deep hydration. Particularly effective for hyperpigmentation and uneven tone — the brightening function is enzymatic, not cosmetic.
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Sunflower
Helianthus annuus — cold-pressed seed oil
Sustainably sourced
Origin & tradition
Sunflower is native to North America and was introduced to Africa through trade routes. It is now widely cultivated across East and Southern Africa — in Ethiopia, South Africa, and Tanzania — where it has become an important agricultural crop. We source from certified sustainable collectives and include it in specific formulations for its reliable, skin-compatible performance rather than its heritage.
For the skin
High in linoleic acid, making it an excellent barrier-restoring carrier. Lightweight, non-comedogenic, and skin-compatible across all types. In our formulations it plays a supporting role — extending the skin feel of richer actives without altering their character or overwhelming the formula.
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Coffee Oil
Coffea arabica — cold-pressed bean oil
Ethiopia — birthplace of coffee
Origin & tradition
Ethiopia is where Coffea arabica originates — wild coffee trees still grow in the forests of Kaffa and Jimma — and coffee has been part of Ethiopian cultural life for centuries before it spread to the rest of the world. Ethiopian communities have long applied coffee topically as well as consumed it. The oil pressed from the beans is a more recent refinement, carrying the plant's antioxidant richness in concentrated form.
For the skin
Exceptionally high in linoleic and oleic acids, alongside caffeol and other antioxidant compounds. Energising for the skin — the same compounds that make coffee so biologically active in the body make the oil a potent protector against oxidative stress at the skin's surface.
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Coconut
Cocos nucifera — cold-pressed oil
East African Coast · Sustainably sourced
Origin & tradition
Coconut palms have grown along the Swahili coast of East Africa — in Kenya, Tanzania, and Mozambique — for centuries, arriving via Indian Ocean trade routes and becoming thoroughly embedded in coastal African life. Along the Swahili coast, coconut oil has been used for cooking, skin care, and hair treatment across generations. In the coastal communities of Lamu, Mombasa, and Zanzibar, it remains a daily staple applied to skin and hair as a matter of routine.
For the skin
Rich in lauric, capric, and caprylic acids — antimicrobial and deeply moisturising. In our cleansers it contributes to both cleansing efficacy and post-cleanse moisture retention. In our lip butters and body scrub, it provides the conditioning base that makes each formulation feel complete.
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Rose
Rosa damascena — steam-distilled essential oil
Morocco · North Africa
Origin & tradition
Morocco's Dadès Valley — in the foothills of the High Atlas — is one of the world's most celebrated rose-growing regions, producing Rosa damascena that is prized by perfumers globally. Rose water has been used in North African beauty and culinary traditions for centuries, and the annual rose harvest in the Dadès Valley is a cultural event as much as an agricultural one. It takes approximately three to five tonnes of petals to produce one kilogram of true rose oil. Nothing synthetic replicates it convincingly.
For the skin
Deeply regenerative, anti-inflammatory, and hydrating. Contains geraniol, citronellol, and other actives with studied effects on skin comfort and barrier repair. The scent — true rose, not synthetic — is among the most emotionally resonant aromatics known. In the Rose Melt Lip Butter, it transforms a functional product into something closer to a small ritual.
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Botanical Actives
Powders, leaf extracts, and flower preparations — the functional botanicals doing specific work in each formulation, chosen for what they are proven to do rather than for how they photograph.
Hibiscus
Hibiscus sabdariffa — flower powder
West & East Africa
Origin & tradition
Hibiscus tea — known as bissap in West Africa and karkadé in East Africa — has been consumed for its medicinal properties across the continent for centuries. The flower has been equally present in traditional skin preparations, prized for its deep colour and active compounds. It is one of Africa's most widely loved botanicals.
For the skin
Naturally high in alpha-hydroxy acids, particularly citric acid, which provides gentle chemical exfoliation without abrasion. Brightening and antioxidant-rich. Its studied effects on skin elasticity have earned it the nickname "natural botox" — an overstatement, but one grounded in real data.
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Rooibos
Aspalathus linearis — leaf infusion
Cederberg Mountains, South Africa
Origin & tradition
Rooibos grows nowhere else on earth except the Cederberg mountains of the Western Cape. The Khoisan people used the red bush for centuries both as a beverage and for its skin-soothing properties, long before it reached the rest of the world. Its name means "red bush" in Afrikaans — the colour it turns when oxidised.
For the skin
Exceptionally rich in aspalathin and nothofagin — two flavonoids found nowhere else in the plant kingdom. Powerfully antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and soothing. Naturally caffeine-free and low in tannins, making it exceptionally gentle for sensitive and reactive skin.
