Our Story

Inkuto's story is one of a kind. In 2005 Inkuto's founder and CEO Edem Agbekey-Taylor moved to Finland to continue her studies. Before that she had worked as an automobile engineer in a multinational corporation. However, life took an unexpected turn: Edem's newborn daughter suffered from a bad rash and nothing seemed to work for her condition. Edem's mother recommended to try the traditional African Black Soap and Shea Butter, which have both been used in African countries for centuries as a traditional and natural cure for skin conditions. Within a couple of weeks her daughter's skin was cured. This also surprised the staff at the maternity clinic, who wanted to know more about the magical black soap and shea butter, and who asked if they could recommend them to other mothers. Eventually Edem ended up founding Inkuto Organics, which today provides a range of skin and haircare products that are enriched with natural and African ingredients, and are handmade in Input’s factory in Herttoniemi, Helsinki.

Edem Agbekey-Taylor's mission has always been to empower women in her home country, Ghana. Shea butter and African Black Soap, key ingredients used in several of Inkuto's products, are both produced by Ghanaian women and widows, who get fair compensation for their work, and are able to support their community, and provide a proper education for their children. In Ghana, the position of widows has traditionally been exceptionally poor.

Then in 2022, Inkuto also took a decision to try to encourage a more inclusive approach to the employment situation in Ghana, by proposing a new development that would see disabled people have the opportunity to participate in gainful employment. First discussions were had with members of a local community in one southern area of Ghana, and work has even commenced on erecting a single-storey production facility that will see disabled people welcomed to participate in the production of both raw materials and finished hand-crafted products, for sale both overseas and in domestic markets. We look forward to this venture being developed and opened in the near future.

Inkuto pledges that at least10% of its profits will be dedicated to this development, on top of the socio-economic business model that already benefits the widows and orphans through our regular fair trading arrangements. And all these people are real people that we have met and we can relate to.

Join us and support skincare that is full of natural, nourishing and ethically sourced ingredients, and provides income to West-African communities!