So if you guys have been reading for a while, then you know we’re kind of big fans of essential oils. I know. Usually we jump off of bandwagons to avoid them all together. {Check out that post to read about all the benefits we love} But we love them so much we’ve started using them in natural cleaning products, and recently I tried my hand at some sugar scrubs. With which I am now officially obsessed. Which lead us to discover out how to make your own soap.
So this week, the kids and I decided to make a few handmade soaps, just for kicks. We tried a few different combos, and fell in love with all the yummy scents. I’ve kind of been over my shower gels lately, and this just feels like something extra special. Back to the basics. And stuff.
make your own soap: the simple route
Making soaps is super easy. At first when I was looking into it, I found some big complicated chemically method and I knew it wasn’t for us. Lye is scary. Doesn’t that jazz burn people? So we decided to go the simple route: those soap molds + supplies at the local craft store always seemed simple enough… here’s {the basics} of what you’ll need.
make your own soap: goat’s milk
A goat’s milk soap base + a soap mold {I scooped ours up at the local craft store} + ingredients of your choice. We also used a paint stirrer, a few plastic containers + a measuring cup.
For the base: Cut the soap mold into individual shapes, and put into a plastic container or measuring cup. Our molds held exactly four little squares for one soap rectangle, and yours will vary depending on what you use.
Then we {carefully} heated the goats milk base in the microwave {or you could use a double boiler on the stove.} We went with so many different scents, it was easy to do one at a time in the microwave.
Be careful not to burn the soap, and watch it carefully. We did ours on 30-second increments.
make your own soap: mixing
When we were finished stirring the melted mixture, we added all the extras. See; the fun parts. {Essential oils, exfoliating ingredients, zest, etc.} Watch out with little hands, though the soap never got past an unbearable heat kind of phase for us, it’s always good to be careful.
We mixed it together and poured it into the mold.
In a short while the mold will be hardened {I placed ours in the fridge to speed up the process} and it pops right out. Tada! You have your soap. Below are a few of our fave ingredients you can add in with the stirring phase.
Make your own soap ingredients.
1. Lemon Peppermint: 5 drops peppermint + 7 drops lemon + lemon zest
2. Lavender Peppermint Poppyseed: 2 drops peppermint + 5 drops lavender + a dash of poppyseed + dried lavender.
3. Lemon Lavender {basically a different version of my very favorite sugar scrub} 5 drops lavender + 3 drops lemon + lemon zest + a touch of dried lavender
4. Pure Lime: Lime zest + 3 drops Purity essential oil
5. Lemon Poppyseed: 5 drops lemon + lemon zest + poppyseed
6. Cypress Lemon: 5 drops lemon + 2 drops cypress + poppyseed + lemon zest
You can add or subtract whatever ingredients you want to your own tastes and preferences… they’re just so clean and fabulous it’s kind of addictive to see what we can come up with next!
It kind of feels like old fashioned artisanal soap from Europe or something. We’re fancy like that.
And then we got carried away with various molds. Lemon lavender hearts? Yes please.
Lego men scented the same? Absolutely.
The kids had a great time with bath time tonight.
the labels
Oh an ps. Because I’m a design dork, I had to make the fun labels, as well.
They add that extra special touch. In my world, at least.
Printables
Get them {handmade soap labels 1 handmade soap labels 2}- just click + print!
If you were to match up your scents with our scrub + a little loofa, you’d have the perfect handmade gift! I’m obsessed, I tell you. It’s my new go-to.
Just you wait, little claw foot tub sitting in the corner. We shall be united, soon. SOOOOON.
As always, let us know if you use them!
We hope you enjoy + have an inspired day!
I love this Ashley! They look so fancy and boutique-esque. I’ve never made soap before but this is inspiring me to give it a try š
Also, clawfoot tub = jealous. I want one!
It’s addictive, Kyla… and my new go-to with the sugar scrub for gifts. You will love it. SO much fun!!! We made over seven bars the other day {and more with their funky shapes} and I’m ready to go back to the store for more so I can decorate with them in our new bathroom! ;} I want it to feel like a european soap shop when I walk in the room! #dork
This is a great tutorial post – thank you! We make our own diaper and laundry detergent… but we’re big fans of Dr. Bonner’s and Burt’s Bees Soaps for bath time -we’ve never made our own… this looks fun, and right up our alley! One question – what is the paper / material that you wrapped your bars in (before putting your cute labels on). Is that wax paper?
