how to make Melt & Pour (glycerine) soap using garden herbs & flowers

Making glycerin soaps is easy to do, and you can tailor your recipe blend to suit your purpose or skin type (antibacterial, soothing, moisturising). Why make your own glycerin soap instead of adding a few soap bars to your weekly shop? In 2010, we created our own natural cold-process soap and skin care business, so this is something we feel very passionate about.  Here are a few reasons why we think handmade using pure, natural, sustainable ingredients is best for you, your family and the planet .....

Our skin is our largest organ and the ingredients we use every day in our soap and skin care gets absorbed through the skin, goes into our bloodstream and enters our body. Natural ingredients, such as vegetable oils, nut butters, herbs, flowers and berries can provide valuable skin care benefits. However, a large percentage of soaps and skin care sold in shops and online are mass produced, commercially manufactured using synthetic ingredients. These commonly found synthetic ingredients can have a variety of detrimental effects, including skin sensitivity and irritation, hormone disruption, and some have been linked to serious health conditions such as cancer.

Instead of using these synthetic storebought soaps, you can make your own soothing glycerin soaps for healthy skin. There are a variety of different melt and pour/glycerine bases available to choose from, including clear, opaque, organic, goat's milk, shea butter, and argan oil. The recipe process of how to make the soap is the same, whichever base you choose.​ When shopping around, you might like to consider the therapeutic benefit of the base oils, and also where those oils come from. For example, many soap makers choose to avoid Palm Oil in their recipes due to the impact of its use on the Rainforest and the wildlife such as orang-utan, who depend on the Rainforest for their survival.   

Top Tips:

• If adding carrier oils or melted nut butters to your base, include small amounts as too much oil will result in a very soft soap.
• When adding clays or other natural colourants, it can be helpful to add the spice/clay into a spoonful of mixture and stirring until combined, before adding the coloured spoonful into the full recipe. 
• When adding botanicals, we recommend using dried herbs & flowers instead of fresh, to eliminate extra water being added to the mixture. For a consistent look and feel throughout your soap, finely ground botanicals work best. Larger pieces such as whole dried petals can also be added but may sink to the bottom of your moulds. If you'd like to avoid this 'sinking' you can pour your soap in layers - pour some of your liquified mixture into the moulds, sprinkle your chosen botanicals on the top, wait 20 minutes, reheating your mixture and repeat the process until you've poured all of your mixture. ​
• Looking for inspiration? Try this glycerine soap blends:
  
  • ​​soothing - chamomile & calendula
    
  • antiseptic - tea tree & plantain
    
  • oily skin - juniper & sage
    
  • shampoo bar - rosemary & nettle

ingredients

500g glycerin soap base of your choice (for 5-10 soap bars/shapes)

Optional additives:
2 tablespoons carrier oil or 1 tsp melted nut butter
1-2 teaspoons dried chopped/ground herbs or flowers
1 teaspoon colourants (spices work well for subtle, natural colour)
1 teaspoon natural exfoliants (sugar, salt, coffee grounds, clays)
1/2 -2 teaspoons humectant (raw honey, aloe vera gel)
essential oils

• As a guide, no more than 3% essential oils should be added to any soap recipe. Some oils are very strong and amounts for these oils should be reduced. Additional research is recommended before including essential oils in any recipe​

method

•  Place your chosen soap base on a clean, dry surface (i.e. cutting board) and use a large, clean knife to cut the base into small chunks/pieces. 
• Put your soap base pieces into a clean, heat safe container (i.e. pyrex jug). To heat the soap, you can use a microwave or a bain marie on the hob.  
• If using a bain marie, heat gently, stirring gently until the soap base is liquified. If using a microwave, heat the soap in short intervals of 30-45 seconds. Stir the soap gently between intervals to prevent overheating. The mixture should not come to a boil. 
• Remove the liquid soap mixture from the heat. The mixture will be very hot, so handle with care. Add the optional extra ingredients (stirring gently to avoid bubbles forming) starting with the oils/butter, then adding any dried herbs/spices/exfoliants* and finishing with the essential or fragrance oils. 
• Pour the final soap mixture into moulds (silicone cupcake moulds or ice cube trays work well, as the soap removes easily) 
• Allow the soap to set at room temperature for 4-6 hours.
• Once set, the soap is ready for use, and can be wrapped and stored in a cool, dry place

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Important considerations & cautions:
Although botanicals (herbs, spices, plants) are considered safe for most people when used in cooking or in small amounts, inappropriate use of some of these botanicals could be dangerous. The content on this site shares our own personal use of botanical ingredients, is for information only, and should not be taken as medical advice. Prior to using any botanicals in recipes or remedies, you should always do your own research, and first consult with a medical professional, your GP, or a qualified herbalist.