Turmeric Soap: What It Is and How to Use It

In short: Turmeric soap is a soap bar made with turmeric, a spice from the ginger family with a long place in Indian bathing traditions. Our Turmeric & Patchouli Handmade Vegan Soap (Curcuma) is made by hand in Kerala on a virgin coconut oil base, with a warm, spicy scent of turmeric, patchouli, orange and geranium. It is vegan, SLS free and 99% natural origin.

Turmeric soap is a bar made with turmeric, a plant native to South Asia and a close relative of ginger. Turmeric has been part of Indian bathing rituals for centuries. Our Turmeric & Patchouli Handmade Vegan Soap (Curcuma) brings that tradition into an everyday bar, blended with patchouli for a warm, spicy scent.

What is turmeric soap made from?

The bar starts with a virgin coconut oil base. We add turmeric root extract and turmeric oil, with orange, geranium, patchouli, clove and vetivert oils, plus a fragrance listed as Parfum. By our safety assessor's ISO 16128 calculation it is 99% natural origin, water included. It is vegan and SLS free, and our products are registered with the Vegan Society. The full ingredient list is on the product page.

How is it made and packed?

Every bar is made by hand at our own factory in Kerala, India, by a family business that dates back to 1946. The factory is a government recognised women's enterprise with more than 80% women in the workforce. Farmers and suppliers are paid immediately and at fair prices, and production waste is used as fuel or cattle feed rather than sent to landfill. Each bar is packed in a shell moulded from fallen areca palm leaves, collected rather than cut.

How do you use turmeric soap?

If you have not used the soap before, or you know you react to certain essential oils, try it on a small area of skin first.

Lather the bar with warm water, use it on hands and body, then rinse well and pat dry. Follow with a moisturiser if you like. Between uses, keep the bar on a draining soap dish so it dries out and stays firm. Our guide on how to make a handmade soap bar last longer has more tips.

Why keep a routine simple?

Turmeric soap is a case for a simple routine: one bar, used consistently. That sits comfortably with Ayurvedic tradition, which favours familiar ingredients used regularly.

What other soaps might you like?

See the rest of our handmade soaps if you would like to try another scent alongside turmeric, such as Neem & Tulsi (Yogi) or Vetivert (Rainforest). For gifts, see our guide to handmade soap gifts.