Creating your own soap bars at home is a fantastic way to get creative and enjoy natural, skin-loving ingredients.
From soothing chamomile to invigorating mint, these DIY recipes let you craft beautiful bars tailored to your preferences.
You’ll love the simple pleasure of using handmade soap that’s free from harsh chemicals and packed with goodness..
1. Essential Oil Infused Homemade Soap Bars
Whip up your own delightful soap bars with this easy guide! Infused with natural essential oils like lavender or tea tree, these bars offer lovely scents and skin benefits.
You can customize them with dried botanicals or natural colorants for a truly unique creation.
They’re a wonderful way to pamper yourself or create thoughtful gifts..
Key Ingredients:
- Soap Base (Glycerin, Goat Milk, or Shea Butter)
- Carrier Oils (Olive oil, Coconut oil)
- Essential Oils (Lavender, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lemongrass)
- Optional: Dried Botanicals, Natural Colorants
Benefits:
- Customizable scents and properties
- Gentle and natural ingredients
- Nourishes the skin
- Eco-friendly alternative
Pro Tip: For a gentle exfoliation, try adding ground oats or poppy seeds to your soap mixture.
Get the Recipe: Essential Oil Infused Homemade Soap Bars
2. Oatmeal & Honey Soap with Lavender & Tea Tree
This comforting cold process soap recipe combines nourishing oatmeal, sweet honey, and a blend of lavender and tea tree essential oils.
It creates a wonderfully soothing bar that gently cleanses while providing a light, refreshing scent.
The oatmeal adds a touch of natural exfoliation for soft, smooth skin..
Key Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Shea Butter
- Honey
- Ground Oatmeal
- Lavender Oil
- Tea Tree Oil
Benefits:
- Soothing
- Gentle exfoliation
- Moisturizing
- Refreshing scent
Pro Tip: Make sure to let the soap cure for at least 4 weeks to ensure it hardens properly and all the lye has reacted.
Get the Recipe: Oatmeal & Honey Soap with Lavender & Tea Tree
3. Banana & Cream Soap with a Speckled Finish
Experience a uniquely creamy lather with this banana and heavy cream soap recipe.
The ripe banana creates a lovely speckled appearance, while the heavy cream adds rich moisturizing properties for super soft skin.
It’s a delightful treat that’s as visually appealing as it is nourishing..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Shea Butter
- Olive Oil
- Rice Bran Oil
- Banana
- Heavy Cream
- Kaolin Clay
- Essential Oils
Benefits:
- Creamy lather
- Moisturizing
- Soft skin
- Unique aesthetic
Pro Tip: To achieve a cool speckled look, use a fairly ripe banana and try to avoid the soap gelling during the curing process.
Get the Recipe: Banana & Cream Soap with a Speckled Finish
4. Coffee & Honey Melt and Pour Soap
This quick and easy melt and pour coffee soap is a treat for coffee lovers! Made with goat's milk soap base, used coffee grounds, and raw honey, it gently exfoliates and leaves skin feeling soft and moisturized.
The hint of vanilla makes it smell like a delicious latte!.
Key Ingredients:
- Goats Milk Soap Base
- Used Coffee Grounds
- Raw Honey
- Vanilla Extract
- Optional: Essential Oils (like orange or geranium)
Benefits:
- Gentle exfoliation
- Moisturizing
- Invigorating scent
- Easy to make
Pro Tip: Letting the soap base cool slightly before adding coffee grounds helps prevent them from sinking to the bottom.
Get the Recipe: Coffee & Honey Melt and Pour Soap
5. Soothing Cold-Pressed Chamomile Soap
This cold-process chamomile soap recipe is a dream for sensitive skin.
Made with nourishing oils like coconut, palm, and olive oil, plus calming chamomile essential oil, it provides gentle cleansing and a soothing aroma.
