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Nov 7, 2010
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The Contact Page has been updated! Emails and the Message Form can be now be sent!
Sept 3, 2010
Additives Page Has Been Updated: Avocado Oil, Honey, Bee Pollen, Kelp…
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New Section Added: Body Sprays. Body sprays are quick, easy, & fun to make…
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August 31, 2010
Ingredients & Additives Page Updated: Amounts to be used per pound of soap base has been added.
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June 7, 2010
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April 8, 2010
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March 25, 2010
New Bath Oil Recipes Added: Lavender, Peppermint, and Soothing Massage Oil…
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March 23, 2010
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March 22, 2010
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March 21, 2010
New Soap Recipes Added: Citrus Spice Bars, Fresh Linen, and Lavender Bars.
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Visit our Friends at soap-making.co.uk Soap Making Information & Free Soap Making Recipes
Welcome to Our Soap Making Recipe Page!
This page is divided into 3 sections: Soaps, Bath/Body & Massage Oils, and Bath Salt, Potpourri & Others. The recipes have been indexed and linked to make searching easier. If you have trouble locating supplies be sure to visit our links page. Please note that you must Email Us to request to submit recipes. If you are not familiar with making melt & pour soap, bath salt, or bath/body oils, instructions can be found on the Basic Recipes & Tips page.
If you would like to experiment with natural additives to increase the mosisturizing properties of your soap, add an exfoliant, or just to enhance the beauty of your soap be sure to check our Additives & Ingredients page.
Soap Recipes
- Citrus Spice Bars
- Dragon Spice Bar
- Fresh Linen
- Lavender Bars
- I Love Lemon
- Massage Bars
- Oatmeal Spice Bars
- Rain
Suggestions for Beginners: Citrus Spice,
I Love Lemon, and Rain
Liquid Soap Recipes
Easy Liquid Soaps:
These recipes start with a liquid soap base that has been purchased from a soap supplier. They are very easy to make, can be a great supervised activity for children, only take 5 - 10 minutes to make, and can be used right away. These recipes can be used as hand soap, body wash, and shampoo. There is even a scent free laundry soap recipe for very delicate hand wash items.
Bath/Body & Massage Oil Recipes
Suggestions for Beginners: Lemon Bath Oil,
Peppermint Bath Oil, and Soothing Massage Oil.
Bath Salt, Potpourri, & Other Recipes
- A Day at the Beach Bath Salts
- Bergamot Bath Salts
- Dragon Spice Bath Salts
- Fresh Linen Bath Salts
- Lemon Bath Salts
- Lavender Bath Salts
- Rain Bath Salts
- Ylang-Ylang Bath Salts
- Lavender/Rose Potpourri
- Body Spray Recipes
Suggestions for Beginners: Lemon Bath Salts,
Rain Bath Salts, and Ylang-Ylang Bath Salts.
Melt & Pour Soap Recipes:
The recipes listed below should work with any melt and pour soap base so feel free to experiment.
Citrus Spice Bars
- 10 Drops of Sweet Orange
- 3 Drops of Lemon
- 5 Drops of Cinnamon Leaf
- 3 Drops of Allspice
Melt the Glycerin and allow to cool slightly as Described on the Basic Intructions Page.
Add the colorant 1 - 2 drops at a time while stirring until you achieve the desired color.
Add the scent, stir and pour into molds. Allow the soap to harden completely before removing from molds.
Dragon Spice Bar
- 14 Drops of Frankincense Oil in 30% Grape Seed Oil or 6 - 8
Drops of Frankincense Oil - 4 Drops of Bergamot Oil
- 4 Drops of Lemon Oil
- 4 Drops of Tangerine or Orange Oil
- 2 Drops of Cinnamon Leaf or Allspice Oil
WARNINGS: Use bergaptene free bergamot or do not use in concentrations of more than 0.4% within 12 hours exposure to sunlight or a tanning bed. Do not use Essential Oil of Lemon in concentrations of more than 2% within 12 hours exposure to sunlight or a tanning bed. Do not use cinnamon oil in concentrations of more than 0.5%. Always dilute and perform a patch test on a small area of skin before using cinnamon oil for the first time.
