Creating your own natural soap can be a wonderfully rewarding DIY project.
Hot process soap making, often done in a crock pot, offers a quicker path to enjoying your handmade creations.
These recipes focus on using wholesome ingredients to craft soaps that are gentle on your skin and delightful to use.
Get ready to explore the simple joy of making your own lye-based soaps!.
Table of Contents
1. Lavender, Rosemary, and Vanilla Hot Process Soap
This luxurious hot process soap combines the calming scent of lavender, the clarifying aroma of rosemary, and the soothing sweetness of vanilla.
Infused with French Pink Clay for a wonderful slip, it creates an amazing lather that's great for your skin, mind, and spirit.
You can even add lavender flowers for a touch of natural exfoliation..
Key Ingredients:
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Rosemary Essential Oil
- Vanilla Essential Oil
- French Pink Clay
- Organic Lavender Flowers
Benefits:
- Calming
- Clarifying
- Soothing
- Exfoliating
Pro Tip: The hot process method means you don't have to wait weeks for your soap to cure before using it, though a few days can help it harden further.
Get the Recipe: Lavender, Rosemary, and Vanilla Hot Process Soap
2. Fluid Hot Process Soap with Yogurt or Sodium Lactate
Achieve beautiful swirls and a more fluid consistency in your hot process soap by adding simple ingredients like yogurt or sodium lactate.
This technique makes your rustic soap designs more artful, allowing for lovely patterns while maintaining the quick-use benefits of hot process soap.
It’s a great way to add a creative flair to your handmade bars..
Key Ingredients:
- Yogurt
- Sodium Lactate
Benefits:
- Artistic Swirls
- Easier Molding
- Rustic Charm
Pro Tip: For a more fluid batter perfect for swirling, try adding plain Greek yogurt or a small amount of sodium lactate to your soap batter.
Get the Recipe: Fluid Hot Process Soap with Yogurt or Sodium Lactate
3. Spearmint, Frankincense, and Eucalyptus Hot Process Soap
This refreshing hot process soap recipe is a blend of invigorating spearmint, grounding frankincense, and crisp eucalyptus.
Made with natural nettle powder for color and a wonderful texture, this soap is a treat for the senses.
It produces an amazing lather and leaves your skin feeling clean and refreshed..
Key Ingredients:
- Spearmint Essential Oil
- Frankincense Essential Oil
- Eucalyptus Essential Oil
- Nettle Powder
Benefits:
- Invigorating
- Grounding
- Refreshing
- Great Lather
Pro Tip: Always wear safety gloves and glasses when working with lye. The 'zap test' on your tongue can be used to check if the soap is ready, but pH strips are a safer alternative.
Get the Recipe: Spearmint, Frankincense, and Eucalyptus Hot Process Soap
4. Honey Bastille Hot Process Soap for Sensitive Skin
This gentle Honey Bastille Hot Process Soap is crafted with a high percentage of olive oil, making it incredibly soothing and ideal for sensitive skin and babies.
The addition of honey provides extra skin-loving benefits, while lavender essential oil adds a calming aroma.
It’s a wonderfully mild and nourishing soap..
Key Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Honey
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Vanilla Essential Oil
Benefits:
- Soothing
- Moisturizing
- Gentle
- Hypoallergenic
Pro Tip: Bastille soap contains at least 70% olive oil, offering a very gentle and moisturizing experience compared to pure Castile soap.
Get the Recipe: Honey Bastille Hot Process Soap for Sensitive Skin
5. Goat Milk and Shea Butter Hot Process Soap
This quick and easy hot process goat milk soap recipe is perfect for homesteaders.
It combines nourishing goat milk with moisturizing coconut oil and creamy shea butter for a super-soft bar.
The hot process method means you can use your soap very soon after making it, making it ideal for busy lives..
Key Ingredients:
- Goat Milk
- Coconut Oil
- Shea Butter
- Sodium Hydroxide
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Nourishing
- Gentle on Skin
- Quick to Use
Pro Tip: While you can use hot process soap right away, allowing it to cure for a few weeks will result in a harder, longer-lasting, and more lather-rich bar.
Get the Recipe: Goat Milk and Shea Butter Hot Process Soap
6. Basic Hot Process Soap with Olive and Coconut Oil
This straightforward hot process soap recipe uses simple ingredients like olive oil and coconut oil, made conveniently in a crock pot.
It’s a fantastic way to dive into soap making without a long curing time.
The result is a functional, homemade soap that’s great for everyday use..
