There’s nothing quite like making your own soap. It not only works my creativity muscle, but it also provides an inexpensive, practical household item with an ingredient list you can name. Using homemade soap while you take a shower or bath adds a level of luxury anyone can achieve. And when you use a handcrafted bar, the soap can easily transport you to the spa in your own bathroom. With a gentle cleansing and moisturizing effect, these bars will help elevate your skin-care routine.

Honey Almond Soap With Wheat germ

by Kim & Kyla DiMaggio from The Soapmaking Issue Volume 1

You Will Need

Yields 3 Bars

• • Soap knife/Grater
• • 1 lb. honey soap base
• • Double boiler
• • Spoon
• • 1½ TB. raw honey
• • 50 drops bitter almond essential oil
• • 2 TB. wheat germ
• • Soap mold
• • Vodka

To Make

Prepare the equipment by washing it in hot soapy water. Chop or grate the soap base. Place it in a double boiler, stirring often until melted, or melt in the microwave for 15–20-second increments, stirring in between.

Once the soap has completely melted, remove it from the heat. Stir in the honey and bitter almond essential oil. Add the wheat germ, and stir to combine. Pour the mixture into the soap mold of your choice. Spray any bubbles that appear on top of the soap with vodka, and leave for 20 minutes without touching the molds. Let the soap set up for another four to six hours, or overnight. Remove the soap from the molds, and allow to dry for a few days.

Celestial Dreams Soap

by Kristen Wood from The Soapmaking Issue Volume 1

You Will Need

Yields 3 2-oz. Bars

• • Spoon
• • Mica powder: shimmer, blue & gold
• • Silicone soap molds: celestial-themed
• • Double boiler
• • 6 oz. clear soap base
• • 12 drops essential oil of choice (optional)
• • Toothpick

To Make

Using a small spoon, sprinkle a small amount of both blue mica powder and gold mica powder into the soap molds. In a double boiler, melt the soap base until liquefied. Turn off the heat, and add the essential oil, if using. Pour the soap base into the soap molds, and immediately sprinkle the soap base with another dusting of each color of mica powder. Use a toothpick to swirl the powder into the soap base before it sets. Let the soap cool and harden before removing it from the molds. Enjoy right away or keep the soap stored in a cool, dry place for up to 18 months.

Spirulina Salt Soap

by Johanna Love from The Soapmaking Issue Volume 1

You Will Need

• • Soap knife
• • 1 block cocoa butter soap base
• • Saucepan: small/Double boiler
• • Spoon
• • 2 TB. spirulina powder
• • 1 cup Himalayan salt
• • Silicone ice cube tray: sphere-shaped

To Make

Cut the soap base block into small cubes, and melt over very low heat in a saucepan or double boiler, stirring while it melts. Once fully melted, stir in the spirulina (or more for a darker color). Add 2 tablespoons of Himalayan salt to each ice cube tray mold cavity. Cut openings of the top ice cube tray wider to accommodate pouring in the soap. Attach the top tray to the bottom tray, and slowly pour the melted soap into each sphere mold; if you pour too quickly, it will disturb and mix too much with the salt.

Once each mold is filled, let it sit overnight until cooled and set. If you want the soap to set much faster (as I always prefer), let it sit for 10 minutes, then the soap should be stable enough to carefully move to the freezer for two hours until cooled and set. Remove the soaps from the mold. Remelt and repeat this entire process (except don’t add any more spirulina) until you have poured all the remaining soap.

Find more unique soap recipes in our newly released Willow and Sage Spring 2026.