It’s perfect for unwinding and leaving your skin feeling soft and peaceful..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Palm Oil
- Olive Oil
- Lye
- Water
- Chamomile Essential Oil
Benefits:
- Soothing for sensitive skin
- Moisturizing
- Calming scent
- Gentle cleansing
Pro Tip: Always add lye slowly to water, never the other way around, for safety during soap making.
Get the Recipe: Soothing Cold-Pressed Chamomile Soap
6. Refreshing Mint & Poppy Seed Exfoliating Soap
Get ready for silky smooth skin with this invigorating mint and poppy seed soap! The peppermint essential oil provides a cooling sensation, while poppy seeds offer fantastic exfoliation.
Made with goat's milk melt and pour soap base, it’s easy to create a colorful, refreshing bar that helps remove dry skin and smells amazing..
Key Ingredients:
- Goats Milk Melt and Pour Soap Base
- Poppy Seed
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Soap Colorant
Benefits:
- Exfoliating
- Refreshing
- Cooling sensation
- Helps with acne and blemishes
Pro Tip: Using poppy seeds adds great texture for exfoliating, and the mint essential oil gives a wonderfully uplifting scent.
Get the Recipe: Refreshing Mint & Poppy Seed Exfoliating Soap
7. Moisturizing Tallow & Essential Oil Soap
Discover the skin-loving benefits of tallow with this nourishing soap recipe! Combined with other natural oils for extra lather, this soap creates a beautiful, moisturizing bar.
You can customize it with your favorite essential oils like lavender or peppermint for a truly delightful and grounding experience..
Key Ingredients:
- Grass Fed Tallow
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Lye
- Water
- Essential Oils (Lavender, Peppermint)
Benefits:
- Deeply moisturizing
- Creates a beautiful lather
- Nourishing for the skin
- Gentle cleansing
Pro Tip: Ensure you have white vinegar on hand to neutralize any lye splashes on skin or surfaces during the soap-making process.
Get the Recipe: Moisturizing Tallow & Essential Oil Soap
8. Creamy Cold Process Soap with Olive, Coconut, and Shea Butter
This recipe creates a beautifully creamy and long-lasting soap bar, perfect for all skin types.
It combines the cleansing power of coconut oil with the mildness of olive oil and the rich, moisturizing feel of shea butter.
The result is a gentle, natural bar that leaves your skin feeling soft and well-cared for..
Key Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Shea Butter
- Lye
- Distilled Water
Benefits:
- Creamy lather
- Good hardness
- Simple natural oils
- Long-lasting bar
- Gentle on skin
Pro Tip: Cure your bars for 4-6 weeks to ensure they become harder, milder, and longer-lasting.
Get the Recipe: Creamy Cold Process Soap with Olive, Coconut, and Shea Butter
9. Nourishing Lard and Olive Oil Soap
This recipe uses lard and olive oil to create a luxuriously smooth soap bar that's incredibly nourishing for the skin.
Lard provides a beautiful texture and moisturizing properties, while olive oil contributes to a wonderful lather.
You'll love the way your skin feels soft and cleansed after using this gentle, homemade bar..
Key Ingredients:
- Lard
- Olive Oil
- Lye
- Water
- Essential Oils
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Nourishing
- Smooth lather
- Cleansing
Pro Tip: Pairing lard with olive oil creates a balanced bar that is both firm and lathers well.
Get the Recipe: Nourishing Lard and Olive Oil Soap
10. Easy Vanilla & Lavender Shea Butter Melt and Pour Soap
For an effortlessly delightful soap, try this melt and pour recipe featuring shea butter, lavender essential oil, and a hint of vanilla.
It's super simple to make and perfect for moisturizing your skin.
The calming aroma of lavender combined with sweet vanilla creates a truly relaxing bathing experience..
Key Ingredients:
- Shea Butter Melt and Pour Soap Base
- Dried Lavender Flowers
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Vanilla Essential Oil
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Calming aroma
- Soothing
- Easy to make
Pro Tip: Spritzing the top with rubbing alcohol after pouring helps to prevent bubbles for a smooth finish.