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Kigelia Africana
Kigelia africana — fruit pulp powder
Zambia · Malawi · East Africa
Origin & tradition
The sausage tree — named for its extraordinary elongated fruit — has been used in traditional East and Southern African skincare for centuries, particularly in Malawian and Zambian communities for skin firming and toning. It is one of Africa's best-kept skincare secrets: an ingredient the global beauty industry has largely missed while the women who have always known it have gone on using it quietly.
For the skin
Contains flavonoids, saponins, and coumarins with clinically studied effects on skin firmness and elasticity. The evidence base for kigelia is unusually strong for a traditional botanical. Toning and firming, with particular effectiveness for skin laxity and loss of definition.
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Licorice Root
Glycyrrhiza glabra — root extract
Ancient Egypt · North Africa
Origin & tradition
Licorice root was found among the burial goods in Tutankhamun's tomb — evidence that ancient Egyptians valued it enough to carry into the afterlife. The Ebers Papyrus records its medicinal use in Egypt as far back as 1550 BC. From North Africa it was traded east and west, becoming embedded in the medicine of multiple cultures. The skin-brightening compound it contains — glabridin — was understood in practice long before it was isolated by science.
For the skin
Contains glabridin, one of the most studied natural compounds for hyperpigmentation. It inhibits tyrosinase — the enzyme responsible for melanin production — making it among the most effective natural ingredients for dark spots and uneven tone. Included in The Luminous Legacy precisely because it works.
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Chamomile
Matricaria chamomilla — flower powder
Ancient Egypt · Mediterranean
Origin & tradition
Ancient Egyptians held chamomile among their most sacred plants — dedicating it to Ra, the sun god, and using it medicinally in preparations for skin conditions and fever. It is one of the plants recorded in the Ebers Papyrus, the ancient Egyptian medical text dating to around 1550 BC. From Egypt the knowledge of chamomile spread across the Mediterranean and beyond. That it now sits in our Sacred Beginnings Baby Oil is consistent with the long tradition of reaching for chamomile first when care is the priority.
For the skin
Contains apigenin and alpha-bisabolol — two of the most well-studied anti-inflammatory compounds in plant medicine. Genuinely soothing for reactive, irritated, and sensitive skin. One of the few ingredients we use that requires no argument for its inclusion: the evidence, and the tradition, speak clearly.
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Calendula
Calendula officinalis — flower
Ancient Egypt · Mediterranean
Origin & tradition
Ancient Egyptians used calendula as a rejuvenating herb — applying the petals to skin and incorporating the plant into healing preparations. It is among the plants with the longest continuous documented history of topical use, spanning Egyptian, Greek, and Roman medical traditions before spreading throughout the medieval herbal tradition. The bright orange petals are as visually striking as they are functionally effective.
For the skin
Rich in flavonoids and triterpenoids with proven wound-healing, anti-inflammatory, and antifungal properties. Among the most thoroughly documented botanicals for skin health. Exceptionally gentle — included specifically in formulations for the most sensitive skin.
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Moroccan Clay
Ghassoul — volcanic lava clay
Atlas Mountains, Morocco
Origin & tradition
Ghassoul clay has been mined from the Atlas Mountains of Morocco for over a thousand years. In the North African hammam tradition — one of the great bathing and beauty cultures of the world — it is applied to the skin and hair as a deep cleanser and softener before rinsing in the steam. Berber women have used it for generations as a regular part of their skincare practice. The word ghassoul comes from the Arabic verb meaning "to wash" — the function is built into the name.
For the skin
Uniquely structured at a molecular level to absorb impurities, excess sebum, and environmental residue from the skin's surface without drawing out moisture. Leaves skin genuinely clean rather than stripped. In The Sacred Earth Ceremony, it is the foundation on which all the botanical actives are delivered and held in contact with the skin.
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Acacia Gum
Acacia senegal — tree resin
Sudan · Senegal · Sahel Region
Origin & tradition
Acacia gum — also known as gum arabic — has been harvested from wild acacia trees across the Sahel for at least four thousand years. Ancient Egyptians used it as a binder in cosmetic preparations, a component of medicinal recipes in the Ebers Papyrus, and in the preservation of mummies. It is one of the oldest traded commodities on earth, moving north along Nile trade routes from sub-Saharan Africa to Egypt and the Mediterranean world. Today it is still harvested by communities across Sudan, Senegal, and Chad using methods that have changed little over centuries.
For the skin
A natural binding and film-forming ingredient that gives the facial mask its texture and allows the botanical actives to adhere evenly to the skin's surface during use. Gently soothing and humectant in its own right — it draws moisture to the skin while everything else in the mask works.
