First up from the herb garden - my very own homemade soap with herbs and citrus! I thought this would be a lovely homemade gift for any occasion. I picked up some plain, unscented glycerin soap and added herbs from the new garden and some citrus.
I love the smell and bright green color of mint! Finely dice fresh mint and add to the soap after the glycerin is melted. I also diced up some fresh rosemary and combined it with lemon zest. A great combination!
Melt and pour soap is so fun and easy - you can do just about anything with it. Glycerin soap can be a beautiful work or art because it's clear and you can see the fun add-ins, like herbs and spices, exfoliating ingredients, and even fun surprises your kids will love.
You can also use shea butter soap base or even goats milk soap base. Both are creamy and moisturizing and also make pretty soaps with ingredients like roses, cocoa, and rosemary.
Ingredients for Herb Soap
- Glycerin soap (sold at craft stores)
- Assorted herbs & citrus - I used basil, mint, rosemary, orange and lemon
- Food processor
- Glass bowl or measuring cup
- Plastic spoon or scraper
- Soaps molds - You can buy cute molds at the craft store, but any plastic container will work, even your Ziploc containers. Though you might want to use something you can just pitch in the recycle bin when finished rather than trying to clean. Use old milk cartons or even yogurt cups. I've used an old creamer carton to make a soap 'loaf' that you can slice into bars. Spray with cooking spray and wipe out excess.
- Cooking spray
How to Make Citrus + Herb Soap
Put the soap blocks in a glass bowl & melt in the microwave for 30 second intervals until melted. Stir every so often to break up big chunks.
While melting, puree the herbs and squeeze out excess water in a paper towel. For citrus, zest the peel.
Get your molds ready.
Once glycerin is melted, let it stand & cool for a few minutes. Before it sets too much, add the additives. Keep stirring to ensure they don't all float to the bottom. When you have the color you want (more time stirring = darker color) pour into a container.
Let the soap sit on the counter for about an hour to completely set. Put the soap mold in the freezer for another hour or so. Then it should pop right out. Slice the soap with knife, if needed.
Note: You'll need about 1 tablespoon of additives for each cup. FYI - Orange + basil = an unattractive muddy green brown color.
Storage
Use the soap within 3 months because the mix-ins will eventually start to brown.
FAQ
If you get bubbles on the top of the soap (and it bothers you) spritz them with rubbing alcohol and they'll go away.
You'll need about 1 tablespoon of additives for each cup of melted soap.
Use the soap within 3 months because the mix ins will eventually start to brown.
Homemade Citrus + Herb Soap
Equipment
- Food processor
- Glass bowl or measuring cup
- Plastic spoon or scraper
- Soap mold – any plastic or cardboard container will do
Materials
- 1 pound glycerin soap base sold at craft stores
- 3 tablespoons Fresh basil, mint, rosemary, orange and lemon or any other herbs you like
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Put the soap blocks in glass bowl & melt in the microwave for 30 second intervals until melted. Stir every so often to break up big chunks.
- While the soap base is melting, puree the herbs and squeeze out excess water in a paper towel. For citrus, zest the peel. You’ll need about 1 tablespoon of additives for each cup (or about 3 tablespoons for a pound of soap base).
- Once glycerin is melted, let it stand & cool for a few minutes. Before it sets too much, add the additives. Keep stirring to ensure they don’t all float to the bottom.
- Spritz your mold with nonstick cooking spray and wipe out the excess. Then, pour the soap into the container.
- Let the soap sit on the counter for about an hour to completely set. If you get bubbles on the top of the soap (and it bothers you) spritz them with rubbing alcohol and they’ll go away.
- Put the soap mold in the freezer for another hour or so. Then it should pop right out. Slice the soap with knife, if needed, and give them to someone you love.
Notes
This post was medically reviewed by Dr. Jennifer Haley, a board-certified dermatologist with extensive experience in medical, cosmetic and surgical dermatology. Learn more about Hello Glow’s medical review board here. As always, this is not personal medical advice and we recommend that you talk with your doctor.