Melt the Glycerin and allow to cool slightly as Described on the Basic Intructions Page
Layered Soap: To achieve the layered effect as shown in the photo, pour add scent, stir, and pour uncolored base into the top of the mold. Allow to cool for 5 - 10 minutes or until it starts to harden. Reheat the rest of your base, add color and additonal scent if necessary. Pour into mold toward one of the corners and away from the uncolored soap. Allow soap to harden completely before removing from molds.
Unlayered Soap: Add colorant and scent. Stir and Pour into Molds. Allow the soap to harden completely before removing from molds.
Fresh Linen
- 5 Drops of Lavender
- 10 Drops of Lemon
Melt the Glycerin and allow to cool slightly as Described on the Basic Intructions Page
Stir in the crushed lavender and calendula. Let stand for a few moments and if the material floats back to the top, repeat this step until the material suspends evenly.
Add scent, stir, and Pour into Molds. Allow the soap to harden completely before removing from molds.
Lavender Bars
If you like the effect in the photograph you can achieve this by pouring the soap into the molds before the material suspends evenly. Decrease the crushed lavender to 1 - 2 1/4 Teaspoons. The crushed lavender will sink to the bottom of the molds. You can sprinkle in a small amount of whole buds, they will float to the top of the molds.
- 10 Drops of Lavender
Melt the Glycerin and allow to cool slightly as Described on the Basic Intructions Page
Add the crushed lavender and stir. Let stand for a few moments and if the material floats back to the top, repeat this step until the material suspends evenly.
Add scent, stir, and pour into molds. Allow the soap to harden completely before removing from molds.
I Love Lemon
- 10 Drops of Lemon
Melt the Glycerin and allow to cool slightly as Described on the Basic Intructions Page
Add the yellow colorant 1 - 2 drops at a time while stirring until you achieve the desired color.
Add scent, stir, and pour into molds. Allow the soap to harden completely before removing from molds.
Massage Bars
This recipe calls for massage bar soap molds. To get an idea of what these look like, you can view a photograph of the molds I used by Clicking Here. It is the last mold on the right.
- 10 Drops of Peppermint
- 5 Drops of Lemon
Melt the Glycerin and allow to cool slightly as Described on the Basic Intructions Page
Add the wheat germ, crushed oats, and stir. Let stand for a few moments and if the material floats back to the top, repeat this step until the material suspends evenly.
Add scent, stir, and pour into molds. Allow the soap to harden completely before removing from molds.
Oatmeal Spice Bars
The photo below is the same recipe with translucent glycerin, no cinnamon powder and added colorant. It was taken about 8 years ago and this was my first attempt at suspending dry materials in soap. I didn't wait long enough before pouring so all the Oatmeal sank to the bottom of the mold. Lighter additives like wheat germ tend to float to the top in this scenario. On the bright side, the soap was still useable, I found I like this effect with some soaps (use about 1/4 - 1/2 the amount of material than what the recipe calls for) and I kept trying until I got it.
- 8 Drops of Cinnamon
- 3 Drops of Allspice
- 3 Drops of Bergamot or Orange
Melt the Glycerin and allow to cool slightly as Described on the Basic Intructions Page
Add the crushed oats, cinnamon powder, and stir. Let stand for a few moments and if the material floats back to the top, repeat this step until the material suspends evenly.
Add scent, stir, and pour into molds. Allow the soap to harden completely before removing from molds.
Rain
This is a fairly easy recipe. The photo below was taken about 10 years ago. I used a different base and a layering effect by pouring the white soap base first and just as it started to set poured the blue base. I do not take the best photos so you can't see how lovely the blue turned out. Unfortunately, I used hibiscus powder as the colorant and it faded to light gray in about a month. Otherwise the soap was great and I found a great natural pigment for light gray.
Tip: Jasmine oil is expensive (and dark brownish in color which can affect the color of your soaps and other bath and body products). If you can find a high quality jasmine fragrance oil that does not cause irritation substituting it for the essential oil in this recipe will save you some money.
