Essential oil soap making is not that difficult to do. In fact, you can make your own essential oil soap bars in less than 30 minutes! This article will explain to you what essential oils are used for, why they are great when used in soaps and will give you a basic recipe to follow to make your own soap.
Let’s start with what essential oils are used for and why they are a perfect addition to your soap making. Essential oils are basically a form of aromatherapy. Aromatherapy is used for many reasons such as relaxation, stress relief, self healing and uplifting your spirits. Using essential oils with your aromatherapy treatment allows you to pin point certain needs and use the healing properties of certain oils to satisfy these needs. For example, orange essential oil is know for it’s uplifting properties, therefore, it is used for treatment of depression. Lavender essential oil is know for it’s relaxing properties and is used for treatment of anxiety and tension as well as insomnia. Each essential oil has it’s own healing properties and you can use them in combination with each other for maximum effect.
Essential oil soap making is not the only way you can use essential oils. These oils can be used in various ways, some of which are adding a few drops to your bath, rubbing some oil on your wrists or adding a few drops to a handkerchief or cloth and carrying it around with you to use when needed. One word of caution when using essential oils, do not use essential oils as your only form of treatment. Always consult a doctor first. Also, do not use essential oils internally.
Now that you know what essential oils are used for, you can see how adding a few drops to your homemade soap can benefit you in many ways. Next you will be shown a simple essential oil soap making recipe that you can use to make a variety of different healing soap bars. This recipe uses glycerin soap, although you can use essential oils in any kind of soap really. Using glycerin is one of the easiest ways to make soap. Glycerin is very gentle to the skin and used as a moisturizer. It can be purchased in health food stores, craft stores and in most of your major department stores.
Essential Oil Glycerin Soap Recipe:
What you will need:
4oz. bar of unscented clear glycerin soap ( you can also use opaque which will make your bar more creamy)
5 to 10 drops of essential oil
1 to 3 drops of food color
First you will melt the glycerin soap in a double boiler making sure not to let it get too hot. Next you will add your essential oil drops and your food coloring. Then you will pour this mix into your mold (this is a plastic tray which basically shapes your soap into the bar). Then to keep your soap from bubbling, just spritz the top of it with rubbing alcohol and that’s it. Set it aside and let it cool. Usually it cools and can be removed from the mold tray within 30 minutes, 45 minutes to 1 hour for best results. Once cooled, removed from tray and place on a rack for several hours before using.
These essential oil soap bars can be used solely for bathing or you can display them around your bathroom which will fill your bathroom with wonderful scents. They also make great gifts for friends and family. You can wrap them individually or make aromatherapy baskets with them.
Essential oil soap making is just one form of making homemade soap. There are many ways to make homemade soap. You can find different recipes online, in craft books and magazines or in your local craft store. The possibilities are endless. You can make soap as a hobby or even to sell them and make some money with your new craft. Whatever you decide to do, just have fun with it!
