A craft of our ancestors, still in use today
Some of the benefits of solid soap:
A bar of soap can be made at home with food-grade ingredients, most of which are probably already in your kitchen cupboard.
Soap is made without producing excess plastic waste.
Herbs and Essential oils make it an excellent choice for sensitive skin
Making soaps is not only a delightful adventure for yourself but also makes a wonderful gift for friends, family, or teachers.
Recently, I hosted a small workshop offering a glimpse into the art of making homemade cold-pressed herbal soap. We learned about the benefits of using herbs like chamomile, lavender, and comfrey leaf, which can be infused into the soap to help heal and soothe the skin.
Chamomile is known for its soothing and calming properties. It's great for sensitive skin and can help reduce inflammation and irritation. I refer to my lovely Chamomile flowers as the 'little mamas', because that's exactly what they are: Loving, gentle, and firm.
Lavender is another popular herb for soap making. It's known for its antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, making it an excellent choice for those with oily-prone or sensitive skin.
Comfrey leaf is a lesser-known herb for soap making, but it's rich in allantoin, which can help soothe and heal damaged skin and help 'weave' chapped skin back together. An amazing herb!
To add herbs to our soap, we created strong infused oils and water-based infusions for our lye solution and then proceeded with the steps as directed. A really simple extra step to give your soap nature's medicinal properties.
Homemade herbal soap from scratch can be a fun and rewarding hobby. It's also an excellent way to create natural, nourishing, and healing soap in a more sustainable way and without harsh chemicals that can damage our skin.
If you're interested in learning more about soap making or trying out our herbal soap recipe with a step-by-step guide, consider joining our 12-month course that not only teaches the art of soap making but to live in harmony with the season and our planet. It's a great way to learn new (ancient) skills, connect with like-minded individuals who share a passion for natural and sustainable living, and slow down for a mindful and simple way of life.