Start here

Soap recipes

Tested soap recipes with exact weights, a batch scaler, and a second maker's check on every formula.

Every recipe lists oils by weight with percentages, scales to your batch size, and shows who tested it. New to soap? Start with the three-oil beginner soap or read your first batch first.

By base oil

Start from the fat. Each oil changes hardness, lather and how long the bar lasts.

A stack of four plain white soap bars on a wooden countertop near soap-making supplies.Cold process · Intermediate100% coconut oil soapCure 4 weeks · 10 barsThree light-green soap bars topped with a fresh rosemary sprig on a linen cloth.Cold process · BeginnerAvocado oil soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsWhite handmade soap bars and a round solid block rest on a wooden cutting board.Cold process · IntermediateBeef tallow soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsA stack of five handmade soap bars rests on a white cloth beside scattered olive leaves.Cold process · BeginnerCastile soapCure 6 months · 10 barsStacked brown and cream swirled soap bars beside cocoa butter wafers on a wooden cutting board.Cold process · IntermediateCocoa butter soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsA sudsy white soap bar rests on a dish beside an open glass jar on a countertop.Cold process · BeginnerCoconut oil soapCure 4 weeks · 10 barsBars of white handmade soap rest on a slate board beside soap-making tools on a wooden countertop.Cold process · BeginnerLard soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsThree bars of plain white soap stacked on a wooden shelf beside a jar of dried botanicals.Cold process · BeginnerPalm-free soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsThree stacked handmade soap bars sit next to a wooden bowl filled with raw shea butter.Cold process · BeginnerShea butter soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsHandmade pink and white swirled soap bars rest on a wooden table next to an oil bottle.Cold process · IntermediateSweet almond oil soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsThree stacked bars of handmade soap beside a glass jar of coconut oil on a wooden counter.Cold process · BeginnerTallow soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsFour bars of handmade soap sit on a cloth beside glass containers of oils and butters.Cold process · BeginnerThree-oil beginner soapCure 6 weeks · 10 bars

By additive

Milks, clays, botanicals and kitchen ingredients, with what each actually does in the bar.

Handmade black charcoal soap bars on a wooden board, with rich white lather on one bar.Cold process · BeginnerActivated charcoal soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsA stack of four handmade green soap bars beside a fresh aloe vera leaf and gel.Cold process · IntermediateAloe vera soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsTwo bars of handmade soap on a wooden table beside dried hops and an amber bottle.Cold process · IntermediateBeer soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsBars of handmade breast milk soap tied with twine and labels on a wooden countertop.Cold process · IntermediateBreast milk soapCure 6 weeks · 5 barsSliced bars of handmade soap rest on a wooden cutting board next to a soap cutter.Cold process · BeginnerBrine soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsFour off-white handmade soap bars stacked on a textured linen cloth on a wooden surface.Cold process · IntermediateButtermilk soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsThree orange handmade soap bars sit on a wooden counter next to fresh carrots.Cold process · IntermediateCarrot soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsThree handmade soap bars and two speckled ceramic dishes arranged on a wooden table.Cold process · BeginnerClay soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsStacked handmade soap bars beside fresh coconut halves, oats, and a whisk on a wooden countertop.Cold process · BeginnerCoconut milk soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsTwo handmade coffee soap bars sit on a cloth napkin beside a mug of black coffee.Cold process · BeginnerCoffee soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsGreen handmade soap bars embedded with cucumber slices sit on a wooden board with fresh mint.Cold process · IntermediateCucumber soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsHandmade herbal soap bars arranged on a wooden cutting board next to dried lavender and oats.Cold process · BeginnerGoat milk soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsGloved hands arrange handmade soap bars on a wooden counter beside a jar of honey.Cold process · IntermediateHoney soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsBars and a loaf of handmade oatmeal soap sit on a wooden surface beside a wire cutter.Cold process · BeginnerOatmeal soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsHandmade yellow soap bars topped with cloves sit beside a small pumpkin on a wooden cutting board.Cold process · IntermediatePumpkin soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsFour handmade sea salt soap bars stacked on a rough stone slab atop a wooden table.Cold process · IntermediateSalt bar soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsThree handmade yellow soap bars rest on a linen cloth beside a bowl of turmeric powder.Cold process · BeginnerTurmeric soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsHandmade soap bars stacked on a wooden board beside a wine bottle and dried lavender.Cold process · IntermediateWine soapCure 6 weeks · 10 bars

By purpose

Laundry, dishes, shaving, shampoo bars and more.

