How to Make Natural Soap at Home - Easy Step by Step Guide

Making natural soap at home offers a satisfying way to create unique products tailored to your skin's needs while embracing eco-friendly practices. Imagine the joy of making soap that not only smells good but also nourishes your skin with every wash. In this guide, we will walk you through the rewarding process of making your own natural soap using essential oils and easily accessible ingredients.

Handmade bars of soap, wrapped in hessian and tied with twine

Why Choose Natural Soap?

Making natural soap at home is a great craft but why is it a better alternative to commercial soaps that often contain harmful chemicals and synthetic fragrances. When you use natural ingredients, you gain control over what touches your skin. For instance, someone with sensitive skin might benefit from a soothing lavender soap, while another person could find relief from tired muscles with an invigorating eucalyptus blend.

Additionally, essential oils don’t just smell wonderful; they also provide various health benefits. For example, studies have shown that lavender oil can help reduce anxiety by 30% while improving the quality of sleep. Choosing natural soap adds a personal touch and wellness benefits to your daily routine.

Every bar of handmade, natural soap will automatically contain glycerine, an humectant that attracts moisture from the air and locks it into your skin.

Ingredients You'll Need to Make Natural Soap at Home

To start making your soap, gather these essential ingredients:

• Coconut Oil: Provides lather and moisture, making up about 30% of your total oils.

• Olive Oil: Offers nourishment and mildness, contributing to about 40% of the oils.

• Shea Butter: Helps in creating a firm texture in the final bars, usually about 20% of the blend.

• Lye (Sodium Hydroxide): Necessary for the saponification process, which turns oils into soap.

• Distilled Water: Used to dissolve the lye, making it safer to handle.

• Essential Oils: Choose your favorite scents for fragrance and health benefits. Examples include lavender (for relaxation) and tea tree (for antibacterial properties).

• Optional Additives: Ingredients like oatmeal (for exfoliation), dried herbs and botanicals, or natural colours to enhance your soap's appearance.

  
  

Important Note: Always use gloves and eye protection when handling lye, as it is caustic and can cause burns.

Step-by-Step Soap Making Process

Step 1: Prepare Your Workspace

Start with a clean, organised workspace. Have all the necessary equipment, including:

• A kitchen scale for accurate measurements

• Heat-resistant containers for mixing

• A stick blender for emulsifying

• Measuring jugs for liquid ingredients

• A soap mould to shape your bars

• A thermometer to check temperatures

  
  

Wear gloves and safety glasses to protect yourself while working with lye.

Step 2: Measure Your Ingredients

Use a digital scale to weigh your ingredients carefully. Water should be roughly 38% of the weight of the lye. This means that if you use 500g of oil you will need190g of water. Calculating the amount of Sodium Hydroxide you will need is much more difficult and it's probably wise and safer to use an online Soap Calculator like SoapCalc

Step 3: Mix the Lye Solution

In a well-ventilated area, carefully add lye to distilled water while stirring continuously until it dissolves completely. The mixture will heat up quickly, reaching temperatures as high as 200°F. Allow it to cool down to about 90-100°F before proceeding.

Step 4: Melt the Oils

Combine your solid oils (coconut and shea butter) in a separate container and gently heat them until melted. A temperature of around 90-100°F is ideal, matching the lye solution's temperature.

Step 5: Combine Lye and Oils

Once both the lye solution and oils are at the right temperature, slowly pour the lye into the oils while blending with a stick blender. You’ll know you’ve achieved "trace" when the mixture has thickened to a custard-like consistency, which usually takes about 3-5 minutes.

Step 6: Add Essential Oils and Optional Additives

At trace, add your chosen essential oils and any optional additives such as dried herbs or colorants. Stir them in gently to distribute them evenly throughout the soap mix.

Step 7: Pour into Mould

Carefully pour the soap batter into your mould, taking your time to avoid spills. You can create swirls or textures if desired. Then, tap the mould lightly on the counter to remove any trapped air bubbles.

Step 8: Insulate and Allow to Set

Cover the mould with a towel or blanket for insulation. This keeps the mixture warm, ensuring a successful saponification process and helps to prevent soda ash forming. Let it rest for 24 to 48 hours until it hardens completely.

Step 9: Unmold and Cut

Once firm, carefully remove the soap from the mould. Use a sharp knife or soap cutter to slice it into bars.

Freshly cut natural, handmade coloured soap bars

Step 10: Cure the Soap

Place your soap bars on a drying rack in a cool, dry place. This curing phase takes about 4 to 6 weeks. During this time, moisture evaporates, making your soap harder and better to use.

Step 11: Enjoy Your Natural Soap

Your soap is ready after the curing period. Store it in a cool, dry spot until you’re ready to indulge in a luxurious bath or present it as a thoughtful gift!

Wooden crate filled with beautifully crafted natural soap

Tips for Successful Soap Making

1. Practice Safety: Always wear gloves and goggles while handling lye and work in a well-ventilated area.

   
   

2. Use Accurate Measurements: Precision matters in soap making. A digital scale can greatly help with accuracy.

   
   

3. Experiment with Scents and Colors: One of the joys of soap making is creativity. Try out different essential oil combinations and natural colours to make eye-catching soaps.

   
   

4. Be Patient: Allowing the soap to cure is vital for quality. Rushing this step can lead to a soft, unusable bar.

   
   

5. Record Your Recipes: Use a notebook for each batch, noting the ingredients and methods. This practice can help refine your technique and create your perfect soap.

   
   

Final Thoughts

Making natural soap at home is both fulfilling and creative. You’ll not only create customised, natural soap but also contribute positively to your skin and the environment. Our step-by-step guide ensures that you have all the necessary information to embark on this enjoyable journey.

Share the joy of creating handmade soap with friends and family, and you might even inspire others to start their soap-making adventure.

Happy soap making!

Book onto our Soap Making Course for Beginners if you need further tuition or help.

For great ingredients try The Soap Kitchen, Aromantic, The Soapery and Nikura