Adding dried herbs to a homemade soap is a simple but creative way to perfume and make an otherwise mundane personal care product aesthetically pleasing. To start, melt a pure glycerin soap. Experiment with your favorite fragrances by adding essential oils. Then, prepare the dried ingredients (herbs, flower petals and plant twigs) by grinding them finely or arranging them in a decorative way inside the molds. Make sure the plants are skin-safe and edible; also avoid using fresh ones. If you make enough loaves to share and give as a gift, you and your loved ones can indulge in a special treat.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Prepare the Soap Base
Step 1. Cut the glycerin soap block into cubes or flakes
Herbal soap is made with a pure glycerin base. Start the procedure with a dose of glycerin that allows you to produce the quantity of blocks you want. Cut the soap into pieces of about 3 cm using a dull knife. Alternatively, you can use a grater to make flakes.
- Smaller pieces tend to melt more quickly.
- For reference, consider that 120ml of melted glycerin soap yields 3 patty-sized bars of soap.
- Glycerin soap is available at most home improvement stores and online. Look for it in the department of specific articles for the preparation of soap bars.
- If you plan on adding larger, heavier herbs and flowers, choose a glycerin soap in suspension.
Step 2. Melt the glycerin soap in the microwave
Place the pieces of glycerin you cut into a microwave-safe container with a spout. Heat them in the oven by setting the power to 50% for about 30 seconds. Slowly stir the glycerin with a disposable spoon, then heat it again until it is completely liquid.
- If you want, you could use the bain marie method instead of the microwave.
- Handle the container carefully both when you put it in the microwave and when you remove it. The glycerin will be hot.
Step 3. Incorporate a few drops of essential oil to perfume the soap
Calculate about 2-5 drops of essential oil for every 30ml of glycerin. Stir slowly and gently to mix the oil with the glycerin. It is normal for air bubbles to form, but try not to get too many into the liquid glycerin. Choose fragrances that go well with the types of herbs you intend to add.
- If using dried lavender, add lavender essential oil. Other dried herbs can be combined with other flavors, such as eucalyptus essential oil, bergamot, geranium, juniper, lemongrass, rosemary, ylang-ylang or citrus. The possibilities are practically limitless!
- Don't overdo it when adding essential oils. If you incorporate them in excessive quantities, they will cause skin irritation.
- In a soap recipe, the dose of essential oils should never exceed 3%. In addition, there are oils whose dose should not exceed 1%. Do your research and, when in doubt, use less oil than you think you will need.
Part 2 of 3: Add the Dried Herbs
Step 1. Grind the dried herbs to incorporate them into the liquid glycerin
To make soaps at home, try using peppermint, parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, or lemon balm. Grind the dried herbs with a mortar and pestle until they are pulverized, or use a kitchen knife to finely chop them. Sprinkle them inside the container you used to dissolve the glycerin, then incorporate them by mixing them slowly and gently with a disposable spoon.
- Powdered dried herbs will create a grainy texture and leave dark specks on the entire bar of soap.
- Measure about 3 tablespoons of dried herbs for every 120ml of glycerin used.
Step 2. Place the whole dried herbs at the bottom of the soap molds so that they appear on top
The surface of the bar could be decorated with sprigs of rosemary, citrus peels and flower petals. To achieve this, first place the whole dried ingredients (herbs, flower petals or fruit peels) at the bottom of the soap molds. Distribute them trying to create an aesthetically pleasing composition, then pour liquid glycerin over them.
- If your chosen herbs or flowers have a top side (such as a flower corolla), face it down into the mold.
- This method is especially good if you used a clear glycerin soap as a base at the beginning of the procedure.
- Try using whole sprigs of dried herbs or layering individual leaves into a pattern.
- Avoid incorporating whole herbs into liquid glycerin. When you start using the soap, the dried leaves will rehydrate. You certainly don't want to lather your body with a viscous leaf!
Step 3. Use only safe, edible plants and flowers
Do your research before you begin to make sure the flowers you intend to choose are suitable for making soap bars. In general, a plant that can be eaten safely is also generally suitable for the skin.
- Dried flower petals allow you to create handcrafted soap bars that are beautiful to look at. Try hibiscus, rose, lavender, chamomile, solidago, and marigold.
- Try using dried items like eucalyptus leaves or citrus peels to scent and color the soap.
- Avoid inedible and toxic flowers, such as dahlia, oleander, foxglove, or lily of the valley.
- If you have doubts about a certain plant, do a search online or look for it in a botanical textbook.
Step 4. Avoid using fresh plant elements when making soap
Fresh herbs, flowers, fruits and leaves can cause mold and bacterial overgrowth. To make sure that the bars of soap are safe, hygienic and long-lasting, do not use fresh plants.
The only fresh plants you can try to use are lavender, rosemary, and thyme, as they have naturally dry leaves. Also, by using them whole to decorate the soap surface, they can create an aesthetically pleasing result. However, avoid mixing them with liquid glycerin
Part 3 of 3: Solidify the Soaps
Step 1. Pour the mixture into the soap molds
After mixing the dried herbs with liquid glycerin or placing the larger pieces at the bottom of the molds, you can pour the liquid mixture into them. Pour the liquid carefully into as many molds as you want depending on how many bars of soap you want to make. Fill each mold up to the edge, but don't go further.
- Silicone molds, ice cube trays and soap molds are the most suitable tools, as they allow you to easily detach the loaves after preparation.
- If you are using a metal muffin pan, first prepare it by coating it with a thin layer of cooking oil.
Step 2. Let the soap cool at room temperature for about 1 to 2 hours
Let it cool and solidify at room temperature. Let it rest until it has completely hardened.
Make sure you place the molds on a flat surface to prevent the bars from solidifying unevenly
Step 3. Place the bars in the freezer for 30 minutes to speed up cooling
While not necessary, this helps speed up the cooling process. Once removed from the freezer they will be completely solid.
Step 4. Remove the soap bars from the molds
If you used silicone molds, you can carefully remove them by turning the mold upside down and pushing them out. If you used a metal mold, use a butter knife to make the bars come off the sides and take them out of the bowl.
- If you are not going to use soap, store it by wrapping it in cling film or placing it in an airtight container. If you want to use it, keep it in a ventilated soap dish to prevent it from absorbing too much moisture.
- Keep in mind that exposing it to excessive heat can shorten its useful life, as the glycerin base has the function of dissolving.
- If you have used whole dried herbs, keep an eye out for them when you start using soap as they may rehydrate. Discard the whole twigs once they have broken off to prevent mold from forming.
Advice
- If you don't want to use glycerin soap, try using a mild, fragrance-free soap for the base.
- Handmade herbal soaps are perfect for a gift. Just make sure you tell the recipient about the ingredients, so they know what they're going to apply to their skin.
- Consult a Safety Data Sheet (SDS) to inform yourself about the ingredients you purchase and intend to use in the preparation of the soap.
