Cold Process Soap Recipes for Soap Makers (2024)

These are all 1 pound oil recipes with a superfat of 5-8% (aside fromthe one bar recipe). If you modify a recipe or switch out an oil, please run your recipe through a soap calculator such as http://www.soapcalc.net.

Basic Lard
4 oz Olive Oil
4 oz Coconut Oil
7 oz Lard
1 oz Castor Oil
2.2 oz Lye
6 oz Water

Basic Vegan
5 oz Palm Oil
5 oz Coconut Oil
5 oz Olive Oil
1 oz Castor Oil
2.3 oz Lye
6 oz Water

Castile Soap
16 oz Olive Oil
2.0 oz Lye
6 oz Water
(Castile makes a wonderfully mild soap- just note that it takes a lot longer to firm up and needs more like 6-8 weeks to cure.)

Luxury Vegan
2 oz Olive Oil
4 oz Coconut Oil
1 oz Sweet Almond Oil
1 oz Castor Oil
1 oz Cocoa Butter
7 oz Palm Oil
2.2 oz Lye
6 oz Water
1 oz Fragrance Oil

Garden Soap
5 oz Coconut Oil
8 oz Olive Oil
3 oz Palm Oil
2.3 oz Lye
6 oz Water
1 oz Fragrance Oil
1 Tablespoon Cornmeal

Coffee Scrub Bar
1 oz Castor Oil
1 oz Cocoa Butter
4 oz Coconut Oil
6 oz Olive Oil
4 oz Palm Oil
2.2 oz Lye
6 oz Extra strong brewed coffee (replaces water)
1 oz Coffee Fragrance Oil
1 Tablespoon Coffee Grounds (gives soap a scrubby texture)
(You’re lye mixture will stink to high heaven when you first mix, but it will fade and give your soap a nice coffee brown color.)

Shea Butter Bar
1 oz Castor Oil
3 oz Coconut Oil
4 oz Olive Oil
4 oz Palm Oil
4 oz Shea Butter
2.15 oz Lye
6 oz Water
1 oz Fragrance Oil

One-Bar Soap Recipe
Perfect for testing new fragrances!
1.5 oz Olive Oil
1.28 oz Coconut Oil
1.5 oz Palm Oil
0.6 oz Lye
1.5 oz Water

If you’re doing the one bar recipe, please make sure you have an extremely accurate scale!

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1. 

   BhawanaJanuary 18, 2024 at 6:46 am - Reply

   These are such beautiful combination.
   But India specialy olive is highly expensive can we replace it with other oil.
   If used clay will that make our skin dry

2. 

   Jane GerowSeptember 3, 2019 at 3:22 pm - Reply

   Can I use pumice instead of cornmeal for the garden soap!

3. 

   Jillian SeekerNovember 2, 2018 at 5:46 pm - Reply

   How much fragrance would I add to the 1 bar recipe?

4. 

   HzwyfeeJune 20, 2018 at 7:24 am - Reply

   Thank you so much for posting recipes! When you are brand new to soap making and do not understand soaping language (lye calculator, saponification, percentages etc) and are scared to try your first batch, the only thing you want to know is a simple basic recipe to follow exactly! When you are told what to do in soap language it can add to the intimidation factor and keep you from trying. When you have a recipe and can wade through finding the ingredients and finally put it all together AND IT WORKS, THEN you’re ready to tackle the other stuff that experienced soapers know. This I am saying from experience and knowing my personal learning style(visual).
   These recipes will help a lot of first timers as well as 2nd timers, 3rd timers and on? I especially like the single bar recipe. Awesome!
   Thank you!

5. 

   NikudoMay 29, 2017 at 10:35 am - Reply

   Hi! How many soaps do you get from the 1pound recipe? I have the regular soap moulds

   See Also

   Kiddie Calm Tea Recipe - Studio Botanica

   • 

     TammieOctober 29, 2018 at 2:23 pm - Reply

     Nikudo, the amount of soap bars a 1lb recipe yields will depend greatly on the size and shape of the mould you use – or how big or small you cut the soap. However that being said, I usually get anywhere from 4-6 bars. You can also measure liquid in your moulds prior to making your soap to see how much it will yield… for example: 1lb of liquid equals 16oz of liquid – so pour 16oz of water into your mould(s) to see how it fits.

6. 

   LisaApril 28, 2017 at 11:08 pm - Reply

   I used to be able to buy a bucket of pre-measured oils for an 8 lb batch. does anyone know where I might find something similar?

   • 

     PaulineJune 21, 2017 at 8:20 am - Reply

     I think Brambeberry do a pre-measured soap oil mix Lisa.

7. 

   mp3juiceJune 4, 2016 at 5:03 pm - Reply

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8. 

   MeadowsNovember 26, 2013 at 10:24 am - Reply

   Hi Amanda, thanks for these recipes. I want to try the one bar recipe. Which scales would you recommend for this, but also for making larger batches also? And where to purchase.

9. 

   AnnApril 19, 2013 at 10:32 pm - Reply

   I just want to thank you for a wonderful websit. I’m new to soap making and your website has been very helpful. I would like to try the one bar recipe, but don’t want to use the palm oil. Can I use a different oil, and what would be a good substitue?

10. 

    GloriaJanuary 23, 2013 at 10:00 pm - Reply

    HOWDY! Glad you made it home safely.
    I am curious about how much fragrance would you suggest for the one bar recipe.
    Regards
    Gloria

    • 

      AmandaJanuary 24, 2013 at 8:37 am - Reply

      Hey! I would use about 5-8 grams of fragrance.

11. 

    StarlaJanuary 16, 2013 at 8:53 am - Reply

    You have no directions for making the soap, just the recipes. I am interested in the one-bar soap recipe, do I make it with the same standard cold process soap directions? With the one-bar soap do I need to make sure the lye/water and oils are the same temperature before combining? TY

    • 

      AmandaJanuary 16, 2013 at 9:07 am - Reply

      Here are directions for making soap. The temperatures do not need to be the same. https://lovinsoap.com/2011/06/cold-process-soap/

12. 

    iheartsoapJanuary 10, 2011 at 8:17 pm - Reply

    It makes a nice hard bar. Soap calc isn’t that accurate when it comes to olive oil. It treats it as a soft bar. But if you give this a 4-6 week cure…you’ll be very happy with it. Let me know how it works!

    Amanda

13. 

    DMCCJanuary 10, 2011 at 6:52 pm - Reply

    I am going to try the Shea Butter Bar recipe tonight. I’ve never soaped with that much shea before! I love the numbers when I put it through soapcalc, but I’m not sure about the hardness. What are your comments on this recipe and the soap qualities? Thanks.

14. 

    MissySeptember 21, 2010 at 3:37 pm - Reply

    I tried your garden soap for my very first soap-making endeavor, and it performed perfectly! I didn’t add the cornmeal, but I think next time I will. Thanks for providing such a simple and successful recipe.

    • 

      iheartsoapSeptember 22, 2010 at 3:31 pm - Reply

      Yay, I’m so glad! I love garden soap.

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