Key Ingredients:
- Olive Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Distilled Water
- Lye (Sodium Hydroxide)
Benefits:
- Simple Ingredients
- Quick to Use
- Homemade Goodness
- Customizable Scent
Pro Tip: Always measure your ingredients by weight using a digital scale for the most accurate and safe soap making results.
Get the Recipe: Basic Hot Process Soap with Olive and Coconut Oil
7. Easy Crock Pot Hot Process Soap
Learn how to make real, handmade soap quickly and easily in a crock pot with this beginner-friendly hot process recipe.
This method speeds up saponification, allowing you to use your beautiful, natural soap much sooner than with cold process methods.
It’s a fast, easy, and healthy way to create your own soap..
Key Ingredients:
- Natural Oils
- Lye
- Water
Benefits:
- Fast
- Easy
- Immediately Useful
- Healthy Ingredients
Pro Tip: The hot process method is a favorite because it significantly reduces the long waiting time often associated with traditional soap making.
Get the Recipe: Easy Crock Pot Hot Process Soap
8. Rosemary and Mint Soap Recipe
Experience a refreshing spa-like feeling with this Rosemary and Mint soap.
The invigorating scent of rosemary, known for its skin benefits, combined with cooling mint, creates a wonderfully fragrant and uplifting bar.
It offers a great lather and is a favorite for its balanced scent and skin-loving properties..
Key Ingredients:
- Rosemary Essential Oil
- Mint Essential Oil
- Oils (calculated)
Benefits:
- Refreshing Scent
- Invigorating
- Soothing Properties
- Great Lather
Pro Tip: While you can substitute essential oils, it's best not to substitute the base oils in a soap recipe as they are precisely calculated with the lye.
Get the Recipe: Rosemary and Mint Soap Recipe
9. Holiday Spice Hot Process Soap
This delightful hot process soap recipe is infused with the warming scents of orange, clove, and rosemary essential oils, creating a truly festive aroma.
Colored naturally with cinnamon, it offers a vibrant and refreshing spicy scent that’s perfect for the holidays and beyond.
It retains its natural glycerin, leaving your skin feeling wonderfully moisturized..
Key Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Almond oil
- Shea butter
- Castor oil
- Distilled water
- Lye (sodium hydroxide)
- Orange essential oil
- Clove essential oil
- Rosemary essential oil
- Ground Cinnamon
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Invigorating scent
- Natural colorants
Pro Tip: For a touch of color, you can experiment with natural powders like Moroccan Red Clay for a reddish hue or Nettle powder for a green tint.
Get the Recipe: Holiday Spice Hot Process Soap
10. Simple Coconut Oil Hot Process Soap for Skin & Laundry
Discover the incredible versatility of this simple 3-ingredient coconut oil soap! It boasts an amazing lather and is so easy to make.
You can use this wonderfully cleansing bar for your body care routine, leaving your skin feeling fresh, or even adapt it for laundry soap for a powerful, natural clean..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut oil
- Lye (NaOH)
- Water
- Essential oils (optional)
Benefits:
- Amazing lather
- Versatile (skin & laundry)
- Simple ingredients
Pro Tip: If you're making this as a body bar, consider adding essential oils like lavender or chamomile for a soothing touch.
Get the Recipe: Simple Coconut Oil Hot Process Soap for Skin & Laundry
11. Moisturizing Shea Butter Cold Process Soap
Indulge your skin with this luxurious cold-process shea butter soap recipe.
Shea butter is renowned for its deeply moisturizing properties, and when combined with fractionated coconut oil, it creates a silky smooth bar that nourishes your skin.
It’s a wonderfully gentle, homemade option for the whole family..
Key Ingredients:
- Shea butter
- Fractionated coconut oil
- Orange essential oil (optional)
Benefits:
- Deeply moisturizing
- Silky smooth feel
- Nourishing for skin
Pro Tip: You can leave out the essential oils for a beautifully scented bar that relies solely on the natural fragrance of shea butter.
Get the Recipe: Moisturizing Shea Butter Cold Process Soap
12. Exfoliating Sea Salt Hot Process Soap
Achieve that spa-like feeling at home with this hot process sea salt soap recipe! The sea salt provides gentle exfoliation, buffing away dead skin cells and leaving your skin feeling incredibly clean, soft, and smooth.
It's a fantastic way to make your own luxurious bars that last longer..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Tallow Beef
- Avocado Oil
- Castor oil
- Cocoa butter
- Sea salt
- Distilled water
- Sodium hydroxide (lye)
- Essential oil blend (optional)
Benefits:
- Gentle exfoliation
- Soft, smooth skin
- Long-lasting bars
Pro Tip: Experiment with pink Himalayan salt for a beautiful color and gentle exfoliation.
