This lavender soap recipe is a variation on Nana’s Lavender Soap – to soothe my vegan friends skin, this soap has no goatmilk.
Lavender essential oil has been known to be soothing to dry, itchy skin; calms the mind and eases stress. Lavender eo has been used to treat various skin disorders because of it’s antiseptic and anti-fungal properties, such as acne, wrinkles, and psoriasis. Adding lavender oil to chamomile helps eczema.
I used a few different base recipes, but my all-time favorite was a very simple one.
2 pounds
24 oz. Olive Oil (75)
8 oz. Palm Kernel Oil (25%)
4.38 oz. Lye (6% superfat)
8.8 oz. lavender tea *
1.5 oz. lavender essential oil
2 TBSP lavender powder
* This is your lye amount x 2.
To make lavender tea, heat water amount (plus extra a little extra) to boiling. Pour over lavender buds and let infuse for 10 minutes or more. I usually do this the night before and leave to infuse the whole time. Once done, filter out the lavender buds and chill the tea.
When the tea is sufficiently chilled, add your lye (remember, add your lye TO the tea, not the other way around). I put my lye mixture container into a bowl a cold water to cool – (sometimes adding ice, depending on how quickly I’m wanting to get things going).
Once mixed and set to cooling, put aside (in a safe place!).
Measure your Palm Kernel Oil (PKO) and melt (not hot, just melted) – I have used a microwave in the past to do this, just make sure your container is microwave safe. If you are able, a stove top works well.
While your PKO is melting, measure your lavender essential oil and lavender powder into separate containers (I always use glass for my essential and fragrance oils).
Have your mold clean, lined and at the ready.
When your PKO is melted, add the olive oil. Feeling the side of the pot, it should not be hot. I prefer working with all the ingredients at a luke-warm temperature. It allows for more time.
Now, your lye mixture should be cooler to the touch and your oils cooler to the touch… again, think “luke warm”.
Have your stick blender (immersion blender) at hand and ready. Slowly add your lye mixture to your oils (note: always add the lye TO the oil). Blending while you pour…
Bring your soap mixture to trace (trace is when your spoon or blender leaves a trail and takes a minute to disappear back into the mixture). Once trace has been reached, add your lavender powder, mixing, then your essential oil, mixing..
Everything should be mixed well, now pour into your mold. I do not insulate my soap, I put it on a shelf for about 24 hours before I unmold and cut. Once cut, I leave on a shelf for another 24 hours before I bevel edges.
Give it a couple weeks before using, though a good month would be best as the soap will harden up nicely over time.
{ 3 comments… read them below or add one }
This will be my very first attempt at making soap. I love lavender and grow lots of it in our garden. Do you think this recipe is a good choice for my first time? What is lavender powder?
Many thanks,
Cheri
Hi Cheri,
This is a super easy recipe for soap. It makes a nice hard bar with good lather too. Might take a few weeks (or more if you have the time) to “cure” (this will make it harder too).
Lavender powder is just super finely ground lavender buds. If you use the actual buds of the lavender flower, they tend to turn brown and look very similar to mouse poops (ick).. so you could either get some powder, or sprinkle the buds on top after you’ve poured it into the mold (they’ll likely stay prettier that way).
Any additives you use that aren’t *very* finely ground will be a bit scratchy when you use it – you can even feel the finely ground, to a degree.
Experiment with small batches and have fun.
That’s interesting that you use lavender tea in the soap. I guess maybe that is normal I’ve just never looked into how to make soap. :) Looks like a fun recipe to try.