- 10 Drops of Jasmine
- 5 Drops of Juniper
Melt the Glycerin and allow to cool slightly as Described on the Basic Intructions Page
Add the colorant 1 -2 drops at a time and stir. Repeat until you achieve the desired color.
Add scent, stir, and pour into molds. Allow the soap to harden completely before removing from molds.
Easy Liquid Soap Recipes:
These liquid soap recipes start with a liquid soap base purchased through a soap
supplier so they are very quick and easy to make and can make a great supervised activity
for children. Liquid soaps can be used as hand soap, body wash, shampoo, and
as laundry soap for hand wash delicates (to avoid staining extremely delicate fabrics do NOT use colorants,
additives, or scent).
When shopping for liquid soap bases be sure to check the ingredients to make sure that the
base is free of sulfides, sulfates, alcohol and other chemicals that can dry skin and
hair, cause irritation to sensitive skin, or damage delicate fabrics.
Additives: Most natural liquid additives used for melt & pour soap can be used in liquid soap bases to add extra lather or for additional moisturizing properties. Solid additives such as lavender buds, chamomile, oat meal, etc. should first be ground into powder with a mortar and pestle or coffee grinder to avoid clogging soap dispensers. In addition, 1/4 - 1/2 teaspoons of guar gum or xanthan gum can be added per 16 oz of liquid soap base as a thickening agent if desired.
Citrus Spice
- 10 Drops of Sweet Orange
- 3 Drops of Lemon
- 5 Drops of Cinnamon Leaf
- 3 Drops of Allspice
Gently pour liquid soap base into 32 oz glass measuring cup.
Optional: Add liquid glycerin and guar or xanthan gum and mix thoroughly.
Add the essential oils and stir. Add the colorant 1-2 drops at at time and continue to mix thoroughly until you achieve the desired color. Use a funnel to pour into the liquid soap dispenser of your choice.
Delicate Laundry Soap
This is probably the quickest and easist soap recipe. It is Extremely Important that you ALWAYS check the ingredients before buying your soap base to make sure that it is free of sulfides, sulfates, alcohol, and other chemicals that could cause damage to delicate fabrics. Remember, sometimes companies change ingredients and suppliers. The last time I needed liquid soap base Glorybee had an excellent base for this so I bought in bulk. You can find them and other suppliers on our Links Page.
Do Not Use ANY Additives or Essential Oils for this recipe as this may cause discoloration or damage to extremely delicate fabrics.
Recipe:
Measure in a pyrex measuring cup and funnel into container of your choice.
How to Use: Make sure that your sink or container is clean.
Add the soap before adding water. If you do not have a water softner system in your home DO NOT USE TAP WATER for extremely delicate fabrics and light colors such as white and ivory as this can cause damage and discoloration. Instead, use only distilled water to wash and rinse. Be sure to ollow the manufacturer's label for water temperature.
Add no more than one Tablespoon per gallon of water. Too much soap can damage delicate fabrics and will NOT get your item cleaner. What you want is a very thin layer of bubbles, just enough to get dirt loose. If you accidently add too much soap drain some water out and add more.
Follow the manufacturer's lable for hand washing procedure and rise thoroughly.
Dry as instructed on the lable.
Fresh Linens
- 4 Drops of Lavender
- 8 Drops of Lemon
Gently pour liquid soap base into 32 oz glass measuring cup.
Optional: Slightly warm Olive or Seasame oil in a hot water bath. This will help the oil and soap base blend when stirred. Add liquid glycerin and guar or xanthan gum and mix thoroughly.
Add essential oils and mix thoroughly. Add colorant 1 -2 drops at a time and continue stirring until you achieve the desired color. Using a small funnel, pour into the liquid soap dispenser of your choice.
Lavender
- 4 - 8 Drops of Lavender
Gently pour liquid soap base into 32 oz glass measuring cup.
Optional: Slightly warm Olive or Seasame oil in a hot water bath. This will help the oil and soap base blend when stirred. Add liquid glycerin and guar or xanthan gum and mix thoroughly.
Add essential oils and mix thoroughly. Add colorant 1 -2 drops at a time and continue stirring until you achieve the desired color. Using a small funnel, pour into the liquid soap dispenser of your choice.