Get the Recipe: Easy Vanilla & Lavender Shea Butter Melt and Pour Soap
11. Simple Lard Soap with Coconut and Olive Oil
This recipe focuses on using lard as a primary ingredient, creating an inexpensive yet beautiful soap bar.
Combined with coconut and olive oil, it offers moisturizing properties and a creamy lather.
It's a great way to reduce waste while crafting a functional and skin-friendly soap, even for sensitive skin..
Key Ingredients:
- Lard
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Lemongrass Essential Oil
- Cedarwood Essential Oil
Benefits:
- Inexpensive
- Moisturizing
- Creamy lather
- Gentle on sensitive skin
Pro Tip: If you want to avoid animal products, lard can sometimes be substituted with other fats, but always use a soap calculator.
Get the Recipe: Simple Lard Soap with Coconut and Olive Oil
12. Nourishing Raw Honey & Goat Milk Soap
This recipe is a dream for creating simple, nourishing homemade soap with just a few key ingredients like raw honey and goat milk.
It's perfect for making gifts or simply for everyday use.
The process is straightforward, making it accessible even for beginners, and you can even add dried flowers for a beautiful touch.
Enjoy a gentle, hydrating cleanse with this delightful soap..
Key Ingredients:
- Goat Milk Melt and Pour Soap Base
- Raw Honey
- Essential Oils (optional)
Benefits:
- Nourishing
- Moisturizing
- Gentle
Pro Tip: Consider adding dried lavender or rose petals to your molds before pouring for an extra decorative touch.
Get the Recipe: Nourishing Raw Honey & Goat Milk Soap
13. Sandalwood Soap with Coffee & Paprika
This manly sandalwood soap is a fantastic DIY gift idea! It's made with a goat's milk melt and pour base and naturally colored with paprika and coffee grounds.
The coffee grounds provide gentle exfoliation, while the sandalwood scent is wonderfully refreshing.
It helps treat dry skin and offers anti-aging properties, leaving skin feeling clean and revitalized..
Key Ingredients:
- Goat's Milk Melt and Pour Soap Base
- Coffee Grounds
- Paprika
- Poppy Seeds
- Sandalwood Fragrance Oil
Benefits:
- Exfoliating
- Soothing
- Refreshing Scent
Pro Tip: Used coffee grounds work best as they are already dried out and less likely to clump.
Get the Recipe: Sandalwood Soap with Coffee & Paprika
14. Exfoliating Lemonade Stand Soap with Shea & Cocoa Butter
This vibrant lemonade stand cold process soap is a treat for the senses, featuring a double butter formulation with shea and cocoa butter.
Avocado oil adds extra goodness, while ground walnut shells provide a satisfying exfoliation.
It’s a luxurious bar that cleanses and revitalizes, leaving your skin feeling smooth and refreshed..
Key Ingredients:
- Shea Butter
- Cocoa Butter
- Avocado Oil
- Ground Walnut Shells
- Kaolin Clay
- Colloidal Oatmeal
Benefits:
- Exfoliating
- Moisturizing
- Luxurious Feel
Pro Tip: Adding kaolin clay and colloidal oatmeal can make the soap feel extra luxurious and silky.
Get the Recipe: Exfoliating Lemonade Stand Soap with Shea & Cocoa Butter
15. Soothing Lavender Oatmeal Soap
Whip up this super simple and lovely lavender oatmeal soap recipe to enjoy natural goodness in your daily routine.
It’s made with natural ingredients and offers a soothing experience for your skin.
The gentle texture of oatmeal helps to smooth and tone, while the calming scent of lavender makes it a truly relaxing bar..
Key Ingredients:
- Soap Base
- Ground Oats
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Dried Lavender Flowers
Benefits:
- Soothing
- Toning
- Calming
Pro Tip: To keep lavender a vibrant purple in your soap, try sprinkling it on after the soap has gelled a bit and then spray with alcohol.
