How to Make Soaps at Home

Soaps are used to clean contaminants and residue from skin that could affect skin health, and even overall health.  Although the majority of us buy commercial soaps, you can also use home ingredients to create a more natural soap, which is sometimes more appropriate for skin and family hygiene.

There are plants and natural ingredients that can be used to create homemade soaps that can be useful while personalizing your soaps.

One advantage of homemade soaps is that one can be more sure about their ingredients.  You can control what they are made of, and adapt them to your own necessities.

Soap Base

Today there are a lot of stores that sell soap bases for natural, artisanal products, or online stores that specialize in soap-making.  You have a lot of options, and normally these ingredients are heated so that you can add the remaining ingredients to help create the best soap for you and your skin.

We recommend getting an organic soap base.  The best way to heat it is to use a double boiler, although some people also melt them in the microwave.

General Tips

Making artisanal soaps can be easy, so long as you select the appropriate ingredients.  We recommend varying recipes for the best benefit.

It’s always best to use the same containers.  Designante certain containers exclusively for preparing soap.  And lastly, your soap base that was left unused should stay wrapped up, or covered, to make sure it lasts and retains its quality.

Chamomile Soap

Chamomile is a calming plant for skin, and has anti-inflammatory properties.  It is commonly used to treat skin allergies, although it also makes baths relaxing as well.

Ingredients:

• 150 grams soap base
• 1 mL wheat germ oil
• 10 drops chamomile essential oil

Directions:

1. Place the soap base in a double boiler and add the wheat germ oil.
2. Once dissolved, remove from heat and add the chamomile essential oil.  Then, pour the mixture into a previously oiled mold, having used a bit of olive oil.
3. Allow to set for one day, then remove from the mold to use.

Coffee Soap

Coffee is an excellent ingredient for improving skin circulation.  It also helps keep skin more moisturized.  This ingredient can be used to fight cellulite, which makes this a perfect soap.

Ingredients:

• 150 grams soap base
• 1 mL green coffee oil
• One handful of coffee grounds

Directions:

1. Place the soap base in a double boiler, preferably cubed, so that it dissolves easier.
2. Add the green coffee oil and mix.
3. Remove soap from heat and add the coffee grounds once it starts to solidify.
4. Pour the contents into a mold that was previously oiled with olive oil, and allow to sit for one day before removing from the mold.

Marigold Soap

This plant helps keep skin moisturized and healthy.  It is excellent for delicate skin, as well as for babies.

Ingredients:

• 150 grams soap base
• ½ tsp. organic honey
• 1 mg ground marigold
• 1 mg almond milk

Directions:

1. First you’ll need to melt the soap base in a double boiler.  Once liquefied, remove from heat and add the remaining ingredients.
2. Stir all the ingredients well and pour into the appropriate mold.
3. Allow to set for at least 30 minutes before removing from the mold, and one day before using.

Coconut Soap

Coconut helps keep skin moisturized and if you add a bit of coconut meat, you can also make an exfoliating soap.

Ingredients:

• 150 grams soap base
• 1 mL organic coconut cream or milk
• 1 mL vanilla essential oil, or ground vanilla
• 5 grams coconut flakes
• 2 grams ground cinnamon
• 10 drops of Ylang-Ylang essential oil

Directions:

1. Place the soap base in a clean double boiler.  Cube the base to accelerate the melting process.
2. Add the organic coconut cream and vanilla essential oil, mixing well.
3. Once the ingredients are well blended, remove from heat and add 10 drops of Ylang-Ylang.
4. Wait for the soap to thicken, then add the cinnamon and cocoa powder, blending well.
5. Lastly, once all the ingredients have been blended, pour the mixture into a mold that is used specifically for soaps, and allow to sit for one day.  If you can’t pour the mixture because it is too thick, place in the double boiler for a little longer.

More soap recipes…

If you want more incredible traditional soap recipes made from natural ingredients, for each skin type, check out our bibliography.  There you will find different recipes that are excellent for hygiene and health.

Bibliography:

The 50 Best Natural Cosmetic Recipes, by Natasha Thibault, Syrian editor

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