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Mint Leaf
Mentha piperita — leaf
Mediterranean — cultivated widely
Origin & tradition
One of the most universally used medicinal plants — applied topically across Mediterranean, Middle Eastern, and African healing traditions for cooling, numbing, and antiseptic purposes for millennia. In lip preparations specifically, it has centuries of precedent as the ingredient that signals the preparation is doing something.
For the skin
Contains menthol, which activates cold receptors in the skin creating a cooling sensation without lowering the actual temperature. Mildly antiseptic. In our lip butters it provides a moment of freshness and clarity — the sensory signal that makes the ritual feel complete.
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The Ritual Additions
Ingredients that serve precise, supporting roles in specific formulations — a protective wax, a natural preservative, an exfoliant, a stimulant. Each one chosen for what it does, not what it represents.
Beeswax
Cera alba — ethically sourced
Ancient Egypt · Certified ethical beekeepers
Origin & tradition
Ancient Egyptians kept bees and used wax extensively — in cosmetic preparations, in wound dressings, and in the preservation of the dead. Beeswax residues have been identified in ancient Egyptian vessels dating back over three thousand years, and beekeeping was practiced along the Nile long before it spread to Europe. We source exclusively from verified ethical operations that support healthy bee populations.
For the skin
Creates a breathable, protective film on the skin's surface — sealing moisture without suffocating the skin underneath. In lip formulations, it provides the structural integrity that allows the butter to hold its shape and apply evenly. Its presence is the reason our lip butters stay where you put them.
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Coffee Grounds
Coffea arabica — spent grounds
Ethiopia — direct-trade sourced
Origin & tradition
Coffee originates in the highlands of Ethiopia — where Coffea arabica still grows wild in the forests of Kaffa and Jimma — and has been part of Ethiopian cultural life for centuries before it spread to the rest of the world. Ethiopian communities have long applied coffee topically as well as consumed it. We source from roasters working with direct-trade collectives that trace back to these same growing regions.
For the skin
Provides firm mechanical exfoliation that stimulates circulation as it removes dead skin. Natural caffeine absorbed at the skin's surface acts as a vasoconstrictor — temporarily tightening and firming. The deep colour gives The Umber Ceremony its distinctive appearance, which is entirely natural.
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Brown Sugar
Saccharum officinarum — unrefined cane
Sustainably sourced
Origin & tradition
Unrefined brown sugar has been used as a natural exfoliant across tropical cultures for centuries — in cane-growing regions of Africa, the Caribbean, and South Asia, the application of raw sugar to skin is traditional knowledge that long predates the beauty industry's discovery of it. The tradition is older than the trend.
For the skin
A natural source of glycolic acid — the smallest alpha-hydroxy acid — which gently dissolves the bonds between dead skin cells while the physical granules provide simultaneous mechanical exfoliation. Hygroscopic — it draws moisture to the skin even as it removes what the skin no longer needs.
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Vitamin E
Tocopherol — natural, plant-derived
Derived from plant sources
Origin & tradition
We use the natural tocopherol form, extracted from plant sources — sunflower and other seed oils. Vitamin E has been applied topically for skin healing and protection for decades, but its role in traditional plant medicine is far older — the seeds and leaves of Vitamin E-rich plants have been used across cultures for wound healing and skin nourishment.
For the skin
A powerful lipid-soluble antioxidant that protects the skin's cell membranes from oxidative damage. In oil-based formulations it also acts as a natural preservative — extending stability without synthetic additives. Present in almost every Luyana formulation because of how comprehensively it protects everything else in the bottle.
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The Sacred Scents
We use essential oils for their active properties, not merely their fragrance. Each one is chosen for what it delivers to the skin and the nervous system — the ritual dimension of skincare is not incidental, and the scent profile of a product is part of its formulation.
Frankincense
Boswellia carterii — essential oil
Somalia · Ethiopia · Oman
Origin & tradition
One of the most ancient aromatic resins known — traded along incense routes for thousands of years, used in sacred ritual, medicine, and beauty across East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula long before it reached Europe. The resin is hand-tapped from Boswellia trees, a process that requires skill and cannot be rushed.
For the skin
Contains boswellic acids with studied effects on skin inflammation and cellular regeneration. Supports renewal at a level few plant-derived ingredients match. The scent — deep, resinous, grounding — has documented calming effects on the nervous system. The ritual dimension of frankincense is not separate from its skin benefit; they are the same thing.
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Neroli
Citrus aurantium — blossom essential oil
Morocco · North Africa
Origin & tradition
Morocco and Tunisia are among the world's primary producers of neroli — distilled from the blossoms of the bitter orange trees that grow across North Africa's coastal regions. In the North African hammam tradition, orange blossom water has been used for centuries as a skin tonic and a component of bathing rituals. It takes approximately a thousand kilograms of blossoms to produce one kilogram of oil.
