As an urban homesteading enthusiast, I definitely have the DIY bug. Gardening, landscaping, and chickens are all great for outdoor ideas, but in rainy Seattle it’s nice to find an indoor project too. I love all of the crazy scents available at our local farmers market (thai basil & lemongrass?!), that I chose this as my next project to take on.
Soap is far more interesting than you may have thought. Here’s just afew of the facts I found in my research:
- 1.4 million deaths can be prevented each year by hand washing with soap.
- ⅓ of the world’s soap is used by the U.S.
- 10 billions pounds of soap are produced each year.
- 2.6 million bars of soap are discarded by hotels across the U.S. each year.
- People typically use 6x more liquid soap than bar soap when they wash their hands (which meansbar soap is way friendlier on the environment).
How Soap is Made
Commercial soaps aren’t really soap, but a combination of foaming chemicals. Real soap is made withfats and oils that react with lye.肥皂通常是由固体脂肪制成的,比如动物脂肪或椰子油。更柔软的肥皂,如卡斯提尔肥皂,主要由橄榄油制成。超级脂肪肥皂意味着添加额外的油来保湿。埃及人是最早使用肥皂的人,他们用动物脂肪和木灰制作肥皂。
I wanted to try a variety of options, to create natural soaps that can be safely used around the people and animals in the house, yet still get things clean. With so many varieties to choose from, we split this recipe list into four of the most common DIY methods:
- melt and pour recipes
- cold process soaps
- milk soaps
- liquid soap
Soap types are listed in order of difficulty, with the easiest processes shown first. *Please note that I have not tried all of these recipes yet, so cannot vouch for the final products.
Melt and Pour Soap Recipes
Melt and pour soaps are an easy process for beginning soap makers to start with. The “melting” consists of melting a pre-existing soap based, which is then “poured” into a ready soap mold. Also called “hot process” soaps, you make these soaps by heating their ingredients in a stove or crockpot.
Melt and Pour Soap recipe and photoby Soap Queen.
Glycerin Soap
Glycerin is sold in craft stores in blocks. This product is then melted down and combined with food coloring and essential oils, creating beautiful and clear blocks of soap. With premade glycerin bars, lye is not needed.
Glycerin Soap recipe and photoby Martha Stewart.
Vanilla Honey Oatmeal Soap
Described as soothing and moisturizing, this soap features vanilla oil, frankincense and myrrh, as well as honey and ground oatmeal.Vanilla Honey Oatmeal Soap recipeby From Nature With Love.
Also Try:Pre-assembled Honey Oatmeal Soap Making Kit on Amazon
Coffee and Cream Soap
Said to help combat cellulite, this recipe features both coffee grounds and coffee oil, as well as vanilla, whipped cream, and aloe.Coffee and Cream Soap recipeby From Nature With Love.
Olive Oil Soap
这款天然橄榄油皂非常适合有皮肤问题或过敏的人。这些棒只含有三种成分,由碱液、蒸馏水和橄榄油制成。
Olive Oil Soap recipe and photoby Heidi Corley Barto of Sierra Club.
Also Try:Coconut Oil & Olive Oil Soap by Wellness Mama
Related Post:How to Make Olive Oil
Old-Fashioned Lye Soap
While all soap contains lye, this old-fashioned recipe may be the ones your grandparents remember. This hot process soap recipe combines lye, water, and a fat such as tallow.
Old-Fashioned Lye Soap recipe and photoby Andrea of Frugally Sustainable.
Also Try:Lye Soap with instructions and video from Countryfarm Lifestyles
Shea and Cocoa Butter Soap
也被配方创造者称为双层黄油肥皂,这款豪华的肥皂结合了多种不同熔点的黄油和油,加上香味和一些云母闪耀。Shea and Cocoa Butter Soap recipeby David Fisher of About Home.
Related Post:7 DIY Bath Bombs For a Soothing, Relaxing Soak
10-Minute Pumpkin Spice Soap
For those in need of a super fast pumpkin spice fix, this easy melt and pour recipes adds yellow and red food coloring plus (you guessed it) pumpkin pie spice to this premade soap base.
