Basic soap making recipes

BASIC SOAP MIXTURE
The basic recipe is used throughout, with various ingredients added. Once you have had some practice, you can create your own combinations using this recipe : 

375g caustic soda
1 kg water
750g coconut oil
1,2 kg vegetable shortening
750g olive oil 

UNSCENTED CALENDULA BABY SOAP
Steep 115g dried or semi-dried calendula flowers (pot marigold) in 115ml olive oil in a jar, sealed, for two to three weeks, then strain oil. A faster method is to steep dried calendula flowers in water and use strained infusion in place of all or part of the water called for in the recipe (Or combine both methods). This makes a very mild baby soap. 
 1 quantity basic soap mixture
120g calendula-infused olive oil 

COMFREY AND ALOE VERA SOAP
The comfrey root gives the soap a special healing, soothing quality as well as a beautiful dark violet colour. Collect and dry enough comfrey root to produce 110g ounces of powder (about a 1 foot root). Roots must be thoroughly dry before you pulverize them in a food processor. 
1 quantity basic soap mixture
60g lavender oil · rosemary oil · aloe extract
110g comfrey root powder 

GARDEN MINT SOAP
In the heat of summer, peppermint soap is a good choice. It has a way of cooling the hottest skin and easing mild sunburn. When travelling long distances, keep a ‘sniffing bar’ of peppermint soap on the dashboard to keep you awake. 
1 quantity basic soap mixture
120g peppermint oil 

LEMON VERBENA SOAP
Add a small amount of lemongrass oil to lemon vinegar oil to fix scent.
1 quantity basic soap mixture
120g lemon verbena oil
15g lemongrass oil
30g turmeric for colour (optional) 

CHAMOMILE AND LAVENDER BABY SOAP
This soap has proven very effective against nappy rash.
1 quantity basic soap mixture
15g chamomile oil
120g lavender oil 

ROSEMARY MORNING SOAP
Rosemary works wonders as a pick-me-up first thing in the morning.
1 quantity basic soap mixture
120g rosemary oil
55h each powdered dill weed and rosemary 

GENTLEMAN FARMER SOAP
The cornmeal in this soap gives it a rough texture, perfect for scrubbing. Follow the general instructions for making the soap mixture, then blend 2 cups of the soap mixture with the cornmeal and whip it with a wire whisk to remove lumps. Return this mixture to the soap kettle and stir in the essential oils before pouring the soap into mould.
1 quantity basic soap mixture
110g ground cornmeal
90g lemongrass oil
30g cedarwood oil 

MR SPICY SHAVING SOAP
This shaving soap has a high percentage of cinnamon oil, which stimulates and lifts the beard for a close shave. This soap is tricky to make as the cinnamon oil must be dribbled in quickly while stirring or it will streak the soap. This soap also thicken unusually fast, so be ready to pour it into the mould as soon as you’ve stirred in the oil and the optional ground cinnamon. 
1 quantity basic soap mixture· 
120g cinnamon oil
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon (optional)
Soft Herbal Soap using dry herbs:

For use in baths or washing hands.
1 1/2 cups dried Herbs
1 1/2 quarts water2 cups shredded pure soap (like Ivory)
1/2 cup boraxIn 
an enamel saucepan
combine the Herbs and water. Bring to a full boil. simmer for about 30 minutes to release the oils of the Herbs. Re-heat slowly and add the shredded soap and borax. Stir while adding the last two ingredients. Boil gently for about 3 minutes. Cool. Pour the soap into covered containers of your choice.For the strongest aroma, use Herbs like rosemary, lavender & thyme. The oils from these Herbs seem to linger on your skin longer.I like to make these soaps into tiny soaps shaped like different things…….circles, squared, seashells..stuff like that. 

I then tie them up into colored netting and decorate with ribbon and silk flowers and give as gifts. They can be used to wash with or just as sachets. ( A simple way of doing this is using ice cube trays and filling the 1/3 full only. Let them set, then just simply twist and pop them out.)
Another way of using these soaps for gift giving is to get smaller (or larger) sized mason jars with the screw on lids. 

Fill the jar with little shapes of herbal soaps , close lid, and decorate with ribbon and silk flowers.The best gift of all is the one you present to yourself when you use this herbal soap.