I seek out items filled with texture, interest, and a bit of imperfection, and wildflowers are high on that list. On hikes, I’ve exclaimed how much I adore a certain bloom alongside the path only to be told it’s a weed. But, to be honest, the fact that this pretty little thing was considered a weed made me love it even more.

A few years ago, I started thinking about trying my hand at soapmaking and decided a simple melt-and-pour recipe would be ideal for my first attempt. With a bit of dried wildflowers and herbs on hand, I was ready to jump in and see what I could make. The soap was not only practical but also looked beautiful. Since the recipe required few supplies, it was perfect for experimenting with soapmaking.

The following recipes all use a melt-and-pour soap base, making these projects easy for beginners to gain confidence in their soapmaking skills. Once you become familiar with the process, play around with the ingredients, mold shapes, and scents — I bet you’ll come up with some great ideas.

Botanical Oat gardener’s Soap

by Cassandra Heist from Willow and Sage Autumn 2023

You Will Need

• • 1 tsp. dried rose petals
• • 1 tsp. dried rosemary
• • 1 tsp. dried yarrow
• • Mortar & pestle
• • Knife
• • ½ lb. goat’s milk soap base
• • Glass jar
• • Pot
• • 1 TB. sweet almond oil
• • 6–8 drops rosemary essential oil (optional)
• • 6–8 drops rose essential oil (optional)
• • Spoon
• • 1 TB. oats
• • Soap mold

To Make

Gather the dried herbs and materials. Using a mortar and pestle, grind the dried rose, rosemary, and yarrow, and set aside. Cut the soap base into small cubes, and add to a glass jar. Place the jar in a pot of hot water to melt over medium heat, using the double boiler method. Once the soap is melted, add the sweet almond oil and essential oils to your preference, and mix well. Stir in the dried herbs and oats. Pour the mixture into the soap mold, and let the soap set overnight. In the morning, gently remove the bars from the mold.

Charcoal Salt Scrub Soap

by Johanna Love from Willow and Sage Summer 2024

You Will Need

• • Double boiler
• • 1 lb. cocoa butter soap base
• • 2 charcoal capsules
• • Spoon
• • Silicone mold
• • Epsom salt

To Make

In a double boiler, melt the soap base on the stovetop on the lowest heat. Open two charcoal capsules, pour the powder into the melted soap, and stir in to tint the soap base a light-gray color. Using a silicone mold, alternate layers of Epsom salt and the melted soap mixture until the mold is full. Let the soap cool and cure for about 10 minutes, and place in the freezer for another 45 minutes. When solid, pop the soaps out of the mold.

Learn more about melt-and-pour soaps in our Soap Making 101 blog post.

gentle Scrubbing Massage Soap

from Willow and Sage Spring 2024

You Will Need

• • Massage bar soap molds
• • Baking sheet
• • Knife
• • 2 lb. shea butter soap base
• • Glass measuring cup: large
• • Spoon
• • 3 TB. honey
• • ½ cup ground oats

To Make

Set up the massage bar soap molds on a baking sheet so they’re easy to move if needed without disturbing the soap while hardening. Cut up the shea butter soap base into 1-inch cubes, and place in a large glass measuring cup. Melt in the microwave for 20-second intervals, stirring in between each one. Once melted, add the honey, and stir to combine. Add the ground oats, and stir thoroughly to combine. Pour the soap mixture into the molds, and let harden for a couple of hours. Once set, pop them out of the molds.

Discover everything you need to know about handmade soap in our Soapmaking Issue Volume 1.

Danielle Williams is the managing editor for Willow and Sage, The Natural Home Issue, Mingle, and Art Quilting Studio. She lives with her growing family in Orange County, California.