Get the Recipe: Exfoliating Sea Salt Hot Process Soap
13. Lavender Hot Process Soap
Enjoy the calming scent of lavender with this lovely hot process soap recipe.
It’s designed to create a beautiful, possibly two-toned bar, colored naturally with fuchsia lab color for a pretty aesthetic.
This recipe retains its natural glycerin, offering a moisturizing cleanse that’s perfect for winding down..
Key Ingredients:
- Palm oil
- Coconut oil
- Olive oil
- Rice bran oil
- Castor oil
- Water
- Lye (sodium hydroxide)
- Sodium lactate
- Lavender fragrance oil
- Fuchsia lab color (optional)
Benefits:
- Calming lavender scent
- Moisturizing
- Visually appealing
Pro Tip: Adding sodium lactate to the lye solution can help achieve a smoother soap consistency for easier molding.
Get the Recipe: Lavender Hot Process Soap
14. Sexy Wild Man Hot Process Soap
This popular hot process soap recipe is a real winner, especially loved by men for its deep, seductive scent blend of cedar, cinnamon, and lemongrass.
It's incredibly moisturizing and lathers up super well, leaving your skin feeling clean and refreshed.
The rustic appearance, enhanced by natural spice coloring, makes it a unique and appealing bar for anyone seeking a woodsy-spicy aroma..
Key Ingredients:
- Cedarwood Essential Oil
- Cinnamon Essential Oil
- Lemongrass Essential Oil
- Spices (for color)
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Lathers well
- Unique unisex scent
Pro Tip: You can use the scents and colors from this recipe to create an easy melt-and-pour soap option if you prefer not to work with lye.
Get the Recipe: Sexy Wild Man Hot Process Soap
15. Moisturizing Hot Process Soap with Avocado, Coconut, and Palm Oil
This hot process soap recipe is perfect for beginners, ready to use in just a few days with no long curing time needed.
It offers great moisturizing benefits and a nice lather, thanks to a blend of avocado oil, coconut oil, and palm oil.
The addition of Greek yogurt boosts its skin-softening properties, creating a creamy, nourishing bar that cleans effectively..
Key Ingredients:
- Avocado Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Palm Oil
- Greek Yogurt
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Great lather
- Ready to use quickly
Pro Tip: For a smoother finish, gently pat the top of the soap with a wet cloth after pouring it into the mold.
Get the Recipe: Moisturizing Hot Process Soap with Avocado, Coconut, and Palm Oil
16. Luck of the Irish Ombré Hot Process Soap
Celebrate St.
Patrick's Day with this vibrant ombré hot process soap! Ready in just 1-2 days, it features beautiful green layers defined by shimmering gold mica.
Made with coconut oil, olive oil, rice bran oil, shea butter, and avocado oil, this soap provides a rich lather and a clean feel.
It's a fast and fun way to create a festive and moisturizing bar..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Olive Oil
- Rice Bran Oil
- Shea Butter
- Avocado Oil
- Chrome Green Oxide
- Gold Sparkle Mica
Benefits:
- Fast turnaround
- Rich lather
- Visually appealing
Pro Tip: To prevent layers from separating, use a thin layer of mica and work quickly as the hot process soap thickens fast.
Get the Recipe: Luck of the Irish Ombré Hot Process Soap
17. Budget-Friendly Hot Process Soap with Coconut Oil and Lard
Create your own natural, budget-friendly soap with this simple hot process recipe.
Using common grocery store ingredients like coconut oil, lard, and soybean oil, this soap cleans well, is sufficiently moisturizing, and has a pleasant feel.
It's a fantastic way to make a basic, unscented bar that's cost-effective and wonderful for everyday use..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Lard
- Soybean/Vegetable Oil
- Salt
Benefits:
- Budget-friendly
- Cleans well
- Moisturizing
Pro Tip: This recipe is also called 'Prepper-Friendly Soap' due to its cheap, long-lasting ingredients, making it ideal for stocking up.
Get the Recipe: Budget-Friendly Hot Process Soap with Coconut Oil and Lard
18. Warm Sugar Cookie Vanilla & Cinnamon Hot Process Soap
Indulge in the comforting scent of a fresh batch of sugar cookies with this vanilla and cinnamon hot process soap! This easy-to-make recipe results in a good, hard soap bar with a lovely lather.
The warming combination of vanilla, cinnamon, and a touch of clove essential oil makes it a perfect homemade gift, especially during the holidays..