Lemon Drops
- 5 - 8 Drops of Lemon
Gently pour liquid soap base into 32 oz glass measuring cup.
Optional: Slightly warm Olive or Seasame oil in a hot water bath. This will help the oil and soap base blend when stirred. Add liquid glycerin and guar or xanthan gum and mix thoroughly.
Add essential oils and mix thoroughly. Add colorant 1 -2 drops at a time and continue stirring until you achieve the desired color. Using a small funnel, pour into the liquid soap dispenser of your choice.
Rain Drops
Tip: Jasmine oil is expensive (and dark brownish in color which can affect the color of your soaps and other bath and body products). If you can find a high quality jasmine fragrance oil that does not cause irritation substituting it for the essential oil in this recipe will save you some money.
- 4 Drops of Juniper
- 8 Drops of Jasmine
Gently pour liquid soap base into 32 oz glass measuring cup.
Optional: Slightly warm Olive or Seasame oil in a hot water bath. This will help the oil and soap base blend when stirred. Add liquid glycerin and guar or xanthan gum and mix thoroughly.
Add essential oils and mix thoroughly. Add colorant 1 -2 drops at a time and continue stirring until you achieve the desired color. Using a small funnel, pour into the liquid soap dispenser of your choice.
Bath/Body & Massage Oil Recipes:
Bath/Body and Massage Oils are very easy to make. One of the great things about making your own is that if you find that you do not care for a particular carrier oil you can easily substitute it with another. For example, if you don't care for the appearance of virgin sesame oil (it looks a lot like extra virgin olive oil but doesn't have the heavy scent), you can substitute with light sesame oil or almond oil.
All recipes marked with an ∗ are multipurpose and can be used as bath & body and/or massage oils.
∗ Lavender Bath Oil
The semi-dry lavender in this recipe is a scent saver. You can omit this step but you will need to use more essential oil. Remember to strain out the semi-dry buds and replace them with completely dried lavender or silk flowers when packaging or mold will start to grow over time.
- 10 - 20 Drops of Lavender
Add the oil and the crushed lavender to a jar and stir.
Seal the jar so it is air tight and allow the oil to age for 5 days shaking the jar once a day.
After 3 days have passed, check the scent level. You should smell some lavender (if not it means that your lavender was probably too dry to release enough scent). Add 10 drops of lavender oil and continue to age the oil for 1 week, shaking the jar once a day. Unseal and check the scent level every couple of days during the aging process. Add additional scent as needed.
Strain the lavender out before packaging. This is because it was not completely dried and will grow mold over time. Replace it with completely dried crushed lavender if desired.
Lemon Bath Oil
- 10 - 20 Drops of Lemon
Add the oil and scent to a jar and stir.
Seal the jar so it is air tight and allow the oil to age for 1 week shaking the jar once a day. Check the scent level every couple of days and add 1-3 drops of scent as necessary.
Allow for 3 days of additional age time if you add scent toward the end of the aging process.
Package as desired.
∗ Peppermint Bath Oil
- 10 - 20 Drops of Peppermint
Add the oils and scent to a jar and stir.
Seal the jar so it is air tight and allow the oil to age for 1 week shaking the jar once a day. Check the scent level every couple of days and add 1-3 drops of scent as necessary.
Allow for 3 days of additional age time if you add scent toward the end of the aging process.
Package as desired.
∗ Soothing Massage Oil
- 15 Drops of Peppermint
- 7 Drops of Eucalyptus
Add the oil and scent to a jar and stir.
Seal the jar so it is air tight and allow the oil to age for 1 week shaking the jar once a day. Check the scent level every couple of days and add 1-3 drops of scent as necessary.
Allow for 3 days of additional age time if you add scent toward the end of the aging process.
Package as desired.
∗ Dry Skin/Hair Oil
This is one of my favorites because it is multi purpose and can be used for dry skin and as a leave in conditioner for hair. To use as a conditioner comb tangles out of damp hair, apply a very small amount (a dime size amount works well for waist-length hair) to hands and rub together. Apply to hair and comb. Allow to dry. If you use too much don't worry it will come out with shampoo. A little goes a long way so it can take a few tries to get the amount right.
