Skip to content 
Making handmade soap is fun and rewarding. It lets you choose natural ingredients for skin-friendly products. These five recipes are great for beginners and experienced soap makers alike. Each recipe has step-by-step instructions, benefits, and ideas for making your soap unique, here are 5 Handmade Soap Recipes you must try now.
1. Soothing Oatmeal and Honey Soap
Ingredients:
- 10 oz olive oil
- 10 oz coconut oil
- 5 oz shea butter
- 5 oz castor oil
- 12 oz distilled water
- 4.5 oz lye (sodium hydroxide)
- 1/2 cup ground oats
- 2 tbsp honey
- 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil
Benefits:
This soap is great for sensitive or dry skin. Oatmeal gently exfoliates, and honey keeps moisture in.
Instructions:
- Put on protective gear (gloves and goggles) and work in a well-ventilated area.
- Slowly add lye to the distilled water while stirring (never the other way around). Let it cool.
- Melt the oils and shea butter together in a pot until fully combined.
- Once both mixtures reach about 100°F, slowly pour the lye solution into the oils and blend using a stick blender.
- Once the mixture reaches trace (a pudding-like consistency), stir in honey, oats, and essential oil.
- Pour into a mold, cover, and let it harden for 24-48 hours.
- Remove, cut into bars, and cure for 4-6 weeks before use.
2. Refreshing Lemon and Poppy Seed Soap
Ingredients:
- 10 oz coconut oil
- 10 oz palm oil (sustainably sourced)
- 5 oz olive oil
- 5 oz sunflower oil
- 12 oz distilled water
- 4.5 oz lye
- 1 tbsp poppy seeds
- 1 tbsp lemon zest
- 10-15 drops of lemon essential oil
Benefits:
This soap is perfect for exfoliation and has a bright scent. Poppy seeds add texture and lemon essential oil is good for oily skin.
Instructions:
- Prepare the lye solution as in the previous recipe.
- Melt the oils together and cool to 100°F.
- Slowly add the lye solution to the oils, blending until it reaches a trace.
- Stir in poppy seeds, lemon zest, and lemon essential oil.
- Pour into a mold and cover for 24-48 hours.
- Cut into bars and let cure for 4-6 weeks.
3. Nourishing Coconut Milk and Aloe Vera Soap
Ingredients:
- 12 oz coconut oil
- 8 oz olive oil
- 6 oz shea butter
- 6 oz avocado oil
- 12 oz coconut milk (frozen)
- 4.5 oz lye
- 2 tbsp fresh aloe vera gel
- 10-15 drops tea tree essential oil
Benefits:
This soap deeply moisturizes dry or irritated skin. Aloe vera soothes, and coconut milk adds creaminess.
Instructions:
- Freeze coconut milk in ice cube trays.
- Slowly mix the lye into the frozen coconut milk, stirring continuously.
- Melt the oils and shea butter, then cool to 100°F.
- Blend the lye mixture into the oils.
- Add aloe vera gel and tea tree essential oil.
- Pour into a mold, cover, and allow to set for 24-48 hours.
- Cut and cure for 4-6 weeks.
4. Detoxifying Charcoal and Tea Tree Soap
Ingredients:
- 12 oz coconut oil
- 10 oz olive oil
- 6 oz palm oil (sustainably sourced)
- 6 oz castor oil
- 12 oz distilled water
- 4.5 oz lye
- 1 tbsp activated charcoal
- 10-15 drops tea tree essential oil
Benefits:
This soap is great for oily skin. Activated charcoal cleanses and absorbs oil. Tea tree oil fights bacteria.
Instructions:
- Prepare the lye solution.
- Melt and cool the oils.
- Blend the lye solution into the oils.
- Add activated charcoal and tea tree oil at trace.
- Pour into a mold and allow to set for 24-48 hours.
- Cut and cure for 4-6 weeks.
