How to Make Natural Soaps With Native Plants
Soap making is an old and useful craft that allows you to produce natural, skin-soothing soap for your family and friends. If you have a native herbal garden, using native plants in the soap-making process will make the soap intensely nourishing and can be used to treat irritating skin conditions, such as eczema or acne. If native plants are used in your soaps, pick them at their prime stage of development and try to utilize the most vital part of the plant. Two herbal plants that are very soothing to the skin and work well in soaps are chamomile and lavender. Pick the flowers when they are fully developed.
Things You'll Need
- Rubber gloves
- Safety glasses
- 7 ounces lye
- 16 ounces distilled water
- Large glass measuring cup
- 16 ounces coconut oil
- 16 ounces olive oil
- 16 ounces palm oil
- 2 glass candy thermometers
- Stock pot
- 1/4 cup chamomile blossoms
- 1/4 cup lavender blossoms
- 20 drops lavender essential oil
- 1/8 teaspoon powdered pigment
- Wooden spoon
- Soap molds
Instructions
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Mix together 7 ounces lye and 16 ounces water in a large glass measuring cup, wearing rubber gloves and safety glasses. Make sure you combine the lye and water in a well-ventilated area. Combining lye with water causes a chemical reaction that releases a gas that can burn the mucus membranes. Place a glass candy thermometer into the glass measuring cup to gauge the temperature. During this time, pour all of the oils, 48 ounces in all, into a stock pot and heat over medium heat. Place a second glass candy thermometer into the pot. Once both the lye water and the oils reach a temperature of 110 degrees Fahrenheit, they can be safely combined.
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Pour the lye water into the oils very carefully. Use a wooden spoon to stir the mixture vigorously until the mixture transforms into a thickened, puddinglike consistency. Pour in 1/4 cup chamomile and 1/4 cup lavender blossoms and stir them into the soap mixture well. Pour 20 drops of lavender essential oil and 1/8 teaspoon of powdered pigment into the mixture, stirring them in completely.
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Pour the soap mixture into the soap molds carefully. Place the soap molds into a well ventilated, dark and cool room for at least six weeks to cure. Curing the soaps helps solidify the mixture and allows the lye to be used on the skin safely. Once the soaps have cured, they can be removed from the molds and used on the skin.
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Tips & Warnings
Always wear rubber gloves and safety glasses when handling lye.