10-Minute Pumpkin Spice Soap recipe and photoby Heidi of Happiness is homemade.
Aloe Vera Citrus Soap
绿色的氧化铬为这款芦荟主题香皂提供了颜色。芦荟粉或芦荟汁与柠檬和石灰精油以及高岭土混合而成。
Aloe Vera Citrus Soap recipe and photoby Marie of Humblebee & Me.
Citrus Basil Calendula Soap
This recipe calls for palm oil, but youcan use a substitute.出色的成分包括杏仁油,金盏菊油,金盏菊花瓣,乳木果油,山樱子和罗勒油混合,红木粉。Citrus Basil Calendula Soap recipeby Voyageur Soap and Candle.
Tangerine and Neroli Soap
Tangerine and Neroli (think spicy, bitter orange) combine with orange dye and sodium hydroxide pearls. Check out the video tutorial too.
Tangerine and Neroli Soap recipe and photoby The Soap Kitchen.
Pine Tar Soap
这是一个古老的农场配方,这款以松树为基础的肥皂据传可以治疗各种疾病,从牛皮癣到头皮鳞片。这是一种比较难制作的热加工肥皂。要小心,因为松焦油会改变所需碱液的数量,而且也会迅速冷却。
Pine Tar Soap recipe and photo简·贝瑞的《宅男农妇》
Cold Process Soap Recipes
The cold process for soap creation works well at creating hand and body soaps. A more realistic name would be “warm process” soaps, as the chemical reaction between the lye and oils still creates some heat, but the process doesn’t require an external heat source in most room temperatures.
Cold Process Soap Recipes recipe byDebra Maslowski and photo by Betsy Jabs of DIY Natural.
Charcoal and Sea Salt Soap
这种木炭肥皂号称能祛痘,被认为能排除毒素。Standout ingredients include fine sea salt, charcoal, and tea tree oil.
Charcoal and Sea Salt Soap recipe and photoby Amanda Gail of Lovin Soap.
Also Try:Peppermint Charcoal Soap from Bulk Apothecary
Lard Soap
Lard soap is made from rendered animal fat. You can purchase the fat or even render it yourself. Lard creates a creamy white soap bar, loved for both its feel on the skin as well as the affordability of the ingredients.
Lard Soap recipe and photoby skin + soul.
Also Try:Lard and Olive Oil Soap from Making Our Sustainable
Also Try:Blended Lard Soap from Miller Soap
Layered Lavender Soap
This cold process soap is actually made in three parts, combining layers of soap base with dilutedLabColors periwinkle dye.This specific batch is scented with lavender and cedar.
Layered Lavender Soap recipe and photoby Soap Queen.
Cinnamon & Citrus Soap
This refreshing citrus mix includes both orange oil and orange peel, cinnamon, and chamomile.Cinnamon & Citrus Soap recipeSoapnuts公司的Rebecca Erisch写的。
Raspberry Lemonade Soap
A nifty 2-tone look is created with lavender ultramarine powder. Add raspberry lemonade fragrance, and a combination of oils including grape seed and rice bran oil.
Raspberry Lemonade Soap recipe and photoby Rebecca D Dillon of Soap Deli News.
Lime Margarita Soap
This standard recipe adds lime margarita fragrance and coarse sea salt.
Lime Margarita Soap recipe and photoby Rebecca D Dillon of Soap Deli News.
Nettle Soap with Lime and Spearmint
Check in the back of your pantry for that can of Crisco. Combine this household product with lime and spearmint essential oils, plus nettle leaf powder and dried nettle leaf for decoration.
Nettle Soap with Lime and Spearmint recipe and photoby Angela of Savvy Homemade.
Bacon Grease Soap
I found this one for bacon-lovers. It’s a cold process if you don’t count cooking and cleaning the bacon grease. Turns out 2 cups of bacon grease makes about 12 bars of soap–that don’t smell like bacon (add your own essential oils).
