Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Homemade Refreshing Shea Butter Soap

Homemade Refreshing Shea Butter Soap:
The Melt and Pour Method



The combination of malaleuca, peppermint, cedarwood, and eucalyptus essential oils is very relaxing.  It's like going to a spa every time you take a shower :)  Here is how you can make this soap yourself.
Ingredients:
32 oz Natural Shea Butter Melt and Pour Soap package halved (each half makes four large bars)
5-10 Drops of Tea Tree Essential Oil
5-10 Drops of Peppermint Essential Oil
5-10 Drops of Cedarwood Essential Oil
5-10 Drops of Eucalyptus Essential Oil
10 Drops of Vitamin E Oil (optional)
Natural Soap Dye (optional)
Alcohol in a spray bottle

Directions:
Melt the soap in a double boiler.
Add dyes once the soap is melted. 
Mix well.
You can swirl colors by layering them.
Lightly spray the top of the soap with alcohol once it’s in the mold to prevent bubbles.
Allow the soap to sit at least an hour.
The package may say less time, but the large molds I used required a good bit more time.

How to order essential oils:
If you are looking for essential oils, I recommend using doTERRA's certified, pure therapeutic grade oils.  You can find them at  my doTERRA store .  If you'd like to receive wholesale prices, 25% off retail, please comment below or email me, and I can help you sign up.

Packaging: I wrapped the soap in plastic wrap, and then sealed them with a label sticker that has all the ingredients on it, but there are so many other cute ways to wrap soaps.

There are different methods to making your own soap, but I chose melt and pour method for my first time, because it's so quick and easy. This is also a good route to take if you want to avoid messing with sodium hydroxide (lye), although I plan on posting some lye soap recipes down the road.

Examples of soap bases you can find at craft stores or online:
Shea Butter Melt and Pour Soap
Olive Oil Melt and Pour Soap
Clear/Opaque Glycerin Melt and Pour Soap
Goat's Milk Melt and Pour Soap

Once you have a melt and pour base for your soap you can be creative in choosing soap molds, adding your own colors, herbs, and essential oils. Bases and soap molds can be found at Michael’s, Hobby Lobby, and on Amazon. The Jo-Anns where I live doesn’t carry soap making products. There are also lots of melt and pour soap recipe books out there. I used the Shea Butter Melt and Pour Soap, and made two different recipes from one package split in half (it made four large bars).


For gift ideas, take a look at the other items that went into these Gift Baskets :
Citrus Brown Sugar Scrub
Lavender Bath Salts
Tired Muscle Soak
Orange Almond Bath Fizzies
Peppermint Bath Fizzies
Homemade Chai Tea Soap

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