How to Make Herbal Soap

Herbal Soaps - Photo by carolochs.com (simply soaps)

These days, everything is better if we go for natural and herbal. The human body especially the skin deserves pampering and natural treatment too, so selling herbal soap should not be a bad idea. The better news is that you can actually start your very own herbal soap business in the comfort of your home.

What is herbal soap? Herbal soaps are those soaps that are mixed with natural ingredients such as juice, extract, or even chopped leaves and petals of medicinal plants. 

How to make herbal soap is mostly similar to that of general soap-making, the trickier part is choosing which herbs to put into your herbal bar soap. Check out below some selected medicinal plants that you can choose from.

Utensils:
Plastic pail
Wooden ladle or bamboo stick
Glass or cup
Mortar and pestle
Cheese cloth or strainer
Knife
Chopping board
Cooking pot (preferably made of clay, enamel, stainless or glass)
Stove
Plastic molders


AKAPULKO AND GUAVA SOAP:

How to prepare a decoction:

1. Wash the leaves thoroughly and chop or cut in small pieces.
2. Measure 1 glass of chopped fresh leaves and 2 glasses of water.
3. Let it boil for 15 minutes (start timing when water start to boil).
4. After 15 minutes, remove from fire and strain in a cheesecloth. Set aside and let it cool.

Materials:

1 glass Caustic Soda (NaOH)

3 glasses Akapulko or Guava decoction, cooled

5 glasses cooking oil

Coloring powder (optional)

Procedure:

1. Prepare the materials and the utensils needed.
2. Measure 1 glass of caustic soda and 3 glasses of Akapulko or Guava decoction and pour into a plastic pail.
3. Mix well by stirring continuously using a wooden ladle or bamboo stick. Use only one direction in mixing the mixture. Stir until the caustic soda is dissolved.
4. Pour 5 glasses cooking oil into the mixture.
5. Continue stirring until a consistency of a condensed mick is achieved.
6. Pour the soap mixture into desired plastic molders. Set aside and let it cool to harden.
7. After 4-5 hours, remove the soap from the molder.
8. Allow 30 days of ageing before packing. Label the soaps.

Indications:

Akapulko leaves - good for an anti-fungal infections

Guava leaves - an antiseptic for wounds

KAMIAS, CALAMANSI, PAPAYA, CUCUMBER AND RADISH SOAPS

Materials:

1 glass Caustic Soda (NaOH)

3 glasses water

5 glasses cooking oil

1/2 glass juice or extract

Procedure: 

1. Prepare the materials and the utensils needed.
2. Measure 1 glass of caustic soda and 3 glasses of water and pour into a plastic pail.
3. Mix well by stirring continuously using a wooden ladle or bamboo stick. Use only one direction in mixing the mixture. Stir until the caustic soda is dissolved.
4. Pour 5 glasses cooking oil into the mixture.
5. Continue stirring until a consistency of a condensed milk is achieved and add 1/2 glass of juice or extract.
6. Pour the soap mixture into desired plastic molders. Set aside and let it cool to harden.
7. After 4-5 hours, remove that soap from the molder.
8. Allow 30 days of ageing before packing. Label the soaps.

Indications:

Kamias - fruit extract or juice (bleaching soap)

Calamansi - fruit extract or juice (bleaching soap)

Cucumber - fruit extract or juice (moisturizer)

Papaya - extract from fresh leaves (bleaching/moisturizer)

Radish - extract from the stem (moisturizer)

REMINDER:

Caustic Soda is harmful to health and so, make the necessary precaution. Kindly use mask and gloves to protect your body. In case of direct contact to the skin, wash immediately affected skin vinegar or anything sour and then wash it with soap and water.