How to Make Herbal Soap

A cleansing preparation made by combining oils or fats with an alkali to create soap, often with herbs added for scent, color, texture, or traditional skin-supporting properties. Herbal soap can be made with infused oils, dried herbs, clays, botanicals, and other natural ingredients depending on the recipe and intended use.

Best For

  • Cleansing the skin with herbal ingredients
  • Adding herbs to everyday bathing and body care
  • Using infused oils, dried herbs, clays, or botanicals in a wash-off product
  • Supporting dry, oily, or problem-prone skin, depending on the recipe
  • Making practical herbal body care products for regular use

Shelf Life

Herbal soap usually lasts a long time when kept dry between uses. Unused bars often keep for about 1 year or longer, depending on the oils used, while cured handmade soap is generally best used within 6–12 months for best scent, color, and overall quality.

Basic Soap Making

  1. Prepare your work area, containers, mold, and measured ingredients before you begin.
  2. Put on gloves and eye protection before handling lye.
  3. Carefully add the lye to the water and stir until fully dissolved.
  4. Set the lye solution aside to cool.
  5. Measure and combine your oils or fats in a separate container.
  6. Heat the oils gently if needed, then let them cool to the proper range for your recipe.
  7. Slowly pour the cooled lye solution into the oils.
  8. Blend and stir until the mixture thickens to trace.
  9. Add any herbs, clays, scents, or other optional ingredients.
  10. Pour the soap batter into the mold. Let it set until firm enough to unmold.
  11. Cut into bars, if needed.
  12. Cure the soap in a dry, airy place before using or labeling.

What You Need

  • Base Ingredients
  • Oils or fats: usually about 16–32 ounces total in a small batch, measured in the exact amount called for by the recipe
  • Lye: measured in the exact amount needed for the oils used
  • Water: usually about 2 to 2.5 times the weight of the lye, used to dissolve it
  • Optional infused oils: counted as part of the total oil amount, not added extra
  • Optional herbs, clays, colorants, or scents: added in small amounts after the soap reaches trace

NOTE: For soap, the lye amount must be exact. It is not something to estimate casually.

  • Tools & Equipment
  • Heat-safe containers
  • Measuring cups or spoons
  • Scale
  • Stick blender or spoon
  • Thermometer
  • Silicone spatula
  • Soap mold
  • Knife or cutter
  • Gloves Eye protection
  • For Finishing & Storage
  • Soap mold liner, if needed
  • Drying or curing rack Knife or soap cutter
  • Labels or marker
  • Paper, boxes, or wrapping for finished bars
  • Cool, dry storage area

Storage & Labeling


Store finished soap in a cool, dry place with good airflow until fully cured. After curing, label with the soap name, key ingredients, and date made. Keep unused bars dry and protected from excess heat, humidity, and direct sunlight.