For the skin
Regenerative and deeply balancing for all skin types. Supports cellular renewal and tone. The scent profile is simultaneously lifting and calming — a considered choice for products used in morning and evening rituals alike.
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Ylang Ylang
Cananga odorata — flower essential oil
Comoros Islands · East Africa
Origin & tradition
The Comoros Islands — an archipelago off the East African coast between Mozambique and Madagascar — is the world's largest producer of ylang ylang oil, and the island of Anjouan in particular is known for producing the highest grade. In the Comoros and in Madagascar, ylang ylang flowers are used in traditional preparations for skin and hair, and the flower carries deep cultural significance in ceremonies and rites of passage.
For the skin
Naturally balancing for oily and combination skin. Antiseptic and soothing. Provides warmth and depth to our Ritual Glow Body Oil's scent profile that lingers without overpowering.
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Sweet Orange
Citrus sinensis — cold-pressed peel oil
Tropical & subtropical regions
Origin & tradition
Cold-pressed from the rind — a practice that extracts the oil without heat, preserving the brightness of the citrus. In our formulations it plays a specific role in the Ritual Glow Body Oil's scent composition — the note that opens the experience before the deeper florals settle.
For the skin
High in limonene with antioxidant and astringent properties. Adds a clean, luminous quality to the skin's appearance. The scent is genuinely uplifting — in the context of a morning body ritual, that is not a trivial contribution.
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Tea Tree
Melaleuca alternifolia — essential oil
New South Wales, Australia
Origin & tradition
Used by the Aboriginal people of Australia for thousands of years — leaves crushed and applied to wounds, skin infections, and inflammatory conditions. One of the most thoroughly documented pathways from indigenous traditional knowledge to clinical validation in modern botanical medicine. The knowledge came first; the science followed.
For the skin
Contains terpinen-4-ol, the compound responsible for its potent antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory activity. Clinically studied for efficacy against acne-causing bacteria, fungal conditions, and inflammatory skin responses. In our Tea Tree formulations it delivers active benefit alongside a clean, clarifying scent.
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05
The Ancient Cleansers
Traditional African black soap is one of the oldest cleansing traditions in the world. These three ingredients are its foundation — each one contributing a specific function to a soap that has been made in West Africa for centuries without alteration.
Plantain Skin Ash
Musa paradisiaca — dried and burned
West & Central Africa
Origin & tradition
One of the two foundational ash ingredients in authentic African black soap — a tradition practiced in Ghana, Nigeria, and across West Africa for centuries. The plantain skins are dried, then burned slowly until they reduce to a fine potassium-rich ash. This ash acts as the alkaline component that initiates saponification — the chemical process that turns oil into soap.
For the skin
The potassium-rich ash creates the natural lye that saponifies with shea and oils to produce a soap that cleanses without stripping. The pH balance it achieves is gentle and skin-compatible in a way that synthetic surfactants do not replicate. It is not a primitive ingredient — it is a precisely effective one.
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Cocoa Pod Ash
Theobroma cacao — pod ash
Ghana · Côte d'Ivoire · Nigeria
Origin & tradition
The pods of the cocoa plant — discarded after the cacao beans are removed — are dried, burned, and their ash combined with plantain ash to create the alkaline base of traditional African black soap. This use of what would otherwise be agricultural waste is both ancient and elegant: nothing from the cocoa tree is wasted.
For the skin
Works in concert with plantain ash to produce the deep-cleansing, pH-balancing properties of authentic black soap. The combination of the two ash types produces a gentler, more complex alkaline than either alone — a formulation refinement that traditional soapmakers discovered centuries before cosmetic chemistry had language to explain it.
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Palm Kernel Oil
Elaeis guineensis — kernel oil
West Africa — sustainably sourced
Origin & tradition
Pressed from the kernel of the oil palm fruit — one of West Africa's most versatile traditional ingredients, used in cooking, medicine, and as the base oil in traditional black soap. We source only from sustainable collectives that do not contribute to deforestation — it is an ingredient with a complex modern history, and we take our sourcing responsibility seriously.
For the skin
Rich in lauric acid, which gives African black soap its gentle yet effective lathering and cleansing properties. It is the lauric acid content that allows the soap to lift impurities without disrupting the skin's lipid barrier — the quality that distinguishes authentic black soap from synthetic alternatives.
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Begin the ritual
Every ingredient has a story.
Every product is where they meet.
These are not ingredients assembled for a formula. They are a lineage — of knowledge, of hands, of earth. Find the formulations that carry them.