DIY! Make Your Own Natural, Luxurious Soap

Making your soap allows you to avoid undesirable ingredients. Many people have become aware of the added chemicals, increased costs, and commercial processes used to manufacture personal hygiene items. People have been making the change and making soap at home. It is an easy first step towards frugal living and creating a more natural, healthy environment. Did you give this DIY craft a try? Follow CanScribe on Instagram and share your thoughts/results! 

Materials 

• 1 lb Goat’s Milk Melt & Pour Base 
• 1-2 tbsp Dried Lavender 
• Lavender Oil 
• Silicone Soap Molds 

Directions 

1. Cut 1 lb of goat’s milk melt & pour soap mix (½ of the 2 lb brick) into squares. 
2. Melt in microwave for 30 seconds. Remove & stir and keep microwaving for 10 second intervals until full melted. 
3. Add 15 drops of lavender to melted goat’s milk. 
4. Add a tablespoon of lavender to melted goat’s milk. 
5. Add a second tablespoon to goat’s milk mix (optional). 
6. Ladle into silicon soap form. 
7. Let it set up overnight. 

Soap Making Oils, Fats, and Butters 

Apricot Kernel Oil
Properties: Highly Conditioning, Moisturizing, Stable Creamy Lather
High in vitamin A, C, E, linoleic and oleic acids. Too much can make soap too soft. 

Argan Oil
Properties: Conditioning, Moisturizing, Adds Hardness, Stable Rich Lather
High in vitamin A and E and antioxidants. 

 Avocado Oil
Properties: Conditioning, Medium Creamy Lather
High in vitamins A, B, D and E oleic and palmitoleic acids. 

Babassu Oil
Properties: Cleansing, Adds Hardness, High Bubbles
High in vitamin E and antioxidants like phytosterols. 

Castor Oil
Properties: Conditioning, Moisturizing, Creamy Lather with High Stable Bubbles.
90% ricinoleic acid, which has traditionally been used to help heal skin conditions. 

Cocoa Butter
Properties: Conditioning, Moisturizing, Adds Hardness, Stable Rich Lather
High in vitamin E and other antioxidants. It doesn’t fully saponify, so it lends more of its properties to soap after curing. 

Coconut Oil
Properties: Cleansing, Adds Hardness, High Lather with High Stable Bubbles
Coconut can be drying if it is over 45% of total oils in a soap IF you do not compensate by increasing the superfat content. it makes a wonderful cleansing, hard bar with great bubbles. 

Grapeseed Oil
Properties: Highly Conditioning, Creamy and Stable Lather
High in lioleic acid, omega 6 fatty acids, and antioxidants. 

Hazelnut Oil
Properties: Moisturizing, Cleansing, Stable Medium Lather
All around great oil for soap because it cleanses, moisturizes, and creates nice bubbles. 

Hempseed Oil
Properties: Highly Conditioning, Low Lather
High in vitamins A and E, but can go bad in soap faster than other oils. Use as 5% or less of total oils for a longer lasting bar. 

Jojoba Oil
Properties: Conditioning, Moisturizing, Strong Stable Lather
Like beeswax and cocoa butter, it doesn’t fully saponify, leaving more to hydropylic (water loving) qualities to help moisturize dry skin. 

Lard
Properties: Conditioning, Adds Hardness, Stable Creamy Lather
Makes a great, long lasting bar. Make sure to choose a free-range, natural source. 

Macadamia Nut Oil
Properties: Conditioning, Adds Hardness, Creamy Lather
High in antioxidants, oleic acid, omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids. 

Mango Butter
Properties: Conditioning, Moisturizing, Adds Hardness, Creamy Lather
High in Vitamin A and C and antioxidants. 

Neem Oil
Properties: Conditioning, Moisturizing, Adds Hardness, Stable Creamy Lather
Calming, gentle oil used in soaps as an anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial oil. 

Olive Oil
Properties: Very Conditioning, Low Cleansing
Gentle oil with little cleansing properties, but high in antioxidants (Vitamin E and polyphenols). Makes a very soft soap and is best paired with a harder fat or oil. 

Shea Butter
Properties: Conditioning, Adds Hardness, Stable Lather
Gives a silky feeling to bars. High in vitamins A and E, fatty acids and minerals. 

Sweet Almond Oil
Properties: Stable Medium Lather
Gentle on the skin, Has vitamin A and E and oleic and linoleic acid. 

Tallow
Properties: Conditioning, Cleansing, Adds Hardness, Stable Creamy Lather
All around great ingredient for soap making. Makes a great, long lasting, cleaning and bubbly bar. Choose a free-range, natural source. 

DIY Lavender Soap Recipe by Linda at It All Started With Paint.
Linda blogs about DIY home decor and lives in Chicago, Illinois. You can follow her on Pinterest at @iaswp.