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4.4 from 21 votes

How to Make Homemade Soap Without Lye

Bring something special to the table with this well-loved recipe.

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces Natural Soap Base
  • Molds (I love these flower molds, circular molds, or these simple bar molds)
  • Herbs or flowers (like these lavender flowers), rose petals
  • .15 ounces essential oils (about 90 drops)
  • parchment paper (depending on what mold you use)
  • Grater (a cheese grater, salad shooter, or food processor are good choices)
  • 1/2 teaspoon oil (optional)

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. Grate 8 ounces of the soap base (two regular size bars.) A cheese grater works well, as does a salad shooter. A food processor also works.
  2. Add the oil, if desired, to thin the soap.
  3. Heat on low in a double boiler or crock pot. You can also place in oven-safe pot and heat in the oven at lowest setting. Stir frequently to avoid burning. This can take anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour.
  4. When soap is liquefied, remove from heat. It will be somewhat lumpy and translucent.
  5. Add desired ingredients.(For the main photos here, I used Pink Himalayan salt and dried rose petals from my daughter's wedding. I added Rose Geranium essential oil which created a lovely rose scent.)
  6. Stir to desired consistency. Pour (or spoon) soap mixture into molds.  I placed some dried rose petals on the bottom of this flower mold.
  7. Cool the soap and remove from mold (place mold into freezer for up to 1 hour to make this easier). Cut into desired sizes and shapes using a soap cutter or a food scraper/shovel.
  8. Allow soap to dry for several days or more.
  9. Dry the soap thoroughly between uses to extend its life.