It’s hard to put in words just how wonderful this natural honey soap recipe smells, it’s just one of a few homemade soaps that I can’t walk past without having a little sniff.

Both of the homemade honey soap recipes featured below can be made as individual soap batches, they are excellent on their own but perfect as a layered oatmeal & honey soap that will give you the best of both worlds.
- A mild smooth side with a gentle scent of honey and beeswax.
- An exfoliating scrubby side with its rich lovely smell of orange, clary sage and honey.
Each recipe gives a 2 pound batch of soap so if needed there’s plenty enough to make a few bars on their own along with the layered batch.
First, lets have a look at making the smooth honey soap.
The Smooth Natural Honey Soap Recipe

There’s no extra added scent in this natural honey soap recipe, just the wonderful mild aroma of honey and beeswax. It’s a hard long lasting bar of soap with a creamy texture that’s suitable for all skin types.
Ingredients:
15 oz (425g) Shortening (vegetable fat)
10 oz (283g) Sweet Almond Oil
7 oz (198g) Olive Oil
2 oz (57g) Beeswax (preferable white if using as a layered batch)
5 oz (142g) Lye (Sodium Hydroxide/Caustic Soda)
10 oz (283g) Spring or Distilled Water
2 Tablespoons Honey
Specifics To This Recipe:
Use the Cold Process soap making method plus the following recipe specific steps:
- In Step 4 – Mix lye and oil between 120 and 140.
- In Step 5 – Add honey at trace and stir thoroughly.
Photos From Making This Soap:

The Honey, Orange and Oatmeal Soap Recipe
The texture of this natural honey soap recipe can be altered to suit the individual by grinding the oats finer in a blender or grinding with a pestle and mortar.
Or for an extra special bar try substituting half the oatmeal with finely ground dried orange peel, this compliments the orange essential oil beautifully.

It’s an exfoliating soap bar suitable for all skin types.
Ingredients:
10 oz (283g) Shortening (vegetable fat)
12 oz (340g) Olive Oil
10 oz (283g) Coconut Oil
2 oz (57g) Beeswax
5 oz (142g) Lye (Sodium Hydroxide/Caustic Soda)
11 oz (312g) Spring or Distilled Water
2 oz (57g) Oatmeal
2 tablespoons Honey
1 tablespoon Orange essential oil
1 tablespoon Clary Sage essential oil
Specifics To This Recipe:
Use the Cold Process Method plus the following recipe specific steps:
- In Step 4 – Mix lye and oil between 120 and 140.
- In Step 5 – At trace sprinkle in the oatmeal then add the honey and essential oils and stir thoroughly.
Photos From Making This Soap:
The Ingredients![]() |
Gently Melt Oils![]() |
Sprinkle In The Oatmeal At Trace![]() |
Spoon Into Containers![]() |
Allow To Set![]() |
Honey, Orange And Oatmeal Soap![]() |
Making The Double Layered Soap
Although I’ve made this layered honey soap in a long slim mold (just wanted to try it really) I have to say I think I would prefer to make this soap in a slightly larger and shallower mold than the one in the photo below. So that the soap is a little more square and it sits flat, with the scrubby side on top and the mild honey soap on the bottom.
Take a look at the finished individual cut soaps and you’ll see that I’ve made this one with the scrubby and the smooth side both showing when sitting flat. To be honest it’s not that big of a deal it’s still a fabulous soap but I would prefer it the other way (felt I had to mention that).

- Make the smooth honey soap recipe as instructed above.
- Pour it into the mold up to about the half way mark.
- Cover and leave to set in the usual way then put it to one side for a week.
- After the honey and beeswax soap has been left to sit for a week make the honey, orange and oatmeal soap recipe as instructed.
- Pour the honey, orange and oatmeal soap into the mold on top of the honey and bees wax soap filling it up to the brim.
- Cover and wrap the honey soap in a towel then leave to set in for a good 48 hours before removing from the mold and cutting into bars.
I hope you enjoy learning how to make soap at home and I’m sure you will love this natural honey soap recipe, it really does smell wonderful and makes a fantastic homemade gift idea.
I made bath salts and scrubs but I will try your recipe for honey soap soon!
Thank you
You’re welcome Micheline 🙂
I have never made soap before. I read your recipe and I think I will try if I can find all the ingredients. Keep your fingers crossed.
Honey soap is one that I have not tried. I took a course on home made soap making and enjoyed it much. The soaps seem much more quality better than commercial soaps. Thank you much.
Okay this sounds absolutely delicious. I’m a girl all about bubble baths, and I have GOT to make this and lather up! Thank you for the recipe!
Wow that looks great! We usually add 2 tbsp of honey per one kilogram batch, but it doesnt smell of honey at all. Should we increase the amount of honey?
In the Smooth Natural Honey soap it has 2 oz and Tablespoons, should it be oz?
Hi Lori
This should read 2 tablespoons, thanks for letting me know 😉 I have edited the recipe to show this.
I made your recipe for honey, orange and oatmeal soap this morning. what a fun recipe! I can’t wait till it is cured. It smells so nice and the texture of the soap looks like it’ll be perfect, not too much and not too little texture.
Hi Lara, This is one of my favorites! I hope you like as much as I do… would love to show a photo of yours here if you have time 😉
angela[at]savvyhomemade.com or you can post it here https://www.savvyhomemade.com/homemade-ideas/
What are the first 3 steps to cold process soap? I am new to this but really want to try this as I know how honey is good for skin.
Hi Cynthia, Here’s the full cold process method