Vegan soap is made from plant-based, all-natural ingredients like oils and fats derived from vegetables, herbs, and other plant portions.

Making plant-based soap is easy, and once you learn the art, you can transform simple natural ingredients and a vegan-friendly base into a skin-pampering herbal experience that nurtures your skin. 

We are here to guide you in this soap-making project that combines the earthy fragrance of thyme and calendula petals and the refreshing aroma of orange essential oil. You will get a luxurious soap bar that will rejuvenate your skin.

Gather the Ingredients  

This soap-making project’s foundational ingredient is a superior-quality, vegan-friendly and plant-based melt-and-pour soap base. This pre-made shea butter soap base eliminates the use of lye—making the process hassle-free and easier.

Next, you need orange essential oil to infuse the zesty aroma of uplifting citrus. To craft a more balanced and complex scent—add lavender or calendula essential oil. For natural colourants, use calendula petals to offer a yellow-orange colour to the soap. Use superior-quality calendula petals to achieve the best results.

Prep Up the Work Area

Clean a flat surface where you can work. Lay down a silicon mat or some parchment paper to secure the area. Gather all your supplies and ingredients.

Cut and Melt Your Soap Base

Take the shea butter soap base—cut it into small cubes, and add them to a microwave-safe bowl. Allow the soap base to microwave in 30-second bursts—and after every burst, stir it until it fully melts—achieving a liquid, smooth consistency.

Tip: While the soap base is still liquid, quickly add the other ingredients because the base rapidly hardens.

Add the Essential Oils

After melting the shea butter soap base—add all the essential oils of your choice. Begin with 12 to 15 drops of sweet orange essential oil, then add other complementary essential oils such as lavender or calendula. Stir the concoction gently to mix the oils into the liquid soap base.

Note: If you want to add colourants, do it at this point.

Incorporate Herbs and Petals

Gently fold the petals of dried calendula and finely diced fresh thyme—add them to the melted soap mixture and ensure they are distributed evenly throughout.

Pour the Mixture Into Moulds

Carefully empty the melted soap mixture into the silicone soap moulds. To make the soap bar more visually appealing, you may sprinkle some thyme and dried calendula petals on top—before the soap sets and solidifies.

Tip: Before adding thyme and calendula petals for embellishment, wait until the top slightly solidifies, or they may sink.

Let it Cool and Harden

After emptying the mixture into the silicon moulds, let the soap cool and harden at room temperature. This cooling and hardening process takes 5 to 6 hours, but we advise you to leave it overnight if you are using a big mould.

Unmold and Add Finishing Touches

After the soap hardens (typically 5 hours), gently push out the bar from the flexible silicon mould. You may also use a soap cutter to trim the edges of the soap bars—to give them a neat shape. Let your soap bars cure in a well-ventilated and dry area for a few couple of days—before using.

The most exciting part about crafting homemade vegan soaps is your freedom to create personalised and unique blends and fragrances based on your preferences. The real artistry of soap-making lies in combining herbs, dried flowers and essential oils harmoniously.