The Black Stuff

The Black Stuff: handmade natural soaps and men's deodorants

The Black Stuff is an Irish company dedicated to making handmade natural soaps and men's deodorants. Its range is produced in small batches of 50 units and uses only natural ingredients, with no synthetic fragrances. The company makes its own products in a workshop in County Dublin, from where it also ships orders to other markets.

Origins and history

The project began in January 2021, when John, its founder, started making soap as a hobby in his own home. During the first 18 months, all the products sold were made entirely by him at his home. The company's name comes from an early experiment with Guinness: "The Black Stuff" is the Irish colloquial term for a pint of this dark beer. Five years on, the company says it makes a million bars a year while keeping the same process and the same handmade recipe.

Natural soaps

The soap range includes lines such as Atlantic Pine Tar, Citrus Cedarwood Scrub, Irish Mountain Rain and Black Stout, all priced at €9.00 per bar according to the catalogue. The company also sells limited editions, including The Old Bog Road, inspired by turf, the bog and tea by the fire, with woody and slightly smoky notes. Other limited editions are Arthurs Choice and Arthur's Bane, also available in soap form.

Natural deodorants

The natural deodorant line reproduces some of the soap fragrances, such as Atlantic Pine, Citrus Cedarwood Blast, Irish Mountain Rain and Black Stout, priced at €14.00 per unit. There is also a version specifically for sensitive skin. Limited edition deodorants include Arthurs Choice and Arthur's Bane, also at €14.00.

Shaving, beard care and cologne

The catalogue is completed with shaving and beard care products: Shaving Soap, Aftershave Recovery Splash, Beard Oil and Beard Butter, some of them in limited editions linked to Arthurs Choice and Arthur's Bane. The company also makes a natural cologne created by blending its essential oil profiles with denatured alcohol, presented as the most natural option possible within its range.

Manufacturing method

The company maintains that all its products are still made by hand, in batches of 50 units, and that it does not use synthetic fragrance oils. Instead, it blends pure essential oils to create its scent profiles. Among the base ingredients it uses, it cites high-quality oils such as olive oil and shea butter, as well as natural exfoliants such as seaweed and essential oils. The company also cures its soap, a step that allows the water to evaporate and which, according to its presentation, results in a longer-lasting, better-performing product.

Shipping and international presence

The Black Stuff has warehouses with stock in the UK, the USA and Canada, so orders placed in those countries benefit from local shipping. All other orders are dispatched from its location in Dublin, Ireland. The company states that it offers free shipping on orders over €70.

Direct sales and workshops

The company runs a workshop open to the public in County Dublin, where customers can buy directly. The website states that payment at the workshop is accepted only in cash or via Revolut. It also offers a flexible subscription programme, with discounts for subscribers and the option to cancel or change the subscription at any time, as well as ready-made bundles and the option to create custom bundles.

Location and contact

Unit 4, 52 Bracken Road, Sandyford, Co. Dublin D18CH24 Ireland · Hours: Monday to Friday: 08:00-16:00