
Making natural herbal soap is a fun and rewarding process that can be customized to your skin type and preferences. The key is to choose the right herbs and oils for the job.
Olive oil is a popular choice for handmade soap because it's rich in antioxidants and moisturizing properties, making it perfect for dry or sensitive skin.
To start making your own natural herbal soap, you'll need a few basic ingredients, including olive oil, coconut oil, and distilled water. You can also add your chosen herbs, such as calendula or chamomile, for their therapeutic benefits.
The ratio of olive oil to coconut oil is typically around 3:1 or 4:1, with the olive oil making up the majority of the mixture. This helps to create a soap that's gentle and nourishing.
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Preparing the Soap
Cut the block of glycerin soap into cubes or slivers, about 1 inch in size, or use a cheese grater to grate it into slivers. This will make it easier to melt down.
Melt the glycerin soap in the microwave, using a microwave-safe container with a pouring spout. Heat it on 50% power for about 30 seconds, then stir slowly with a disposable spoon and heat again until it's completely liquid.
To add fragrance, stir in a few drops of essential oil, about 2 to 5 drops per ounce of glycerin. Some air bubbles will form, but try not to push too many into the liquid glycerin.
Choose fragrances that complement the types of herbs you plan to add, and remember to stir gently and slowly to blend the oils with the glycerin.
Here's a rough guide to get you started:
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Recipes and Ideas
Making herbal soap is a fun and creative process, and there are many recipes to choose from. You can make small batches of soap, which is great for beginners, as it allows you to try out new ingredients and recipes without breaking the bank.
Smaller batches also give you the freedom to learn and experiment with different soap recipes. For example, a simple herbal soap recipe can be made in a small batch of 1 lb, which yields around 6 bars of soap.
If you're new to soap making, it's best to start with tried and tested recipes. This will help you avoid common mistakes, such as creating soap that's too soft or too cleansing. You can find many tried and tested recipes online, or you can enroll in a natural soapmaking course for beginners.
Here are some basic ingredients you'll need to make herbal soap:
Remember to always follow safety precautions when making soap, such as wearing goggles and gloves. With a little practice and patience, you can create your own unique herbal soap recipes.
Simple Flower Recipe
I love making soap, and one of my favorite recipes is the Simple Flower Soap Recipe. It's palm oil-free, colored with clay, and uses oils that create a good, hard bar with plenty of bubbles and moisture.

You can customize this recipe to include the floral essential oil of your choice, but be sure to check the usage rate against the essential oils for soap making chart.
Making small batches is great for trying out new ingredients and recipes, and this recipe is perfect for beginners. Even after over a decade of making soap, I still prefer small batches over large ones.
The Simple Flower Soap Recipe makes six bars at a time, which is a great size for trying lots of recipes rather than just one big one. If you like this recipe and want to make larger batches, you can double or triple the ingredients, and a toggle in the recipe will automatically calculate the ingredients for you.
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DIY Recipe
Making your own soap can be a fun and rewarding DIY project. You can start with easy soap recipes that have been tried and tested, rather than creating your own from scratch.

Beginners should use already formulated recipes to avoid common mistakes such as creating soap that's too soft, too cleansing, or has poor lather. This is because beginners often don't know why certain oils are chosen for soap recipes and in what ratio.
To get started, you'll need a few basic ingredients and tools, including a medium stainless steel pot, immersion blender, digital thermometer, and silicone spatula. You can use a simple herbal soap recipe that builds on a base recipe, using a fresh infusion of peppermint and essential oils like rosemary, peppermint, and lavender.
For a DIY herbal soap recipe, you'll need ingredients like sodium hydroxide, distilled water, coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, olive oil, and castor oil. You can also customize the recipe with organic herbs, flowers, or essential oils.
One great thing about making small batches of soap is that it's less stressful and more fun. You can try out new ingredients and recipes without breaking the bank. In fact, many soap recipes can be doubled or tripled if you want to make larger batches.
Here's a rough guide to making small batch soap recipes:
Remember to always use caution when working with lye, and make sure to follow the instructions carefully. With a little practice, you can create your own unique soap recipes and enjoy the benefits of homemade soap.
Ingredients and Materials
To make herbal soap, you'll need a few basic ingredients and materials. You can start with plain glycerin soap, which is a great base for creating unique scents and textures.
Here's a list of the essential ingredients and materials you'll need:
- Plain glycerin soap
- Butter knife
- Microwave
- Microwave safe container with a pouring spout
- Essential oils (optional)
- Dried herbs, flowers, and plants
- Mortar and pestle (optional)
- Disposable spoon
- Silicone or metal soap molds
- Cooking spray (optional)
To get started, you can use a microwave safe container to melt the glycerin soap, and then add your choice of essential oils or dried herbs for a unique scent and texture.
Things You'll Need
To make soap, you'll need a few basic ingredients and materials. The first thing you'll need is a block of plain glycerin soap. You can find this at most craft stores or online.
For chopping the soap, a blunt knife or a cheese grater will do the trick. A blunt knife will give you nice, clean cubes, while a cheese grater will produce slivers.
