How to make your own natural soap – a guide for beginners

and makes the soap extra mild.

Ingredients and equipment

To make a simple, cold-process soap, you will need:

Basic ingredients:

• 500g olive oil

• 250g coconut oil

• 250 g shea butter or cocoa butter

• 130 g caustic soda (sodium hydroxide)

• 300 g distilled water

Optional additives:

• Essential oils (e.g. lavender, lemon or tea tree)

• Dried herbs or flowers

• Colourants from natural sources (e.g. activated charcoal or spirulina)

Equipment:

• A digital scaleMaking your own natural soap is both a creative and sustainable hobby. By using natural ingredients, you can create a soap that is gentle on the skin and free from unnecessary chemicals. Here we go through a simple method for making your own soap at home!

  What is natural soap?

  Natural soap is made through a chemical process called saponification, where fats and oils react with a base (lye) to create soap and glycerin. The glycerin moisturizes the skin

• A heat-resistant bowl for mixing lye (not aluminum!)

• A large saucepan for heating oils

• A hand blender

• A plastic or silicone mold

• Protective equipment (gloves, goggles and long sleeves)

Check out our natural soaps here

Step-by-step guide

1. Prepare the work area Make sure to work in a well-ventilated area and wear protective equipment. Cover work surfaces to protect against lye spills.

2. Mix the lye solution Measure the distilled water into a heat-resistant bowl. Carefully add the caustic soda while stirring (never the other way around!). The mixture will be hot and must cool to about 40–50°C.

3. Melt and mix oils Heat olive oil, coconut oil and shea butter in a saucepan until everything is melted. Let cool to the same temperature as the lye solution (40–50°C).

4. Mix lye and oils Carefully pour the lye solution into the oil mixture and mix with a hand blender until the batter thickens (to the "trace stage"). This will take about 5–10 minutes.

5. Add optional ingredients Mix in essential oils, herbs or colorings and stir well.

6. Pour into mold and let set Pour the batter into a mold and cover with plastic wrap and a towel. Let stand for 24–48 hours.

7. Cut and let mature Remove the soap from the mold and cut into pieces. Let the pieces mature for at least 4–6 weeks for the soap to harden and become softer.

Conclusion

Making your own natural soap is a fantastic and rewarding process. You get full control over the ingredients and can customize your soap to your needs. Feel free to experiment with different oils and additives to create unique soaps that suit you!