Hey Liz! I just used tissue paper because it’s what I had on hand… but wax paper is probably better. I hope that helps!
I LOVE this post! I just became a lover of essential oils, as well as a wellness advocate! Replacing almost everything in my medicine cabinet with essential oils has been the key component towards a healthier lifestyle for my family. I am so excited to make these soaps.. Thanks for the great tutorial!
Gah I need to get essential oils now! Those are so pretty! Love the idea for using zest, wouldn’t have thought of that!
They’re totally worth it! And I was literally standing in my kitchen when I was all, hmmm what can I throw in here? ;} Cue lemons and limes that had been sitting, waiting to be used. ;}
DoTerra! I like you more and more…Thank you so much for all your inspiration and hard work for this blog and your readers!
They look awesome. My favorite part of this post was the end…you will be reunited with that tub sooooon! š I so feel you on that one.
I totally love this! I have friends who make great soap with lye but I’ve not wanted to mess with doing that, yet I’d like to make soap! This is perfect!
Love your blog – found it through the open house!
Lots of Inspiration!
Deanna
How timely! My almost 6yr old was just asking me this morning if we could make soap & I had no clue how to make that happen. Now we have a new summer project!
Quick question…how much soap did 1 package of the soap base make?
Thank you so much for this. I was looking for a fun project for me (just me!) and this is perfect. I adore the fact that you included the lego men because this will be perfect for birthdays and holidays for all the kids in our family. Thank you again!
So fresh! So clean! Fabulous š I love the recipes you’ve listed here. I’ve made glycerin soap before, but never the goats milk kind. I’ll have to give it a try.
WHOO HOOO!!! you are making me look soooooo good when I give away small gifts to friends and family. The labels make such a professional presentation.
These are gorgeous and I LOVE the pretty labels. Can’t wait to make ASAP! Do these soaps get very foamy or sudsy?
Hey Stacy! No, since they are a milky base, they do not foam up well unless you have a loofa. I hope that helps!
Wow, this is so nice of you to share this š thankĀ you, I’ll do is ASAP š
Thank you for the wonderful labels! I just finished lemon-peppermint soap with zest and dried peppermint leaves. š And I will wrap them in your beautiful labels and give them away as presents.
Plus I’ve been inspired by your ingredients. I’ll try them next time.
So glad you can use them! Soaps are the perfect holiday gift! ;}
Could I mix the goats milk soap base with coconut oil?? Have you ever tried that??
Thanks for posting this…Inspired to make soap!
Hey Natalie! I haven’t tried it, so please let me know how it goes, because it sounds tempting for extra moisture + I might do that next! ;}
In my experience, if you add more oils to melt and pour soap base it will work, but cause the bar to be softer and also will be less sudsy. But a little bit wont make a huge difference. Also you can buy coconut milk soap base. Or other types of soap bases based on the effect you want.
Careful to use the soap quickly before the zest goes rancid/moldy! Anytime you use fresh ingredients in melt and pour soap, it can go bad because of the moistness. Best bet would be to zest the lemon and lime ahead of time and dry it out in a dehydrator or out in the sun before you put it in the soap.
Also, did you do anything in particular to keep the lavender purple? Where did you get it? Every time I put lav in soap, it turns brown/green!
Thanks for sharing I bet they smell magnificent!
I received several bars goat milk soap in various scents for Christmas. Every one of them have stuff floating in them. I tried it. I hate it. Can they be re-melted? and strained? and poured into plain bars?
I guess it wouldn’t hurt to try, with a really fine strainer? If they’re really just goat’s milk, they should be easy to melt. ;}
I love this! I love making soap, and finding fresh recipes and ideas! I LOVE the labels! I have a friend who has a small shop, and has asked if she can sell my soap. Is it ok to use your labels for my soap to sell?
Hi! While our printables are available for free, we ask that you stick to personal use only: for gift giving, crafts and more. We ask that no one use these free designs for profit. Thank you for your understanding.
July 3, 2019
Hi Ashley,
I just come across on your website – it has lots of good information. Just start to make soaps for friends and family – nice labels but I can’t print them š More power to your site. š
Sincerely,
Riza