Did you know that ancient Egyptians were the first to combine essential oils with cleansing agents, creating what would become the foundation of modern aromatherapy soap making? Today, this age-old practice has evolved almost into an art form that lets you enjoy nature’s power in every shower or bath.
Knowing which essential oils work best for soap making can totally transform your craft. From mood-lifting citrus to skin-soothing lavender, these natural powerhouses do more than just add fragrance – they bring therapeutic benefits that can enhance your daily self-care routine.
The Benefits of Essential Oil Soap
Essential oils have become a favorite for natural soap aromas, adding wonderful natural scents to handmade bars without any weird chemicals. Feel free to use them in your cold process as well as your melt-and-pour recipes for added benefits:
- Aromatherapy – the oils you add to your soap smell nice and will lift your mood whenever you wash your hands.
- Therapeutic – depending on the oil’s specific properties, you might also gain anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, itch relief or skin benefits.
It’s important to note that reputable essential oil manufacturers are recommended, since these are oils that will ultimately be applied to your skin. Look for 100% pure oils that haven’t been mixed with fragrance oils or diluted. If you don’t know where to start, we can always recommend Plant Therapy, NOW Foods, Aura Cacia and Mountain Rose Herbs as high quality brands.
Because heat can impact the properties of essential oils, be sure to allow your soap base to cool almost entirely before adding the essential oils. A lot of oils break down at temperatures as low as 100°F, changing their chemical composition and becoming less effective.
Best Essential Oils for Soap Making
From classic scents like lavender and pure tea tree to bright citrus notes of lemon and sweet orange, each oil adds its own special touch. These oils not only create wonderful scents but also bring helpful properties to your soap. Try mixing different oils to create your own unique blends! – you can even mimic your favorite perfume!
1. Lavender Essential Oil
Lavender oil brings a gentle, calming scent to handmade soaps. It’s perfect for making bedtime or evening bath bars, helping you wind down after a long day. The oil works well to soothe irritated skin [source] and create a peaceful bathing experience. If you’re new to soap making, start with 3% lavender oil in your mix – it’s mild enough for most skin types and its pleasant aroma makes it a fan favorite.
Try This Lavender Lemon Soap Recipe
2. Tea Tree Essential Oil
Tea tree oil stands out in handmade soaps thanks to its strong cleansing abilities. Known for fighting bacteria and calming skin inflammation, it’s a top pick for making soaps that help with acne and minor skin issues. Many soap makers add pure tea tree oil to their cleansing bars at 1-3% strength. The oil’s fresh, medicinal scent works well alone or mixed with other natural oils like lavender or peppermint.
Try this Activated Charcoal + Tea Tree Soap Recipe
3. Sweet Orange Essential Oil
Sweet orange oil brings a bright, cheerful scent to handmade soaps. The oil’s natural aroma makes bath time more fun while helping to clean and clear skin. It works well for people with oily or troubled skin, and its happy scent can help lift your spirits. When making soap with sweet orange oil, start with 1-5% in your recipe – it mixes beautifully with other citrus oils or spicy scents for a well-rounded bar.
Note that like all citrus oils, sweet orange essential oil is photosensitive, meaning it leaves the skin more sensitive to the sun. Use sparingly in your homemade soap recipes, or keep the use of the respective soap exclusively for night time. Make sure you apply sunscreen before going outside.
Try this Sweet Orange Soap Recipe
4. Peppermint Essential Oil
Peppermint adds a cool, crisp scent to handmade soaps [source], making them perfect for morning showers. The tingly sensation it creates on your skin helps wake you up while improving blood flow. Many soap makers use this refreshing oil to create energizing bath bars that leave skin feeling clean and renewed. For best results, add peppermint oil at 1-3% of your soap mixture – a little goes a long way with this potent natural oil.
Try this Peppermint Chocolate Soap Recipe
5. Eucalyptus Essential Oil
Eucalyptus oil brings strong cleansing properties to handmade soaps. Its fresh, clean scent opens up breathing passages and adds a bright, natural aroma to shower bars. Many soap makers choose eucalyptus for morning or shower soaps that help clear stuffy noses and wake up tired minds. Mix it at 1-3% of your soap batch – it pairs nicely with essential oils for soap like peppermint or tea tree oil for an extra-refreshing clean feeling.
Try this Eucalyptus + Lemon Glycerin Soap Recipe
6. Cedarwood Essential Oil
Cedarwood oil adds a warm, woody aroma to handmade soaps, making them perfect for rustic bath bars. Its natural cleaning properties help calm troubled skin while creating a peaceful bathing experience. Many soap makers choose cedarwood for making natural soap aromas with an outdoorsy feel. When working with cedarwood oil, add 1-3% to your soap batch – it works well on its own or paired with patchouli for a deep, forest-like scent.
Try this Cedarwood Baking Soda Soap Recipe
7. Lemon Essential Oil
Lemon oil adds a bright, sunny scent to handmade soaps. Its natural cleaning powers make it perfect for morning shower bars that perk up both skin and spirit. Many soap makers pick lemon oil for natural soap aromas meant to give dull skin a healthy glow. When adding lemon oil to your soap mix, stick to 0.5-1% of the total batch – it’s strong, and a small amount works well. Consider using it with other citrus oils like sweet orange for an extra-fresh morning soap.
Note that like all citrus oils, lemon essential oil is photosensitive, meaning it leaves the skin more sensitive to the sun. Use sparingly in your homemade soap recipes, or keep the use of the respective soap exclusively for night time. Make sure you apply sunscreen before going outside.
Try this Lemon + Bergamot Cold Process Soap Recipe
8. Ylang-Ylang Essential Oil
Ylang-ylang oil brings a sweet, flowery scent to handmade soaps. This tropical oil helps keep skin’s natural oils in check while creating a happy, peaceful mood during bath time. Many soap makers use ylang-ylang to create fancy bath bars with a rich, lasting smell. Since it’s quite strong, start small – just 0.5-1% in your soap mix works best. The oil pairs well with essential oil blends to make gentle, sweet-smelling bars perfect for a relaxing soak.
Try this Patchouli + Ylang Ylang Soap Recipe
9. Rosemary Essential Oil
Rosemary oil brings a fresh, herbal scent with subtle woody notes to handmade soaps. This natural oil gets your blood flowing and offers helpful antioxidants for your skin. People often choose rosemary for morning shower bars that help wake you up and balance oily skin. Add rosemary oil at 1-3% of your soap mix – it works great alone or paired with other herbal oils like lavender or tea tree for a garden-fresh aroma.
Try this Rosemary + Eucalyptus Soap Recipe
10. Patchouli Essential Oil
Patchouli oil brings a rich, earthy scent to handmade soaps. This age-old oil works wonders for dry skin while adding a deep, grounding aroma to your bath bars. Many soap makers pick patchouli for rustic, woodsy soaps that help keep skin soft and healthy. When adding patchouli to your natural soap aromas, start with 0.5-5% – it pairs beautifully with other earthy scents like cedarwood or sweet floral oils for a well-balanced bar.
Try this Peppermint + Patchouli Soap Recipe
Basic Essential Oil Soap Recipe
1 pound melt-and-pour soap
25 drops essential oils of choice
Chop the soap base into cubes and place in microwave-safe bowl. Microwave in 15-seconds intervals until fully melted. Allow to cool almost entirely before adding 25 drops of essential oils and mixing. Pour into a mold and let cool completely. If you don’t have dedicated soap molds, cut the side of a milk carton. Pour the soap mix into it to obtain a loaf, which you will cut once it’s completely cool.
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