Key Ingredients:
- Vanilla Essential Oil
- Cinnamon Essential Oil
- Clove Essential Oil
Benefits:
- Warming scent
- Lathers well
- Hard bar
Pro Tip: This recipe is ideal for procrastinators, as hot process soap doesn't require the long curing time of cold process soap.
Get the Recipe: Warm Sugar Cookie Vanilla & Cinnamon Hot Process Soap
19. Refreshing Black Spruce Forest Hot Process Soap
Experience the crisp scent of a winter spruce forest with this refreshing black spruce hot process soap.
It offers a lovely lather and a clean, invigorating feel.
The calming and centering aromatherapy benefits of black spruce essential oil make this soap a wonderful choice for creating a sense of peace and positivity in your home..
Key Ingredients:
- Black Spruce Essential Oil
Benefits:
- Refreshing scent
- Calming aromatherapy
- Good lather
Pro Tip: Feel free to swap out the essential oils in this recipe for your favorites to create a personalized scent.
Get the Recipe: Refreshing Black Spruce Forest Hot Process Soap
20. Hot Process Oatmeal and Honey Soap
This gentle hot process soap recipe is a dream for sensitive skin, blending finely ground oatmeal with nourishing honey.
It's designed for everyday use, offering a creamy and mild cleanse.
The hot process method means you won't have to wait weeks for it to cure, providing that satisfying instant gratification..
Key Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Sweet almond oil
- Castor oil
- Water
- Lye (sodium hydroxide)
- Tamanu oil
- Powdered oatmeal
- Honey
Benefits:
- Gentle cleansing
- Nourishing for sensitive skin
- Quick curing time
Pro Tip: If you have allergies, babassu oil can be a good substitute for coconut oil, but be sure to adjust the lye amount accordingly.
Get the Recipe: Hot Process Oatmeal and Honey Soap
21. Basic Hot Process Soap with Natural Ingredients
This basic hot process soap recipe is your reliable foundation for creating a timeless, natural bar.
It uses a blend of olive oil, palm kernel oil, and coconut oil to create a hard, shelf-stable bar rich in glycerin.
It's perfect for those with dry skin, offering nourishing properties and a hint of natural goodness..
Key Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Palm kernel oil
- Coconut oil
- Castor oil
- Lye (sodium hydroxide)
- Distilled water
Benefits:
- Hard, long-lasting bar
- Glycerin-rich for dry skin
- Customizable with scents and colors
Pro Tip: For a better, longer-lasting bar, allow your hot process soap to cure for at least a week after it has hardened.
Get the Recipe: Basic Hot Process Soap with Natural Ingredients
22. Hot Process Soap Making with Crock Pot
Explore the ease of hot process soap making with this straightforward crock pot method.
This approach speeds up saponification, meaning your soap is ready to use much sooner.
It's a forgiving and fun way to create a rustic, handmade bar that boasts a great lather and allows for easy customization..
Key Ingredients:
- Base Oils (olive, coconut, palm, tallow, lard)
- Lye (Sodium Hydroxide)
- Water or Alternative Liquid (milk, herbal teas)
- Optional Additives (essential oils, clays)
Benefits:
- Faster usability
- Rustic texture
- Better scent retention
Pro Tip: To help retain fragrance in your hot process soap, add essential oils or fragrances after the soap has fully cooked and cooled slightly, below 180 degrees Fahrenheit.
Get the Recipe: Hot Process Soap Making with Crock Pot
23. Beginner-Friendly Oatmeal Honey Soap
This natural oatmeal honey soap recipe is perfect for beginners, combining the soothing power of oats with the nourishing properties of honey.
It's a simple, skin-loving soap that's easy to make, even if you're new to soapmaking.
Enjoy the satisfaction of creating a delightful, natural bar for everyday use..
Key Ingredients:
- Olive oil
- Coconut oil
- Tallow or lard
- Distilled water
- Sodium hydroxide (lye)
- Powdered oatmeal
- Honey
Benefits:
- Exfoliates the skin
- Soothes with honey
- Great for beginners
Pro Tip: For a smoother texture, run rolled oats through an electric coffee grinder until they are finely powdered before adding them to your recipe.
Get the Recipe: Beginner-Friendly Oatmeal Honey Soap
24. Holiday Hot Process Soap with Cinnamon and Vanilla
This delightful hot process soap recipe is perfect for any season, with a warm and inviting scent of cinnamon, vanilla, and patchouli.
Colored with natural rose kaolin clay and organic cinnamon, it's not only beautiful but also lathers well and leaves your skin feeling moisturized.
It's a beloved recipe that's easy for both beginners and experienced soap makers..