Get the Recipe: Soothing Lavender Oatmeal Soap
16. Simple Olive Oil & Coconut Oil Soap
This simple, natural homemade soap is perfect for beginners and those with sensitive skin.
Made with a blend of skin-conditioning olive oil, hardening coconut oil, and lather-promoting castor oil, it creates a gentle yet effective bar.
The recipe focuses on a clean, uncomplicated approach for a wonderfully mild cleanse..
Key Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Castor Oil
- Lye
- Distilled Water
Benefits:
- Gentle
- Skin-Conditioning
- Hardness
Pro Tip: If you have a coconut oil allergy, babassu oil is a great substitute.
Get the Recipe: Simple Olive Oil & Coconut Oil Soap
17. Fast Hot Process Coconut Oil Soap
This easy DIY bar soap recipe uses the hot process method, meaning it's ready to use the same day you make it! Primarily made with coconut oil, this soap is fast and efficient to create in a crockpot.
It's a budget-friendly option that provides a good supply of cleansing bars that can last for months..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Lye
- Water
- Essential Oils (optional)
Benefits:
- Fast to Use
- Budget-Friendly
- Cleansing
Pro Tip: Essential oils can be added at the end for a custom scent, but are optional for a simple, functional bar.
Get the Recipe: Fast Hot Process Coconut Oil Soap
18. Two-Ingredient Goat Milk Soap
This incredibly simple, two-ingredient homemade bar soap is perfect for everyday use by the whole family.
Using a goat's milk melt and pour base and kaolin clay, it creates a gentle, non-drying bar that cleans effectively without leaving residue.
It's a practical and frugal choice that works great for all skin types..
Key Ingredients:
- Goat's Milk Melt and Pour Soap Base
- White Kaolin Clay
Benefits:
- Gentle
- Non-Drying
- Effective Cleansing
Pro Tip: Wrap bars in wax paper and store in a cool place to help them last longer.
Get the Recipe: Two-Ingredient Goat Milk Soap
19. Refreshing Peppermint Eucalyptus Soap
Create a refreshing and skin-loving bar with this peppermint eucalyptus cold process soap recipe.
It's designed to produce hard bars with a rich, bubbly lather, offering moisturizing benefits.
The invigorating scent is perfect for a wake-up shower or a soothing post-workout cleanse, leaving you feeling revitalized..
Key Ingredients:
- Oils and Fats (various)
- Lye
- Water
- Eucalyptus Essential Oil
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Mica Powder (optional)
Benefits:
- Refreshing
- Invigorating
- Moisturizing
Pro Tip: Allow your soap to cure for 4-6 weeks for a harder, longer-lasting bar with optimal lather.
Get the Recipe: Refreshing Peppermint Eucalyptus Soap
20. Facial Soap with Bentonite Clay and Rosehip Oil
This gentle facial soap is a dream for cleansing and nourishing your skin.
It features bentonite clay to draw out impurities for a refreshing clean, while rosehip oil works to keep your skin feeling wonderfully soft and smooth.
It’s a perfect, fragrance-free bar for a natural skincare routine..
Key Ingredients:
- Shea butter
- Sweet almond oil
- Castor oil
- Argan oil
- Coconut oil
- Rosehip oil
- Bentonite Clay
Benefits:
- Deep cleansing
- Nourishing
- Soft and smooth skin
- Gentle on skin
Pro Tip: If you're new to soap making, consider starting with a melt-and-pour recipe before diving into cold-process methods.
Get the Recipe: Facial Soap with Bentonite Clay and Rosehip Oil
21. Natural Lemon Zest Soap Bar
Brighten your day with this naturally scented lemon zest soap bar! It's a wonderful choice for the kitchen, leaving your hands feeling clean with a fresh, subtle lemon aroma derived directly from the zest.