To use as a massage or body oil apply small amounts evenly over skin. I have used this recipe for years in place of store bought lotion with great results but everyone is different. If this doesn't work well for you try substituting extra virgin sesame oil for the olive oil or 1/4 cup of extra virgin sesame oil, 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil and 1/4 cup of coconut oil.
Caution: If you are allergic or have a sensitivity to coconuts omit coconut oil and substitute an appropriate oil.
- 4 - 5 drops Lavender
- 2 drops Lemon
- 1 drop Peppermint
Pour the olive oil into a heat safe bowl or 2 cup pyrex measuring cup.
Put the coconut oil in a small bowl or heat safe container and place the container in a hot water bath to melt. You can also melt it in a double boiler.
Pour the coconut oil into the olive oil and stir.
Add the essential oils and package as desired.
Note: If the oil is exposed to extreme cold it will solidify. To liquify place in a hot water bath.
Bath Salt, Potpourri, & Other Recipes:
Bath Salts are extremely easy to make but may not be suitable for people with dry skin. Good recipes should include vegetable glycerin or something similar to help prevent dry skin.
As added protection, while running your bath water add some bath oil that has a similar scent. I also use a good moisturizer afterwords.
A Day at the Beach Bath Salts
These salts remind me of beach sand. I would start with the lesser amount of kelp in this recipe. This is because kelp powder can be quite pungent and the strength of the odor varies with suppliers/brands. Kelp Powder is sold in gel caps as an iodine supplement at most health food stores so you can purchase a small bottle (I'd check the clearance bin first to save $) to see if you like working with it before purchasing a larger amount from a soap supplier. To use just take the capsules apart and remove the powder. Be very careful not to use too much kelp powder or your salts will smell like a beach. I love peppermint and it covers the kelp smell quite nicely but if you are sensitive to it or don't care for the smell just replace it with something that's better for you. I have made this with Lavender Oil instead and it also does a very good job of removing the kelp odor.
- 10 - 15 Drops of Peppermint
Mix all the salts, kelp powder, and glycerin in a large mixing bowl.
Remove about 1/2 cup of salt and place in another large mixing bowl. Add a few drops of colorant and mix well.
Gradually mix the rest of the salts in 1/2 cup at a time adding more colorant as needed.
Stir in up to 10 drops of peppermint oil and place the salts in an airtight jar no more than 1/2 - 3/4 full.
Shake the jar every day for 1 -2 weeks. Remove the lid every couple of days to check the scent. If additional scent is needed add only a few drops of oil, replace lid and shake. Check again in a few days to see if more scent is needed.
Package as desired.
To use, add about 1/4 cup to warm - hot bath water.
Bergamot Bath Salts
If you like Earl Grey Tea then you are probably very familiar with the smell of bergamot. WARNING: Use bergaptene free bergamot or do not use in concentrations of more than 0.4% within 12 hours exposure to sunlight or a tanning bed.
- 10 - 15 Drops of Bergamot
Mix all the salts and glycerin in a large mixing bowl.
Remove about 1/2 cup of salt and place in another large mixing bowl. Add a few drops of colorant and mix well.
Gradually mix the rest of the salts in 1/2 cup at a time adding more colorant as needed.
Mix in up to 10 drops of bergamot oil and place the salts in an airtight jar no more than 1/2 - 3/4 full.
Shake the jar every day for 1 -2 weeks. Remove the lid every couple of days to check the scent. If additional scent is needed add only a few drops of oil, replace lid and shake. Check again in a few days to see if more scent is needed.
Package as desired.
To use, add about 1/4 cup to warm - hot bath water.
Dragon Spice Bath Salts
This oil blend produces a very spicy scent. If you do not care for the smell of cinnamon leaf oil you can omit it.
Omitting the allspice oil as well will produce a sweeter scent. Like most recipes posted here, it can be used to make matching
soaps, oil, etc. Just be sure to keep the ratios of essential oils in safe concentrations and use
less colorant for soaps. You may want to omit it completely or use no more than a few drops in bath/body or massage oil blends.