5. Luxurious Cocoa Butter and Vanilla Soap
Ingredients:
- 12 oz cocoa butter
- 10 oz olive oil
- 6 oz coconut oil
- 6 oz almond oil
- 12 oz distilled water
- 4.5 oz lye
- 1 tbsp vanilla bean powder
- 10-15 drops of vanilla essential oil
Benefits:
This soap is great for dry skin. Cocoa butter moisturizes, and vanilla smells nice.
Instructions:
- Prepare the lye solution.
- Melt the oils and cocoa butter, then cool.
- Blend the lye solution into the oils.
- Stir in vanilla bean powder and essential oil at trace.
- Pour into a mold and allow to set for 24-48 hours.
- Cut and cure for 4-6 weeks.
Additional Tips for Soap-Making Success
- Always measure ingredients accurately to maintain the correct balance of oils and lye.
- Use high-quality essential oils for better fragrance and skin benefits.
- Experiment with additives like clay, dried herbs, or flower petals to enhance the soap’s properties.
- Be patient! Proper curing time ensures a long-lasting and gentle soap.
- Wear protective gear when handling lye to prevent burns or skin irritation.
difference between the five soap recipes:
| Recipe Name | Key Ingredients | Skin Type | Main Benefits | Essential Oils | Additives |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Soothing Oatmeal and Honey Soap | Olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, castor oil, honey, lavender essential oil | Sensitive, dry skin | Soothes, exfoliates, and moisturizes the skin. | Lavender essential oil | Ground oats, honey |
| Refreshing Lemon and Poppy Seed Soap | Coconut oil, palm oil, olive oil, sunflower oil, lemon zest, lemon essential oil | Oily, normal skin | Exfoliates and brightens, with a refreshing scent. | Lemon essential oil | Poppy seeds, lemon zest |
| Nourishing Coconut Milk and Aloe Vera Soap | Coconut oil, olive oil, shea butter, avocado oil, coconut milk, tea tree oil | Dry, irritated skin | Deeply moisturizing and soothing, ideal for dry skin. | Tea tree essential oil | Aloe vera gel, coconut milk |
| Detoxifying Charcoal and Tea Tree Soap | Coconut oil, olive oil, palm oil, castor oil, activated charcoal, tea tree oil | Acne-prone, oily skin | Detoxifies, absorbs excess oil, and has antibacterial properties. | Tea tree essential oil | Activated charcoal |
| Luxurious Cocoa Butter and Vanilla Soap | Cocoa butter, olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil, vanilla bean powder, vanilla oil | Dry, mature skin | Deeply hydrating and nourishing, with a comforting scent. | Vanilla essential oil | Vanilla bean powder |
Key Differences:
- Oils & Butter: Each recipe uses a unique combination of oils and butter. For example, cocoa butter in the Luxurious Cocoa Butter and Vanilla Soap vs. aloe vera in the Nourishing Coconut Milk and Aloe Vera Soap.
- Additives: The Soothing Oatmeal and Honey Soap includes oats and honey, while the Detoxifying Charcoal and Tea Tree Soap has activated charcoal.
- Essential Oils: Each soap has different essential oils chosen for their specific benefits: lavender, lemon, tea tree, and vanilla.
- Skin Type: The soaps are tailored for different skin concerns, such as acne-prone, dry, sensitive, or oily skin.
This table should help you visualize the distinctions between each recipe! subscribe, please
Conclusion
These five natural handmade soap recipes offer various benefits for different skin types and needs. Experiment with different essential oils, herbs, and natural colorants to make them your own. With patience and practice, you’ll be able to create high-quality soaps that nourish and pamper the skin!
By using these natural ingredients, you not only reduce exposure to synthetic chemicals but also create a personalized product that can be gifted or even sold. Soap making is a sustainable, eco-friendly craft that connects you with traditional skincare methods while offering modern customization options. Enjoy the journey of crafting your perfect handmade soap!
