How to Make Natural Lemon Balm Soap

Lemon Balm adds a lasting crisp lemon scent.

Making your own soap is fun and a great way to protect your skin from unhealthy chemicals and additives. Natural glycerin soap is a wonderful alternative for people with sensitive skin and lemon balm gives it a bright clean scent.

Things You'll Need

• 1 lb clear glycerin melt and pour soap base
• Lemon essential oil or soap fragrance
• 2 tablespoons dry or fresh chopped lemon balm
• 1/4 teaspoon yellow soap dye (optional)
• Soap molds
• Large microwave-safe bowl
• Large wooden or metal spoon
• Large serrated knife
• Large measuring cup
• Spray bottle filled with rubbing alcohol
• Plastic wrap or sandwich bags
• Microwave oven

Instructions

Making Lemon Balm Soap

1. Assemble all your tools and ingredients next to the microwave oven.

2. Chop the clear glycerin soap base into 1/2 inch cubes.

3. Put about two cups of soap cubes into the bowl and heat in the microwave on high for 40 seconds. Stir. Continue to heat and stir the soap base at 10 second intervals until cubes are completely melted.

4. Drop in a few drops of the lemon essential oil. Sprinkle in the chopped lemon balm. Add a drop or two of the yellow soap coloring if you like. Stir well.

5. Pour soap mixture either from the bowl or from the measuring cup into the molds, filling the molds to the top. If the soap begins to harden before you are finished, simply reheat and stir.

6. Allow the lemon balm soap to set for a minute or so until the bubbles rise to the top. Squirt the surface of the soap with rubbing alcohol. This keeps bubbles from forming in the soap so you have a nice clear bar.

7. Allow the soap to cool for about a half hour or until the soap bars are hardened.

8. Turn molds over and pop the soap bars out by pressing down on the mold with your thumbs. If the soap bars are stubborn, place molds in the freezer for 10 minutes.

9. Wrap the soap bars in plastic wrap or place in sandwich bags and store in a cool dry place.

Tips & Warnings

• Lemon balm is easy to grow in your garden; it’s a hardy perennial plant from the mint family. Lemon balm does well in full sun or shade and can be grown in planters too.

• Fresh lemon balm can be used to create hair rinses and potpourri.

• Dry fresh lemon balm by creating bundles and hanging them in a dark dry place; attics or garages work well for this.

• Dried lemon balm can be found at hobby stores or on-line at craft supply sites.