Round handmade soap bars in a fabric-lined wicker basket labeled Baby Soap on a wooden countertop.Cold process · BeginnerBaby soapCure 3 months · 10 barsA person lathers a wet dog's fur with a bar of soap in a bathtub.Cold process · BeginnerDog shampoo barsCure 6 weeks · 10 barsBars of handmade oat and poppy seed soap displayed beside small bowls of oats and seeds.Cold process · IntermediateExfoliating soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsA person pumps white foaming soap from a clear dispenser bottle into an open hand.No lye · BeginnerFoaming hand soapReady in 5 minutes · about 250 mLA glass pump bottle filled with amber liquid soap sits beside a sudsy natural sponge.Liquid · IntermediateLiquid dish soapReady in 1 week · about 2 L dilutedA gloved hand sprays liquid from a bottle onto pests on the underside of a plant leaf.No lye · BeginnerInsecticidal soapReady in 5 minutes · 1 L sprayA gloved hand grates a white bar of soap into a glass jar using a metal grater.Cold process · IntermediateLaundry soapCure 4 weeks · 10 barsAn amber glass bottle with liquid soap sits beside a folded white towel on a wooden counter.Liquid · IntermediateLiquid hand soapReady in 2 weeks · about 2–2.5 L dilutedFour stacked bars of handmade white soap beside a kraft paper recipe tag on a wooden board.Cold process · BeginnerSensitive skin soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsThree round white soap bars rest on a wooden soap dish next to a bottle of oil.Cold process · IntermediateShampoo barsCure 6 weeks · 10 barsA lathered shaving brush rests on an open metal soap tin beside a chrome safety razor.Hot process · AdvancedShaving soapReady in 2 weeks · 10 barsA white soap block sits in a metal dish beside a wooden brush near a kitchen sink.Cold process · BeginnerSolid dish soapCure 4 weeks · 10 barsTwo stacked bars of handmade white soap beside an essential oil dropper bottle and tea tree sprig.Cold process · BeginnerTea tree soapCure 6 weeks · 10 bars

By scent and season

Essential oil blends and seasonal bars.

Three bars of festive handmade swirl soap wrapped in kraft paper and tied with twine.Cold process · IntermediateChristmas soapCure 4 weeks · 10 barsBars of handmade orange soap topped with dried citrus slices on a wooden cutting board.Cold process · BeginnerCitrus soapCure 4 weeks · 10 barsTwo green soap bars stacked on a wooden board beside eucalyptus leaves and a jar of powder.Cold process · BeginnerEucalyptus soapCure 4 weeks · 10 barsLayered handmade natural soap bars surrounded by dried orange slices, star anise, and cinnamon sticks.Cold process · IntermediateFall spice soapCure 4 weeks · 10 barsHandmade lavender soap bars rest on a linen cloth beside a jar of dried lavender buds.Cold process · BeginnerLavender soapCure 4 weeks · 10 barsTwo striped black and cream soap bars sit on a wooden board next to wood shavings.Cold process · BeginnerMen's soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsStacked bars of handmade oatmeal soap beside a wooden honey dipper and a bowl of rolled oats.Cold process · IntermediateOatmeal milk and honey soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsTwo bars of green and white swirled soap sit on a wooden board beside fresh mint.Cold process · BeginnerPeppermint soapCure 4 weeks · 10 barsStacked bars of dark brown handmade soap resting on a wooden countertop beside soapmaking supplies.Cold process · IntermediatePine tar soapCure 6 weeks · 10 barsTwo pink handmade soap bars resting on a wooden board next to scattered dried rose petals.Cold process · BeginnerRose soapCure 4 weeks · 10 barsThree pastel-swirled handmade soap bars rest on a wooden table beside a vase of spring flowers.Cold process · IntermediateSpring floral soapCure 4 weeks · 10 bars