Our Simple Homemade Soap Recipe

lindsay Metternich
Jul 15
3 min read

Gentle, Natural, and Perfect for Beginners

By Lindsay Metternich

There’s something deeply satisfying about using a bar of soap that you made with your own hands—no mystery ingredients, no plastic packaging, just clean, nourishing goodness.

If you’ve ever wanted to try homemade soap but felt intimidated by the process, you’re in the right place. This recipe is perfect for beginners: simple ingredients, basic tools, and a final product that’s gentle enough for the whole family.

Let’s dive into our go-to homemade soap recipe—plus tips to customize it with scents, herbs, or add-ins you love.

🧪 What You’ll Need (Supplies)

Basic Tools:

Digital kitchen scale
Large mixing bowl (stainless steel or heat-safe glass)
Silicone spatula or wooden spoon
Stick blender (immersion blender)
Silicone soap mold or loaf pan
Thermometer
Safety gear: gloves, goggles, long sleeves
Old towel or blanket (for insulation)

Tip: Keep soap-making tools separate from your cooking utensils. Lye is safe when used correctly but can irritate skin in raw form.

🌿 Ingredients (Makes About 8 Bars)

Ingredient	Amount
Olive oil	16 oz (gentle + moisturizing)
Coconut oil	10 oz (cleansing + bubbly lather)
Shea butter or cocoa butter	4 oz (richness + hardness)
Lye (sodium hydroxide)	4.5 oz (ALWAYS measure carefully)
Distilled water	10 oz
Optional: essential oils	1–2 oz total
Optional: dried herbs, oatmeal, clay, or ground spices	1–2 tbsp

⚠️ A Quick Word About Safety

Soap making involves lye, which is caustic before it’s mixed with oils. Always:

Wear gloves, goggles, and work in a ventilated area
Add lye to water—never the other way around
Keep kids and pets out of the area while working
Let your soap cure for 4–6 weeks before use

🧼 Step-by-Step: How to Make Our Soap

1. Prepare Your Mold and Workspace

Line your mold (if not silicone), set out tools, and wear your protective gear. You’re making magic—safely.

2. Mix the Lye Water

In a heat-safe container, slowly add lye to the distilled water (never the reverse!). Stir until dissolved. It will heat up quickly—this is normal. Set aside to cool to about 100–110°F.

3. Melt the Oils

In a large bowl or pot, melt coconut oil and butter first. Then stir in olive oil. Let the oils cool to about 100–110°F—you want both mixtures close in temperature.

4. Combine Lye + Oils (Trace Stage)

Slowly pour the cooled lye water into the oils. Use your stick blender to pulse and mix until the batter thickens to “trace”—a pudding-like texture that holds a shape when drizzled on top.

5. Add Scents, Herbs, or Add-Ins

Now’s the time to stir in essential oils (like lavender, peppermint, orange) or mix-ins like:

Oatmeal
Dried calendula
Activated charcoal
Kaolin clay
Ground cinnamon or coffee

6. Pour Into Mold

Pour the soap batter into your mold. Tap gently to release air bubbles. Cover with a lid or towel and let sit undisturbed for 24–48 hours.

7. Unmold and Cut

Once firm, remove soap from mold and slice into bars. Let them cure in a well-ventilated space for 4–6 weeks, flipping occasionally to dry evenly.

🧼 Customization Ideas

Add-In	Benefit
Lavender oil	Calming, great for bedtime
Tea tree oil	Antibacterial, acne-friendly
Oats & honey	Gentle exfoliation + moisture
Orange + clove	Warm, seasonal scent
Activated charcoal	Deep cleansing + detoxifying

💬 Final Thoughts

Making your own soap is more than just a DIY project—it’s a way to connect with your ingredients, reduce waste, and create something beautiful and useful from scratch.

Once you get the hang of it, you'll never want to go back to store-bought bars again. And the best part? You can tweak each batch to suit the seasons, your skin, or even gift-giving.