Directions
Making your own soap might seem tricky the first time, but once you try it, you’ll never want to buy store-bought soap again.
You can use different plant oils and butters according to your needs and preferences. For example: olive oil, coconut oil, shea butter, cocoa butter, calendula oil, lavender, chamomile, or any other oil you like.
Ingredients (for about 400 g base)
- 400 g of oils and butters of your choice
- 50 g sodium hydroxide (lye)
- 150 g water
- Essential oils as desired (lavender, calendula, chamomile…)
Equipment
- Metal pot (for soap only)
- Metal spoon (not for food)
- Hand blender
- Gloves and face mask
- Soap molds or silicone baking molds
Instructions
- Prepare the oils and butters
- Place all oils and butters in a metal pot.
- Melt them over a double boiler until fully liquid.
- Prepare the lye solution
- In another metal pot, pour the water.
- Slowly add the sodium hydroxide to the water, a little at a time, stirring constantly.
- Be very careful, as the mixture heats up and gives off fumes.
- Stir until the solution becomes clear and fully dissolved.
- Combine oils with lye solution
- Slowly pour the lye solution into the melted oils and butters.
- Mix with a hand blender for about 10 minutes until the mixture reaches a pudding-like consistency.
- Tip: Use short pulses with the hand blender to prevent splashing and for safety.
- Add essential oils
- Stir in your desired essential oils (lavender, chamomile, calendula…).
- Mix gently with a spoon.
- Pour into molds
- Pour the mixture into your molds.
- Leave at room temperature for a few days, without touching it with bare hands.
- Cut and cure
- After 4 days, remove and cut the soap into bars.
- Let it fully cure for 4–6 weeks, turning weekly for even drying.
Tips
- Silicone molds can be used for different shapes.
- Homemade soaps hydrate the skin and are suitable for face, body, and hair.
- Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, and any other oils you add will only benefit your skin.