If you plan to add some fragrance to your soap, you'll need to get some essential oils. A good rule of thumb is to use 2 to 5 drops of essential oil per ounce of glycerin. Some air bubbles will form when you mix the oils with the glycerin, but try not to push too many into the liquid.

Here's a list of the basic materials you'll need:
- Plain glycerin soap
- Butter knife or cheese grater
- Microwave-safe container with a pouring spout
- Essential oils (optional)
- Disposable spoon
- Silicone or metal soap molds
- Cooking spray (optional)
These materials will get you started on making your own soap at home. Make sure to use a microwave-safe container and a disposable spoon to avoid any accidents.
Collection:
Our soaps are hand-made with love using uniquely crafted plant-based ingredients.
These ingredients include wild and organic essential herbs and botanicals.
Each bar is carefully crafted to cultivate a breathtaking product that will leave your skin feeling perfectly cleansed.
The combination of plant-based ingredients results in ultra nourished and moisturized skin.
Our herbal soap leaves you with pure confidence in having optimal, healthy, age-defying, radiant skin.
Worth a look: Dove Soap Bar Ingredients
Methods and Techniques
To make a truly effective herbal soap, you need to choose the right essential oils. Lavender oil, for example, has antimicrobial properties that help to prevent the growth of bacteria and fungi.
For a more complex blend, consider combining lavender with tea tree oil, which has even more potent antimicrobial properties.
The type of oil used also affects the soap's lather and moisturizing properties. Coconut oil, for instance, produces a rich, creamy lather, while olive oil helps to lock in moisture.
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Adding Dried Herbs
Adding dried herbs to your handmade soap is a great way to give it a unique and personalized touch. You can grind up dried herbs to mix them into the liquid glycerin, or use a mortar and pestle to create a powder.
To make it easy, you can use a small kitchen knife to mince up the herbs into very small pieces. Sprinkle the herbs into the microwavable container and use a disposable spoon to gently and slowly stir them into the glycerin.
You can also arrange whole dried herbs in the bottom of the soap molds so they appear on top. This is a great way to add a decorative touch to your soap.
Some safe and edible flowers and plants you can use in your soap include rosemary, thyme, and lemon balm. Just make sure to do your research beforehand to ensure they're safe for soap making.
Here are some options for adding dried herbs to your soap:
Remember to refrain from adding fresh plant elements to your soap, as they can lead to mold and bacteria. Stick with dried herbs to keep your soap safe, sanitary, and long-lasting.
Cold Process vs. Melt & Pour
Cold process soap is made from scratch using lye, coconut oil, and olive oil, which transform into soap through the saponification process.
Cold process soap making is a bit like baking a loaf of bread from scratch, requiring specific ingredients and a process to create the final product.
The ingredients for cold process soap are mixed together in a specific way, which is different from melt and pour soap.
Melt and pour soap, on the other hand, is a type of soap base that you chop into cubes and melt in the microwave.
Melt and pour soap is often filled with additives and is not made from scratch, making it a bit of a cheat compared to cold process soap.
Cold process soap making requires a bit more effort and patience, but the end result is a more natural and customized soap that's not found in store-bought soap bases.
Additional reading: Olive Oil Bar Soap
Instructions
To create a soap recipe, you'll need to mix the clay into distilled water. This is the first step in the process.

Mix the clay into the distilled water. This will help create a smooth and consistent mixture.
Create the lye solution by pouring sodium hydroxide into colored water. Stir well and leave the jug to cool in a shallow basin or sink of water.
The temperature of the lye solution should be around 100°F (38°C). This is important for proper mixing.
Melt the solid oils in a small saucepan on low heat until just melted, no longer. Take off the hob and place it on a pot holder.
You'll need to mix the oils and lye solution when their temperatures are around 100°F (38°C) and within ten degrees of each other. This ensures a smooth and even mixture.
Use an immersion blender to emulsify the ingredients. Mix until you reach a light trace.
Stir the essential oils in, ensuring they're well-mixed in, and no streaks remain. This is important for maintaining the soap's quality and scent.
Here's a list of essential oils you can use in your soap recipe, along with their recommended amounts:
Pour the soap batter into the soap mold. You can also decorate with dried flower petals and herbs, if desired.
Leave the soap on the counter to cool and harden or insulate it to force gelling. This will help the soap set properly.
Expert Advice and Tips
If you're looking to create herbal soap, consider using herbs like frankincense essential oil, geranium flowers and essential oil, myrrh, Irish moss, comfrey, carrot seed, and chickweed, which are great for skin and make beautiful soaps.
For a specifically herbal soap, you can use herbs like rosemary, chamomile, lavender, and mint.
To make herbal soap, you can use glycerin soap that's melt & pour, which can be bought from a market.
When mixing the lye solution, be sure to handle it with care, as it will get hot quickly, so work outside, in front of an open window, or under an exhaust fan and avoid breathing in the momentarily strong fumes.
When combining the warmed oils and lye solution, don't overuse the immersion blender or you'll create excess air bubbles, and the soap will thicken too quickly.
If you're making soap when your house is cold, cover it with a few extra layers to keep it warm.
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Here are some tips to keep in mind when making herbal soap:
- Work in a well-ventilated area to avoid breathing in strong fumes.
