How to Make All-Natural Herbal Soap with Fresh Ingredients

In this blog post, we will be discussing How to Make All-Natural Herbal Soap with Fresh Ingredients.

Imagine stepping into your shower and being greeted by the soothing scent of lavender, the gentle exfoliation of dried mint, and the rich lather of a soap you made yourself completely natural, chemical-free, and infused with herbs from your own garden or local market.

In a world overloaded with synthetic additives, harsh detergents, and unpronounceable ingredients, making your own herbal soap is more than a fun DIY project, it’s a radical return to simplicity, purity, and self-care.

This isn’t just about cleansing your skin, it’s about reconnecting with nature, embracing holistic wellness, and crafting something beautiful with your own two hands.

If you’re a total beginner or a curious creative, this guide will walk you step-by-step through the magical process of making all-natural herbal soap from scratch, using fresh, skin-loving ingredients that nourish your body and uplift your senses.

Get ready to turn your kitchen into a botanical lab of creativity and wellness.

How to Make All-Natural Herbal Soap with Fresh Ingredients

1. Choose Your Herbs (Fresh or Dried)

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Herbs are the star of your natural soap; they add fragrance, skin benefits, texture, and visual appeal.

Calendula – Soothing for sensitive or irritated skin.

Lavender – Antibacterial, calming, and beautifully fragrant.

Rosemary – Stimulates circulation and adds a clean herbal scent.

Mint (Peppermint or Spearmint) – Refreshing, cooling, and uplifting.

Chamomile – Gentle and anti-inflammatory, perfect for calming skin.

Tip: Dried herbs are easier to work with because they won’t spoil or add moisture to your soap, but fresh herbs can be used if chopped finely and infused properly in oils.

2. Select Skin-Loving Oils and Butters

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Base oils determine the quality, hardness, and lather of your soap.

Olive Oil – Moisturizing, gentle, and great for all skin types.

Coconut Oil – Creates a bubbly lather and hardens the soap.

Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter – Adds creaminess and skin-softening properties.

Castor Oil – Boosts lather and adds richness.

Example Soap Base Recipe (for about 2 lbs of soap):

10 oz olive oil

8 oz coconut oil

4 oz shea butter

2 oz castor oil

3. Prepare Your Lye Solution (Sodium Hydroxide + Water)

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Lye is essential in soap making when mixed with oils, it triggers saponification, turning oils into soap.

Use 100% pure sodium hydroxide (lye).

Always add lye to water, not the other way around.

Wear safety gear: gloves, goggles, and long sleeves.

Example Lye-Water Mix:

About 4.6 oz lye (NaOH)

10 oz distilled water

Use a lye calculator to ensure correct proportions based on your oil amounts.

4. Infuse or Blend Your Herbs Into Oils

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There are two main ways to add herbs:

Oil Infusion: Gently heat herbs in oil for several hours (or let steep in a jar for 2–4 weeks). Then strain out solids.

Direct Addition: Finely chop or dry the herbs and mix them directly into the soap batter for texture and appearance.

Infused oils carry the herb’s properties into the soap without adding debris.

5. Add Natural Colorants and Scents (Optional but Fun)

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Essential Oils for fragrance: lavender, eucalyptus, tea tree, lemongrass.

Natural Colorants:
- Turmeric (golden yellow)
- Spirulina or French green clay (green)
- Activated charcoal (black/gray)
- Beetroot powder (pinkish tones)