It’s a simple, fuss-free recipe for a beautifully aromatic soap..
Key Ingredients:
- Melt and pour soap base
- Lemon zest
Benefits:
- Naturally scented
- Fresh aroma
- Easy to make
Pro Tip: Instead of lemon juice, use lemon zest for a natural scent that works well in melt-and-pour soaps.
Get the Recipe: Natural Lemon Zest Soap Bar
22. Exfoliating Coffee Soap Bar
Wake up your skin with this exfoliating coffee soap! The natural coffee grounds provide a fantastic scrub, helping to buff away dead skin cells for smoother, healthier-looking skin.
It’s a must-try for a refreshing and invigorating shower experience..
Key Ingredients:
- Melt and pour soap base
- Coffee grounds
- Coffee beans (optional, for decoration)
Benefits:
- Exfoliating
- Smoother skin
- Invigorating aroma
Pro Tip: For a gentler exfoliation, grind your coffee beans finely.
Get the Recipe: Exfoliating Coffee Soap Bar
23. Vanilla Honey Coffee Soap with Shea Butter
Indulge in this luxurious vanilla honey coffee soap, crafted with a moisturizing shea butter base.
The coffee grounds offer gentle exfoliation, while honey adds a touch of natural moisture, leaving your skin feeling incredibly soft and smooth.
The warm vanilla scent is simply divine!.
Key Ingredients:
- Shea butter melt and pour soap base
- Coffee powder
- Raw organic honey
- Vanilla essential oil
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Gentle exfoliation
- Anti-aging properties
- Reduces appearance of cellulite
Pro Tip: Shea butter melt and pour soap base is excellent for dry skin and helps create a bar that doesn't clog pores.
Get the Recipe: Vanilla Honey Coffee Soap with Shea Butter
24. Goat Milk and Coffee Scrub Soap
Experience the creamy goodness of goat milk combined with the exfoliating power of coffee in this delightful soap bar.
Goat milk is wonderfully moisturizing, and the coffee grounds provide a thorough scrub, leaving your skin feeling revitalized and exceptionally smooth.
It’s a nourishing treat for your skin..
Key Ingredients:
- Raw goat's milk
- Brewed coffee
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Shea butter
- Cocoa butter
- Castor oil
- Used coffee grounds
Benefits:
- Exfoliating
- Moisturizing
- Nourishing
- Gentle for all skin types
Pro Tip: Using brewed coffee as the liquid in your lye solution can add extra depth and aroma to your soap.
Get the Recipe: Goat Milk and Coffee Scrub Soap
25. Vanilla Coffee Glycerin Soap
Enjoy the energizing scent of coffee with a hint of sweet vanilla in this easy-to-make glycerin soap.
It’s a quick and simple way to get that delightful coffee aroma while enjoying a cleansing bar.
Perfect for a morning pick-me-up in the shower!.
Key Ingredients:
- Goats milk glycerin soap (melt and pour base)
- Coffee grounds
- Vanilla soap fragrance
Benefits:
- Energizing scent
- Cleansing
- Easy to make
Pro Tip: Spray the surface of the soap with rubbing alcohol immediately after pouring to prevent bubbles.
Get the Recipe: Vanilla Coffee Glycerin Soap
26. Coffee Exfoliating Melt and Pour Soap
This melt-and-pour coffee soap is a fantastic choice for a gentle exfoliation.
The coffee grounds provide a lovely scrub, and the aroma is simply delightful.
It’s a wonderful, practical gift that anyone would appreciate!.
Key Ingredients:
- Melt and pour soap base (goat's milk or shea butter recommended)
- Ground coffee
- Coffee fragrance oil or essential oil (optional)
Benefits:
- Exfoliating
- Refreshing aroma
- Great gift idea
Pro Tip: Used coffee grounds work just as well as fresh grounds for exfoliation.
Get the Recipe: Coffee Exfoliating Melt and Pour Soap