Bacon Grease Soap recipe and photo通过可持续的科学家。
Milk Soap Recipes
The key to a good milk soap is frozen milk. Goat’s milk offers an easy balance between fat and lye content, but this process can also be used for cow, buffalo, and even yak milk soaps with some adjustments.
Milk Soap Recipes recipeby Debra Maslowski and photo by Betsy Jabs of DIY Natural.
Also Try: Room temperature山羊奶皂配方从肥皂制作要领。
Beer Soap
Beer soap is made in a similar manner to milk soaps. The key for these recipes is to work with the beer ahead of time to make sure it’s flat (bubbles are gone) and then freeze the beer before using.
Beer Soap recipe and photoby Soap Recipes 101.
Lavender and Verbena Goat Milk Soap
这个配方对于那些喜欢牛奶皂但缺乏从头开始的技能的人来说是理想的。本配方使用羊奶皂悬浮液配方,结合新鲜香草,使其融化并倒皂。
Lavender and Verbena Goat Milk Soap recipe and photoby Laura Putnam of Finding Home farms.
Coconut Milk Shampoo and Bodywash
This simple recipe mixes pre-made liquid soap with coconut milk and almond oil for a clean and fragrant finish.
Coconut Milk Shampoo and Bodywash recipe and photoby of Jessica Espinoza and CoconutOil.com.
Lemongrass + Coconut Milk Soap
This cold process soap combines lemongrass and ginger oil with a traditional soap oils, coconut milk, shea butter, and a unique touch with rice bran oil.Lemongrass + Coconut Milk Soap recipeby Kenna of Modern Soapmaking.
Also Try:Shea Butter and Coconut Milk Soap from SoapMaking Essentials
Lemon Yogurt Soap
The author recommendsfreezing the yogurtto avoid a “milk volcano” in the chemical reaction. Ingredients include rice bran powder, lemongrass, lemon, and white yogurt.
Lemon Yogurt Soap recipe and photo作者是Curious Soapmaker公司的伊娃·布丁斯卡。
Milk Chocolate Mint Soap
This milk, or should I say, chocolate milk soap combines your choice of milk with cocoa powder and peppermint essential oil.
Milk Chocolate Mint Soap recipe and photo简·贝瑞的《宅男农妇》
Liquid Soap
Basic liquid soap is a little more complicated than the previously mentioned recipes. Beginners, don’t start here—get your cold process soapmaking perfected first. Liquid soap comes from a chemical reaction with potassium hydroxide, as opposed to a reaction with sodium hydroxide that takes place in bar soap recipes. Liquid soaps meant for household uses are usually made by combining Fels Naptha soap with different ingredients.Liquid Soap recipeby David Fisher of About Home.
Castile Soap
Best known through commercial brands like Dr. Bronner’s, Castile soap is marked by its liquid consistency and the use of olive oil as a main ingredient. This process uses olive and coconut oils in conjunction with a crock pot and an immersion blender.
Castile Soap recipe and photoby Erica of Northwest Edible Life.
Also Try:Beginner Castile Soap from The Things We’ll Make
Also Try:Lye-Free Castile Soap from Instructables
Laundry Soap
洗衣皂是由加热和混合各种不同的清洁剂制成的,但通常包括石脑油肥皂,硼砂,有时还包括oxyclean或其他去污剂。
Laundry Soap recipe and photoHouseLogic公司的Courtney Craig著。
Also Try:Borax-free Laundry Detergent from mommypotamus
Also Try:Money-saving Laundry Detergent from Happy Money Saver
Fels Naptha Insecticidal Soap Spray
While this is a liquid soap, I wouldn’t recommend washing with it. Safely get rid of unwanted sugar ants and aphids with this eco-friendly solution. Simply melt Fels Naptha into warm water and mix.Fels Naptha Insecticidal Soap Spray recipeby Ted Swenson of Mother Earth News.
Leave a Reply