I enjoy growing herbs and flowers in my garden and using them to make handmade soaps and other skincare products. Even though my garden is small, it provides enough botanicals for many of my projects.
I am trying to find better methods to dry my botanicals but sometimes the space at home can be tricky, this way is working so far though.!
Harvesting
For me harvesting the herbs you have grown is a continuous process rather than a one- off event. Once established mostly will grow strong enough to allow plenty of repeat picking, which in itself encourages new growth in healthy plants.
-Chose, a fine sunny day for picking, so that the which the essential oil content, which gives the plant its flavour its at its best. Wait until any dew or residual raindrops have evaporated, herbs tend to go mouldy before the drying process is complete if picked when wet, but try to finish picking in the morning before volatile oils have been drawn to the surface of the leaf by the heat, and then dissipated.
-Pick only prime material from plants that are at their peak- avoid anything damaged, discolored, diseased or spent with age.
-Pick only as much as you can deal with at one time.
-Flowers and foliage must be wiped clean and be insect free before they are processed.
-When picking leaves, is ideal before they come into flower, when leaf and texture are at their best.
–Flowers, is better to pick them or cut them soon after they have opened when they at their best.
Drying
-A spare room with an electric heater will do the job, a well-ventilated shed, over a towel or dehydrator.
-Herbs can be tidied in bunches with string and hung up in a clean, airy place to dry. Leave the herbs until they are dry to the touch. Sometimes the process can take a week and a little more.
-Blooms such as roses, can be spread out on paper , dry towel or trays.
-Seeds like poppy’s, a good way to dry seeds is to pick the seed heads with stems attached. Tie them in bunches, insert heads into paper bags and hang them up in a warm, airy place.
Storing
Store your dried herbs and flowers in a dark and dry place in a glass jar.
Herbs & Botanicals For Soap Making
When using herbs and flowers in handmade soap, there are a few helpful tips to keep in mind:
1. Always use dried herbs and flowers to prevent introducing moisture into the soap, which can lead to spoilage or mold.
2. Common herbs used in soap making include mint, rosemary, thyme, sage, and parsley, as they offer natural fragrance and skin benefits. Most of these if grinded they can be stirred into the soap or as toppings.
3. Calendula can be used into the soap or as a decorative topping, while chamomile petals can also be used on the soap’s surface or stirred into the soap batter as well.
4.Poppy seeds or chia seeds can provide gentle exfoliation and can be added on top of the soap or stirred into it as well.
5. Dried rose petals and lavender work beautifully in decorating soap, but both can be a bit tricky as they may turn brown where they touch wet soap. This is purely aesthetic.
If you encounter this issue, try not to insulate the soap after decorating the tops of loaves. Insulating the soap can trap alkaline moisture, causing the botanicals to discolor.
Always research a plant before using it in soap, as some plants are not safe for skincare.
A few plants can be used in soap making and their benefits
| Plant Name | Skin Benefits |
| Lavender | Buds stimulate cell repair, antimicrobial and calms the skin |
| Peppermint | Cooling, cleansing, antimicrobial, anti- acne |
| Rose | Soothing, hydrating, astringent and anti-acne |
| Calendula | Stimulate cell repair , its healing and hydrating |
| Camomile | Soothing and used for sore skin and eczema |
As for growing herbs and flowers for skincare, here are a few tips:
-Understand why we use skincare and what plants can do for us.
-Growing herbs and flowers for soap making and skincare doesn’t require a large garden or years of experience. Start with a few easy-to-grow plants, learn how they behave throughout the seasons, and enjoy the process.
-Some plants aren’t as fussy about the type of soil as long as they have drainage and moisture and of course light.
-Calendula is one plant that you easily grow and once is happily established it comes back every year. You can even save seeds and spread them in other parts of your garden.
Some resources: Kitchen and Garden books of herbs & Encyclopedia of Herbal medicine
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