WARNING: Use bergaptene free bergamot or do not use in concentrations of more than 0.4% within
12 hours exposure to sunlight or a tanning bed. Do not use Essential Oil of Lemon in concentrations of more than 2% within
12 hours exposure to sunlight or a tanning bed.
- 20 Drops of Frankincense Oil in 30% Grape Seed Oil or 8 - 10 Drops of Frankincense Oil
- 5 Drops of Bergamot Oil
- 5 Drops of Lemon Oil
- 5 Drops of Tangerine Oil
- 2 Drops of Cinnamon Leaf or Allspice Oil
Mix all the salts and glycerin in a large mixing bowl.
Remove about 1/2 cup of salt and place in another large mixing bowl. Add a few drops of colorant and mix well.
Gradually mix the rest of the salts in 1/2 cup at a time adding more colorant as needed.
Stir in the essential oils and place the salts in an airtight jar no more than 1/2 - 3/4 full.
Shake the jar every day for 1 -2 weeks. Remove the lid every couple of days to check the scent. If additional scent is needed add only a few drops of oil, replace lid and shake. Check again in a few days to see if more scent is needed.
Package as desired.
To use, add about 1/4 cup to warm - hot bath water.
Fresh Linen Bath Salts
WARNING: Do not use Essential Oil of Lemon in concentrations of more than 2% within 12 hours exposure to sunlight or a tanning bed.
- 10 Drops of Lemon
- 5 Drops of Lavender
Mix all the salts and glycerin in a large mixing bowl.
Remove about 1/2 cup of salt and place in another large mixing bowl. Add a few drops of colorant and mix well.
Gradually mix the rest of the salts in 1/2 cup at a time adding more colorant as needed.
Stir in the lemon and lavender oil and place the salts in an airtight jar no more than 1/2 - 3/4 full.
Shake the jar every day for 1 -2 weeks. Remove the lid every couple of days to check the scent. If additional scent is needed add only a few drops of oil, replace lid and shake. Check again in a few days to see if more scent is needed.
Package as desired.
To use, add about 1/4 cup to warm - hot bath water.
Lemon Bath Salts
WARNING: Do not use Essential Oil of Lemon in concentrations of more than 2% within 12 hours exposure to sunlight or a tanning bed.
- 10 Drops of Lemon
Mix all the salts and glycerin in a large mixing bowl.
Remove about 1/2 cup of salt and place in another large mixing bowl. Add a few drops of colorant and mix well.
Gradually mix the rest of the salts in 1/2 cup at a time adding more colorant as needed.
Stir in the lemon oil and place the salts in an airtight jar no more than 1/2 - 3/4 full.
Shake the jar every day for 1 -2 weeks. Remove the lid every couple of days to check the scent. If additional scent is needed add only a few drops of oil, replace lid and shake. Check again in a few days to see if more scent is needed.
Package as desired.
To use, add about 1/4 cup to warm - hot bath water.
Lavender Bath Salts
Tip: Instead of using crushed lavender you can add 1 to 1 1/2 teaspoons of lavender powder instead. This eliminates the need to use a drain catcher or placing salts in a tied off mesh bag or cheesecloth before adding to your bath.
- 10 - 15 Drops of Lavender
Mix all the salts and glycerin in a large mixing bowl.
Remove about 1/2 cup of salt and place in another large mixing bowl. Add a few drops of colorant and mix well.
Gradually mix the rest of the salts in 1/2 cup at a time adding more colorant as needed.
Stir in the crushed lavender and lavender oil and place the salts in an airtight jar no more than 1/2 - 3/4 full.
Shake the jar every day for 1 -2 weeks. Remove the lid every couple of days to check the scent. If additional scent is needed add only a few drops of oil, replace lid and shake. Check again in a few days to see if more scent is needed.
Package as desired.
To use, place salts in a mesh bag, tie off, and add to tub or use a drain catcher to avoid drain problems. Add about 1/4 cup to warm - hot bath water.
Rain Bath Salts
Tip: Jasmine oil is expensive (and dark brownish in color which can affect the color of your soaps and other bath and body products). If you can find a high quality jasmine fragrance oil that does not cause irritation substituting it for the essential oil in this recipe will save you some money.
