Basic Soap Recipes

If you already have some experience in soap making check out this easy recipe that you can create at home.

Herbal Soap Recipe

Before you go ahead with this soap recipe, please check you have all you need and you use the safety equipment properly, Please check the soap making supplies for all you need.

453 Grams Soap Recipe

Lye Water

62 g lye (Sodium Hydroxide)

124 g Destilled water

Solid Oils

113 g coconut oil

135g shea Butter

Liquid Oils

203 g olive oil

Add after trace

1/4 Tsp of green oxide

1 Tbsp of peppermint crushed leaves

13 g of peppermint essential oil

1.Prepare your area and supplies.
Set up your workstation with all equipment ready and ingredients pre-measured into containers. Wear long sleeves.

2. Put on protective gear.
Wear rubber gloves and safety goggles.

3. Handle the lye carefully.
Be careful when handling lye (sodium hydroxide). Never touch it with bare hands or handle it without goggles. Put on your face mask.
Carefully and slowly pour the lye into the water (NEVER pour water into the lye). Scrape any lye stuck at the bottom of your plastic container and stir gently with a spoon.
Leave the solution aside, preferably near a window, and monitor the temperature with a digital thermometer.

4. Melt the oils.
Place the coconut oil and shea butter in a pan, then add the olive oil. Melt the solid oils over low heat. Stay with the pan and remove it from the heat source as soon as everything is melted. You can remove it when the temperature is about 160 °F.

5.Mix at the correct temperature.
Check the temperature of both the lye solution and the oils. The ideal mixing temperature is between 100°F and 110°F (with the lye preferably on the lower side). But it can be any temperature, always under 130 °F.
When both are within range, pour the lye solution into the oils. Stir first with a spatula, then use a hand blender. Blend until you reach trace (the batter should not be too thick or too runny).
If it’s too thick, it will be difficult to pour; if it’s too runny, it will take longer to set and harden.

6.Add extra ingredients in order.
Add the green oxide colour first, hand blend ,essential oils next, mix it with the spatula and the peppermint herbs last.

7. Pour and insulate.
Pour the soap into the mold and insulate by covering it with a towel. This helps with colour development, easier unmolding, and proper hardening.

8.Cut and cure.
Cut the soap and allow it to cure for 4 to 6 weeks before use.

Please note: You can use mint from your garden for this. Simply harvest it and let it dry completely first. Once fully dry, blend it in a food processor until finely ground, and then add it to your soap mixture.

If you’re already making soap and try this recipe, I’d love to hear your feedback. And if you’re interested in learning, check out our upcoming hands-on soapmaking workshop dates here.