Nettle Soap Recipe with Lime and Spearmint

Common nettle weeds are frequently overlooked for their therapeutic values, mainly because of their nasty sting. Yet this common weed is said to relieve joint pains and improve skin irritations such as acne and eczema, so im incorporating them in this nettle soap recipe!

Although the dried nettle leaves on the top of this soap will eventually float away I have laced the soap with powdered nettle leaf for good measure. This also gives this soap a natural pale green color.

The lime and spearmint oils give this soap a clean fresh aroma, plus the spearmint essential oil holds antiseptic properties which are particularly good at combating greasy skin or any other various skin irritations such as itching or acne.

Ingredients Needed

• 20 oz (567g) Crisco (vegetable fat)
• 6 oz (170g) Coconut Oil
• 6 oz (170g) Palm Oil (from sustainable sources)
• 12 oz (340g) Distilled water
• 4 1/4 oz(120g) Lye (Sodium Hydroxide/Caustic Soda)
• 1 tablespoon of Nettle Leaf Powder (this can be varied depending on the color you wish to achieve)
• 1 handful of dried Dried Nettle Leaf for decoration (optional)
• 2og Lime Essential oil
• 10g Spearmint Essential oil

Method

1. Make sure the room you are making soap in is well-ventilated. Unless you are using a flexible silicone mold you will need to prepare your mold by lining it with greaseproof paper.
2. In a large-sized stainless steel pan, melt the coconut oil, palm oil, and vegetable fat (Crisco) over low heat. The oils can also be melted in a heatproof jug in the microwave.
3. Put on protective eyewear, mask, apron, and long rubber gloves. Pour the distilled water into a plastic jug. Slowly, add the lye, using a plastic spatula to stir until dissolved.
4. Making sure you continue wearing protective clothing. Check the temperature of the lye and oils. You will need them to cool to around 120f (49c)to 140f (60c).
5. When both mixtures cool to between 120f (49c) to 140f (60c) immediately pour the lye mix into the oils and start mixing with a spatula or hand whisk. You can continue mixing manually or change to an electric hand blender, which will make this job much quicker.
6. Continue to stirring until the soap batter becomes thick enough, (when a bit of the soap is drizzled over the top and it leaves a line/ trace).
7. At trace remove a small amount of the soap mixture from the pan and mix it with the nettle powder, and then return it back in to the pan stirring rapidly.
8. Pour in the lime and spearmint essential oils and stir thoroughly. The lime essential oil can make the soap thicken quickly so you will need to work fast.
9. Pour or spoon the batter into the mould that you prepared earlier. You can sprinkle a few dried crushed nettle leaves on the top of the soap but this is totally optional.
10. Leave it covered with cardboard, in a warm, dry place. I find this particular soap takes a little more time to harden so I tend to leave it in the mold for 48 hours before trying to remove it.
11. Line a wooden board with greaseproof paper, put some protective gloves on and turn the soap out onto the board.
12. Use a carving knife to cut into your desired shape/size, or use a biscuit cutter.
13. Put them into a tray lined with greaseproof paper and leave for four weeks in a warm dry place, turning them occasionally.
    This nettle soap works best whilst having a nice long soak in the bath before bedtime.
14. Tell me below if you love it, I know I do!

Photos From Making This Soap

Have you made nettle soap? What ingredients did you use?