The Basic Soap Recipe

I've made this basic soap recipe dozens of times. It's made with simple ingredients to make a great creamy natural homemade soap. It holds a good hardness and lathers up very well.

It's also a good old fashioned lye soap recipe that makes a great base for any fragrants, colorants and exfoliates that you may wish to add.

I've added a bit of lavender to this basic soap recipe below, just to give you some idea of how easy it is to change the look and feel of a natural soap by adding something simple to it. For a few more ideas check out these soap making ingredients.

 

The Basic Homemade Soap Recipe

Ingredients:

Makes about 13 standard or 10 chunky bars:

• 17 fl oz (500g ) Olive Oil
• 10 1/2 oz (300g) Coconut Oil
• 7 oz (200g) Palm Oil
• 5 oz (142g) Lye (Sodium Hydroxide/Caustic Soda)
• 13 fl oz (380ml) Water
• 1 oz (2 tbsp/30g) Essential Oil or Fragrance Oil (Optional)
• Additives such as lavender flowers or Dried Calendula Flowers (optional)

Specifics To This Recipe:

Use the Cold Process Method shown below plus the following recipe specific steps:

• In Step 4 - Combine the oils and lye when both temperatures reach 110° f (43c)

 

Photos From This Basic Soap Recipe:

Here's Another Basic Soap Recipe Using Vegetable Fat (shortening)

Ingredients:

• 4 1/4oz (120g) Lye (Sodium Hydroxide/Caustic Soda)
• 6 oz (170g) Coconut Oil
• 6 oz (170g) Palm Oil
• 12oz (340g) Ice cold distilled water
• 20oz (567g) Vegetable fat (shortening)

Specifics To This Recipe:

Use the Cold Process Method shown below plus the following recipe specific steps:

• In Step 4 - Combine the oils and lye when both temperatures reach 130° f (55c)