5 easy soap recipes perfect for gifts
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As I confessed last week... I am NOT a good DIYer. I try. Oh boy do I try. But more often than not my reality doesn't meet expectations.
Remember the pizza crust fail??? Oh dear.
But this DIY is one I can say I excel at, maybe it's because it's so ridiculously easy my 2-year-old could figure it out (and probably do it better).
And that is soap. Artisanal, handmade soaps make a great gift and they are so easy to customize. Plus it's fun to add extra fragrances to them and use fun molds. I use just a simple melt and pour soap for time sake. I don't want to work with lye or take the time to let soap cure.
So today I wanted to share a few soaps I made over the weekend.
1. Shaving soap.
My dad is an old school shaver. He puts soap in a cup and uses a shaving brush to apply it to his face.
So I wanted to make him some gentle and moisturizing shaving soaps as one of his Christmas gifts.
What you'll need:
8 oz goat's milk soap base (Shea butter works great)
1/4 cup coconut oil
8-10 drops Eucalyptus oil
2 drops Tea Tree oil
A few leaves of dried sage (optional)
Chop the soap into small pieces and place in a glass bowl. I microwaved in 30 second increments until it was smooth and melted.
Next, I added the oils and sage leaves and blended using a wooden spoon.
Finally, I poured the soap and oil mixture into a mold. Since I don't own a soap mold, I used some vintage Jello molds that belonged to my grandmother, along with some sandwich containers and a few other items I found in my home.
Let them sit for an hour to harden and then place in cute packaging. These really do smell like a high end shaving soap or cream.
The tea tree oil provides a natural antiseptic against little cuts that might happen while shaving.
2. Salt (or sugar) Scrub Bars
This recipe is perfect for people who have eczema or suffer from dry skin or the dreaded winter itch. The goat's milk base is very gentle and soothing and I've used it to curb itchy skin for years!
What you'll need:
8 oz goat's milk soap base (Shea butter works great)
1/4 cup coconut oil, melted
1 cup salt or sugar
10 drops orange oil
Chop the soap and melt it in a glass bowl for 30 second intervals in the microwave.
Once smooth add in your melted coconut oil and your orange oil. Stir with a wooden spoon. Next, add in your sugar. You will need to work quickly because the sugar or salt will make the soap harden quickly. You might have to place it back in the microwave to soften. The soap will have a thick, almost frosting-like texture.
Scoop into a mold. I used a silicone mini muffin pan. Once the soaps harden, pop out and place in a jar or container. Each small bar will last for 2-3 showers.
3. Mocha Latte Scrub Soap
Coffee, chocolate and premium bath products. These are a few of my favorite things. Why not combine them into one?
This soap provides a moisturizing base with a zing of caffeine. Plus it smells AHMAHZING.
What you'll need:
8 oz goat's milk soap base (Shea butter works great)
1/2 cup coffee grounds
1 tbsp cocoa powder- this is optional. It will still smell great without it
10 drops vanilla oil (optional)
Chop the soap and melt it in a glass bowl for 30 second intervals in the microwave.
Once smooth add in your coffee, cocoa and oils and stir, stir, stir. Pour into your molds and allow an hour to harden.
I used some cute heart shaped jello molds.
4. Orange Zing Soap
Nothing is more energizing than the smell of oranges (outside the smell of coffee... duh!). This simple soap combines cleanliness and oranges and some non-toxic natural dyes.
What you'll need:
1 pound clear glycerin soap base
10 drops orange oil
To dye I used paprika for some (it does not really change the smell) and carrot dye that I made. You can learn how to make your own here.
Chop the soap and melt it in a glass bowl for 30 second intervals in the microwave.
Once smooth add in your oil and your dye. You can skip the dye and it will still smell and look great. It just won't be orange. Also, the have not found the vegetable dye to dye my skin or tile.
Pour into molds and allow to harden for an hour or so before popping out.
5. Lavender and Chamomile soap
This soap just smells elegant. Yes, that's the word, elegant. It's soothing for both the mind and the skin.
What you'll need:
1 pound Honey glycerin soap base
10 drops lavender oil
2 bags chamomile tea leaves (empty the bags)
Chop the soap and melt it in a glass bowl for 30 second intervals in the microwave.
Once smooth add in your oil and your tea leaves. Just tear the bag oped and dump the leaves in the bowl. Stir and then pour in your molds. Allow to harden. I used a sandwich container. Once hardened I cute it into four squares and wrapped them all in plastic.
That's it! Happy gift giving.
What about you? What handmade gifts do you give?
