Moroccan Black Soap: Complete Guide — Benefits & Usage | Riad Marrakech

Published 18 February 2026 | Riad Vendôme & Spa Marrakech

What is Moroccan black soap?

Moroccan black soap is a plant-based paste made from a blend of crushed black olives, olive oil and salt. Unlike household black soap (which contains linseed oil), cosmetic black soap — called saboun beldi ("country soap") — is exclusively olive-based. Its texture is smooth, unctuous, dark brown-green in colour, and it barely lathers on application. It is precisely this absence of lather that makes it unique: it doesn't irritate the skin but gently prepares it for the mechanical scrub of the kessa glove.

Traditional manufacturing follows an ancestral process. Black olives from the Fès or Meknes region are crushed whole (pulp and stones), then mixed with olive oil and salt in large vats. The blend is heated and stirred for several hours until a homogeneous paste is obtained. Some manufacturers add eucalyptus or orange essences for fragrance. Premium organic black soap — the one we use at Riad Vendôme — is made without chemical additives, preservatives or colourings.

Composition and Active Ingredients

Moroccan black soap draws its properties from a naturally rich composition. Vitamin E, a powerful antioxidant present in abundance in olive oil, protects skin cells against premature ageing. Fatty acids (oleic and linoleic) nourish and soften the skin. Olive polyphenols have anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties. And chlorophyll (which gives it its green colour) contributes to cell regeneration.

The benefits of black soap for the skin

Gentle but effective exfoliation: the black soap softens dead skin cells on the surface without irritating the living skin beneath. It's this softening action that then allows the kessa glove to remove dead skin with spectacular effectiveness. The skin is exfoliated 3 to 5 times more deeply than with a standard grain scrub, but without any micro-lesion.

Hydration and nourishment: rich in olive oil, black soap nourishes the skin while cleansing it. Unlike standard soaps that strip the hydrolipidic film, black soap preserves and strengthens it. After use, the skin is clean AND nourished — it doesn't feel tight.

Natural anti-ageing: the vitamin E and polyphenols in black soap combat free radicals responsible for skin ageing. Regular use (1-2 times per week) contributes to firmer, more elastic skin with reduced fine lines.

Purifying: the natural antibacterial properties of black soap help prevent and treat skin imperfections (spots, blackheads). It is particularly effective on combination to oily skin, regulating sebum production without drying out.

How to use black soap in the hammam?

At traditional hammam, black soap is used in 3 stages. First, moisten your skin under the steam for 10-15 minutes (or under a hot shower at home). Then, apply a generous layer of black soap over the whole body (avoid the face if your skin is sensitive) and leave it on for 5 to 10 minutes. Finally, put on the kessa glove damp and scrub vigorously in circular movements — the dead skin cells come off in greyish rolls. Rinse thoroughly with lukewarm water.

How to Choose a Good Black Soap?

Composition: good black soap should contain only black olives, olive oil, salt and possibly essential oils. Avoid products with synthetic fragrances, colorants or preservatives — they diminish the therapeutic benefits.

At Riad Vendôme, we use an artisanal organic black soap made from black olives from the Fès region, with no chemical additives. You can buy a jar to take home as a souvenir of your hammam session, to continue the ritual at home.

The Riad Vendôme is classified by the Moroccan Ministry of Tourism.