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Dukhan Smoke Bath a Traditional Sudanese Bridal Beauty Treatment

June 9, 2022 By Noela Mogga

A woman undergoes Dukhan smoke bath in Juba, South Sudan
A woman undergoes Dukhan smoke bath in Juba, South Sudan

Dukhan is a significant practice among Sudan and Northern African countries in which a woman's body is smoked with extraordinary (scented) species of wood.  Dukhan is a tradition that extends all to our grandmothers and our great grandmothers. The custom is generally practiced by married women and brides in Northern Sudan province and South Sudan. This practice has been considered a tradition for the Sudanese from North Sudan and over time the South Sudanese who lived in Khartoum before the separation of South Sudan from Sudan adopted the Dukhan treatment. Dukhan is an old traditional ritual that has been practiced for centuries and is still being practiced.

Dukhan comes with beauty treatments such as Dilka body scrubs that leaves the body soft and perfumed and Halawa which means sugaring scrub which exfoliates dead skin and removes hair that makes your skin very smooth and shiny.

Dukhan smoke bath pit with the talih wood set to smoke
Dukhan smoke bath pit.

The Dukhan Pit

Dukhan is made with a special wood called Talih (Acacia Seyal) that creates a fragrant smell. Other woods such as sandalwood are also added. A smoke pit is dug underground where there is a lot of space so that the smoke can come up. Hot charcoal is placed in the pit, and the Talih is added to give the slow emission of smoke. Once in a while additional charcoal or Talih is replenished to maintain the heat and smoke emission. This all occurs in the privacy of a yard. In homes that lack a yard, Sudanese ladies have resorted to using a flower pot with a special stool placed over it.

Dukhan smoke bath pit. See the depth of the pit and the talih wood set to smoke
Dukhan smoke bath pit. See the depth of the pit and the talih wood set to smoke

How it is done

The custom goes as follows: 

She (bride) removes all her clothes and is given a light gown.

She then sits on the smoke bath. A blanket of Sudanese Thobe material is placed on the bride. More layers of blankets are added to prevent the smoke from coming out.

She sits in the Dukhan shower for meetings going from 30min to 1.5hrs. 

Beginning meetings start at 30min, then, at that point, continuously the time is expanded to 1hour as she creates resilience to the hotness.

On a solitary day, in the wake of spending one hour in the shower, she needs to come out, cool down, and after some time she can have a subsequent meeting. In the time being other skin medicines are applied, for example, oil called kharkar and/or khalta to the skin for the second Dukhan meeting. She may likewise go through a shedding treatment with dilka, a characteristic exfoliant.

 

The video below by Taste of South Sudan demonstrates the traditional practice of Dukhan perfectly.

YouTube player

 

Why do women practice Dukhan?

One of the advantages of Dukhan is as a treatment for the aggravation of rheumatoid arthritis. The technique is considered to be a traditional helpful system in Southern Sudan. Dukhan (incense-laced smoke) helps to detoxify the skin giving a woman a slightly tanned look highly favored by brides in Sudan and South Sudan. The smell of Dukhan (that usually lasts for days on the body) is considered an aphrodisiac signaling to the opposite sex. 

The demonstration of taking a Dukhan enjoys many inferred health advantages, for instance, smoothing the skin and restricting the vagina with women. 

It also gives the skin an exquisite fragrance since the Acacia Seyal (Talih) wood species that is local to Sudan and South Sudan has a distinctive scent. Dukhan leaves a strong lovely scent that uplifts the confidence of the brides.

However,  for an effective and successful Dukhan, it should be done three to one months before the wedding date so that the body can absorb the Dukhan. Nevertheless, some ladies that do not have time are given a one-week beauty treatment which is called Bokhan. 

Dukhan Talih Wood Acacia Seyal available from Taste of South Sudan
Dukhan Talih Wood Acacia Seyal available from Taste of South Sudan

Where to buy Talih wood - Acacia seyal?

Taste of South sells Acacia Seyal Dukhan Oudh for your Dukhan Treatment. Visit TOSS shop shop.tasteofsouthsudan.com .

The Dilka Bridal Body Scrub exfoliant to accompany your dukhan treatments are also available on shop.tasteofsouthsudan.com by searching for Dilka Bridal Scrub.

 

 

« Bakhoor traditions in North Africa - Taste of South Sudan Bakhoor Collection
South Sudanese traditional diets feature plenty of Vegetarian meal options »

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About Me

Hi there. My name is Noela Mogga. I am a physician, mother, food blogger. I was born in South Sudan. I plan to showcase tasty South Sudan food recipes, traditional customs, and natural beauty regimens. When I am not busy practicing Anesthesiology in my adopted state of Texas, I can be found whipping delicious meals for my husband and children.

South Sudan Cuisine

South Sudan Cuisine is heavily influenced by East African and Arab cuisine. At the basic level meals are meat or fish stews with a vegetarian side dish eaten with Asida, a thick porridge made from sorghum or millet. Unique to South Sudan cuisine is the use of peanut butter to thicken sauces. South Sudanese cuisine is generally complex and labor and time consuming. Women spend the better part of the day cooking the day's meals. Sweet hot tea is consumed at any time of the day, for breakfast, after a meal in the afternoon, offered to guests and at every occasion.
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I have been making Dilka for three years now. Each I have been making Dilka for three years now. Each time, I try to improve on the process. Change 1 thing, or 1 production step. My sister saw me making this last batch, and her question was: Is there not another (easier) way to make it ? You see the process takes hours to make. And you can’t speed an artist, living in an imperfect world, looking to create beauty and perfection. To get the Talih Dukhan smoke infused into the Dilka balls, is labor and time consuming. It needs to smell heavenly.

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Order yours from this link: https://shop.tasteofsouthsudan.com/collections/bridal-body-products/products/taste-of-south-sudan-dilka-sudanese-bridal-scrub-exfoliant-radiant-skin-natural 
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