Key Ingredients:
- Cinnamon
- Vanilla
- Patchouli Essential Oils
- Rose Kaolin Clay
- Organic Ground Cinnamon
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Lathers well
- Invigorating scent
Pro Tip: The scent of cinnamon is known to be a wonderful mood booster, making this soap a joy to use daily.
Get the Recipe: Holiday Hot Process Soap with Cinnamon and Vanilla
25. Goat Milk and Honey Hot Process Soap
Experience the luxurious feel of goat milk and honey in this homemade hot process soap.
Known for its incredible moisturizing properties, goat milk helps to create a creamy, gentle bar that nourishes your skin.
This recipe is a testament to how accessible and rewarding making milk-based soaps can be, even for beginners..
Key Ingredients:
- Goat Milk
- Honey
Benefits:
- Deeply moisturizing
- Nourishing
- Gentle on skin
Pro Tip: Using goat milk instead of water can result in a soap with a silkier feel and added skin-loving nutrients.
Get the Recipe: Goat Milk and Honey Hot Process Soap
26. Salt Spa Bars with Coconut Oil and Coconut Milk
Indulge your skin with these invigorating salt spa bars made using the hot process method.
Primarily featuring coconut oil, these bars create a fantastic lather and leave your skin feeling incredibly soft and smooth.
The addition of coconut milk adds a creamy texture for an extra touch of luxury..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Sea Salt
- Coconut Milk
Benefits:
- Exfoliating
- Silky skin
- Long-lasting bars
Pro Tip: These salt bars are perfect for exfoliating and invigorating your skin, leaving it feeling refreshed.
Get the Recipe: Salt Spa Bars with Coconut Oil and Coconut Milk
27. Warm Cider Hot Process Soap
Embrace the cozy scents of autumn with this warm cider hot process soap.
Made with a blend of nourishing oils like palm, coconut, rice bran, shea butter, and castor oil, it offers powerful antioxidant benefits and healing properties for dry or irritated skin.
This recipe is designed to be highly moisturizing and protective..
Key Ingredients:
- Palm Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Rice Bran Oil
- Shea Butter
- Castor Oil
- Warm Cider Fragrance Oil
Benefits:
- Highly moisturizing
- Antioxidant protection
- Soothing for irritated skin
Pro Tip: The Vitamin E in palm oil offers excellent protection against environmental damage, making this a skin-loving choice.
Get the Recipe: Warm Cider Hot Process Soap
28. Basic Coconut Oil & Shea Butter Hot Process Soap
This incredibly simple, four-ingredient hot process soap recipe is perfect for beginners.
Featuring coconut oil and shea butter, it creates a wonderfully moisturizing and solid bar with a great lather.
It’s a fantastic way to start your soap-making journey, focusing on core ingredients for effective cleansing..
Key Ingredients:
- Coconut Oil
- Shea Butter
- Water
- Sodium Hydroxide
Benefits:
- Moisturizing
- Great lather
- Easy to make
Pro Tip: This recipe is a great base for experimenting with natural colorants and fragrances once you're comfortable with the basics.
Get the Recipe: Basic Coconut Oil & Shea Butter Hot Process Soap
29. Natural Hot Process Soap with Olive, Coconut, and Palm Oils
This guide shows you how to create your own natural hot process soap from scratch.
It highlights the benefits of using base oils like olive, coconut, and palm for moisturizing, rich lather, and a hard bar.
You'll learn how to control ingredients for gentle, effective cleansing that's better for your skin and the environment..
Key Ingredients:
- Castor Oil
- Olive Oil
- Palm Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Distilled Water
- Lye (Sodium Hydroxide)
Benefits:
- Gentle on Skin
- Environmentally Friendly
- Creative Outlet
- Nourishing Properties
Pro Tip: Always prioritize safety when working with lye; wearing gloves and safety glasses is a must.
Get the Recipe: Natural Hot Process Soap with Olive, Coconut, and Palm Oils
30. Hot Process Soap for Preserving Essential Oils
Discover why hot process soap might be a better choice for preserving the delicate aromas and benefits of essential oils.
Unlike cold process, hot process allows for the addition of essential oils after the lye has been fully consumed, meaning their natural properties are better retained.
This leads to soaps with a more vibrant and lasting scent experience..
Key Ingredients:
- Essential Oils (e.g., Lavender, Ylang-Ylang)
- Natural Soap Base
Benefits:
- Preserves Essential Oil Aromas
- Gentler on Fragile Compounds
- Customizable Scents
Pro Tip: When adding essential oils, check their boiling points and ensure your soap has cooled below this temperature for best results.
Get the Recipe: Hot Process Soap for Preserving Essential Oils