- 12 Drops of Jasmine
- 5 Drops of Juniper
Mix all the salts and glycerin in a large mixing bowl.
Remove about 1/2 cup of salt and place in another large mixing bowl. Add a few drops of colorant and mix well.
Gradually mix the rest of the salts in 1/2 cup at a time adding more colorant as needed.
Stir in the jasmine and juniper oil and place the salts in an airtight jar no more than 1/2 - 3/4 full.
Shake the jar every day for 1 -2 weeks. Remove the lid every couple of days to check the scent. If additional scent is needed add only a few drops of oil, replace lid and shake. Check again in a few days to see if more scent is needed.
Package as desired.
To use, add about 1/4 cup to warm - hot bath water.
Ylang-Ylang Bath Salts
- 12 Drops of Ylang-Ylang
Mix all the salts and glycerin in a large mixing bowl.
Remove about 1/2 cup of salt and place in another large mixing bowl. Add a few drops of colorant and mix well.
Gradually mix the rest of the salts in 1/2 cup at a time adding more colorant as needed.
Stir in the ylang-ylang oil and place the salts in an airtight jar no more than 1/2 - 3/4 full.
Shake the jar every day for 1 -2 weeks. Remove the lid every couple of days to check the scent. If additional scent is needed add only a few drops of oil, replace lid and shake. Check again in a few days to see if more scent is needed.
Package as desired.
To use, add about 1/4 cup to warm - hot bath water.
Lavender/Rose Potpourri
Tip: Potpourri can be placed in paper envelopes (always seal to prevent spills), small mesh bags, or sachets and kept in closets or dresser drawers to keep clothes from smelling musty.
- 15 - 20 Drops of Lavender
Mix all the dry ingredients together in a large stainless steel or glass mixing bowl.
Stir in the lavender oil and brandy. Place the potpourri in air tight jar and do not filling no more than 1/2 - 3/4 to the top.
Shake the jar every day for about a week. Remove the lid and check the scent level on the 3rd or 4th day.
If additional scent is needed add only a few drops of oil, replace lid and shake. Check again in a few days to see if additional scent is needed.
Package and display as desired.
When the scent fades mix the potpourri with 2 tablespoons of brandy to renew the scent. If this does not work add a few drops of lavender oil and stir.
Body Spray Recipes
Body sprays quick, easy, fun to make, and it can be much less expensive to make your own rather than buying them from a store. If you would like to add a small amount of color to your body spray, 1 -2 drops of any liquid colorant that is used for soap making and bath salts should be fine. Just be careful not to use too much you you may stain your clothing and it could cause some temporary skin discoloration.
I've included a few possible scent combinations after the instructions. Any essential oil considered safe for use in soap making should be ok to use for body sprays. Just be sure to use safe amounts and NEVER use an essential oil that you have a known sensitivity or allergy to the plant it comes from.
Basic Body Spray Recipe #1: For Dry Skin
This recipe contains no alcohol to prevent microbial growth so the shelf life is only 6 - 8 months.
Body Spray Recipe #2
- Optional: Boil water and add crushed herbs and allow to steep for 5 - 10
minutes. This step is unnecessary but it can help to enhance the scent of your body spray. Line
a Small metal strainer with cheese cloth and pour into a clean 16 ounce pyrex measuring cup. If any material
gets through restrain if necessary. Allow the water to cool and procede to the next step.
- Add water, alcohol, glycerin, essential oils, and 1 -2 drops of colorant if desired to a 16 ounce pyrex
measuring cup.
- Stir until blended and package as desired.
A Few Essential Oil Combinations for Body Spray
Fresh Linen: 5 drops of lavender, 10 drops of lemon oil or 5 drops of lavender, 5 drops of lemon, and 5 drops of orange oil.
Lavender: 5 - 10 drops of lavender oil.
Rain: 5 drops of juniper and 6 - 7 drops of jasmine oil.
Citris Spice: 5 drops of orange, 2 - 3 drops of bergamot, 1 drop of all spice, and 1 - 2 drops of cinnamon oil.
Ylang Ylang: 5 -10 drops of ylang ylang oil.