- Use a thermometer to ensure the lye solution and oils are at the right temperature.
- Don't overmix the soap batter, as this can create excess air bubbles and cause the soap to thicken too quickly.
- Keep an eye on the soap's temperature, as it can get too hot and develop cracks.
- Be patient and let the soap go through the gel phase, which can take anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours.
Remember, making herbal soap can take time, so be patient and don't rush the process. With a little practice and patience, you'll be creating beautiful, nourishing herbal soaps in no time.
Natural Soap Making
Natural soap making is a fun and rewarding process that can be enjoyed by beginners with the right guidance. Tanya Anderson, an experienced soapmaker and organic gardener, recommends starting with tried and tested recipes to avoid common mistakes.
Beginners should always use existing recipes at first, just like a beginner baker uses existing cake recipes. This is because they are unaware of why certain oils are chosen for soap recipes and in what ratio.
Using tried and tested recipes will help you create soap that is safe to use on your skin and has good lather. You can find easy soap recipes in Tanya's Natural Soapmaking for Beginners Series, which includes step-by-step instructions and safety guidelines.
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If you're interested in learning more about natural soap making, consider enrolling in Tanya's Natural Soapmaking for Beginners Online Course, which includes 16 instructional videos and printables.
Here are some key steps to get you started:
- Introduction to Soap Making
- Natural Soap Ingredients
- Soap Making Equipment
- Soap Making Safety
- Easy Soap Recipes
- How to Make Cold Process Soap
Specific Soap Recipes
Making small batches of soap is a great way to start, as they're less expensive and less stressful than larger batches. This allows you to try out new ingredients and recipes without breaking the bank.
Smaller batches also give you the freedom to experiment and learn as you go, which is perfect for beginners. I still prefer small batches over large ones, even after over a decade of making soap.
If you like a recipe and want to make a larger batch, you can easily double or triple the ingredients using a toggle in the recipe. This is a great way to scale up your soap making.
Here are some tips for getting started with specific soap recipes:
Small Batch Recipes
Making small batch soap recipes is a great way to start your soap making journey. It's perfect for beginners because it's less expensive and less stressful if you make a mistake. Many soap recipes are for larger batches, but making small batches of 1 lb (454 g) is more than enough to try out new ingredients and recipes.
Using small batch recipes gives you the freedom to learn and experiment without breaking the bank. If you like a recipe, you can easily double or triple it using a toggle in the recipe. You can also use soap calculators to scale down larger recipes to small batches.
As a beginner, it's best to start with tried and tested recipes. This will help you avoid common mistakes like making soap that's too soft, too cleansing, or has poor lather. You can find many tried and tested recipes online, including the ones on Lovely Greens.
One of the simplest small batch recipes is the Simple Flower Soap Recipe. It's palm oil-free and uses oils that create a hard bar with plenty of bubbles and moisture. You can customize it to include your favorite floral essential oils.
Here are some tips for making small batch soap recipes:
- Start with a small batch recipe to avoid wasting ingredients and money.
- Use tried and tested recipes to ensure success.
- Experiment with new ingredients and recipes to find what you like.
- Don't be afraid to make mistakes – they're an opportunity to learn and improve.
Some popular small batch soap recipes include:
- Simple Flower Soap Recipe
- Simple Herbal Soap Recipe
- Chamomile & Honey Soap
- Chickweed & Oatmeal Soap
These recipes are great for beginners and experienced soap makers alike. They're easy to make and require minimal ingredients. With a little practice and patience, you can create your own unique soap recipes using small batches.
French Green Clay & Peppermint
French Green Clay & Peppermint is a refreshing combination that's perfect for a cooling soap. Add 1 Tbsp. of French Green Clay to your soap recipe.
To ensure the clay blends in evenly, dilute it with 2 to 3 times the amount of water first. This simple step makes a big difference in the final result.
Adding 24 grams of organic Peppermint essential oil at trace gives this soap a wonderful invigorating scent.
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Explore More
Irene's extensive experience with herbal products and DIY recipes goes back to 1997. She's been perfecting her craft for over two decades.
If you're looking for more inspiration, Irene's business, Fawn Lily Botanica, offers a range of botanical-based facial care products. You can check out her recipes and products on her website.
If you're interested in natural laundry solutions, Irene recommends using soap nuts, which she's featured in one of her recipes. This is a great eco-friendly alternative to traditional laundry detergents.
Here are some other resources to explore for more herbal soap recipes and natural cleaning solutions:
- A Lovely Book About Soap Making
- Using Soap Nuts for Natural Laundry
- Natural Cleaning Solutions
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the healthiest natural soap?
The healthiest natural soap options include Dr Bronner's Pure-Castile Liquid Soap and Tree to Tub Gentle Body Wash, both of which are free from harsh chemicals and artificial fragrances. These soaps are great choices for those seeking a natural and gentle cleansing experience.
Is herbal soap good for your skin?
Herbal soap is a natural and gentle option for skin care, offering effective cleansing and healing properties. Making the switch to herbal soap can be a great choice for those seeking a healthier and more environmentally friendly skincare option.
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