Uplifting orange is paired with skin healing calendula, oatmeal and goat’s milk in this easy-to-make melt and pour soap recipe. Perfect for all skin types.
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I love creating new things.
Baked goods, blankets, t-shirt designs with my Cricut, marketing materials for my graphic design clients and everything in between. Just the other day I made my first homemade candle using soy wax and an apple fragrance. There are so many projects to fuel my creativity.
When I learned that you could make your own soap at home using natural ingredients and herbs that I grew in my backyard, I was hooked. “Count me in!”, I thought. The best part was learning that I could simplify the soap making process and use a melt and pour base. No need to use lye or have to wait weeks for my soap to be ready. I could easily cut the soap base into cubes, melt and add in whatever herbs, fragrances or additives I wanted.
This soothing calendula and oatmeal soap recipe is one of my family’s favorites. It includes our favorite herb, calendula — which we love adding into many of our body care products, teas, poultices and supplements — as well as moisturizing oatmeal and energizing orange essential oil. The goat’s milk is one of the most nourishing soap bases available. It has an excellent lather that makes you feel squeaky clean after your shower.
Benefits of Using Calendula in Your Homemade Soap
Calendula (aka the pot marigold) is a beautiful, cheery herb that not only looks lovely in your garden but also has wondrous healing benefits. It has antibiotic and anti-inflammatory properties, helps to decrease pain and accelerates cell division in your body helping to heal your body faster. Our favorite way to use calendula is in homemade body care products like soaps, salves and lotions.
Why Is Oatmeal Good For Your Skin
Oats not only are a good exfoliant for your skin but they are also a great natural ingredient to soothe dry, irritated or inflamed areas on your body.
Reasons to Use Orange Essential Oil
There are several great uses for orange essential oil. I love using it in my homemade hand soap and all purpose cleaners. The aroma of sweet orange oil is uplifting and smells delightful. When added to the calendula and oatmeal soap recipe, it can reduce acne, support sore joints and muscles and diminish cellulite (yes, please!). If the scent of orange isn’t your thing, lavender is a great alternative.
Watch the Video Tutorial
How to Make Goat’s Milk Melt and Pour Soap
Makes: 6-10 bars of soap (depending on the mold you use)
Ingredients
2 lbs (32 ounces) goats milk soap base
1/2 cup (4 g) dried calendula flowers
2 Tbs organic oatmeal
1/2 Tbs plus 2 tsp orange essential oil
Soap mold (I used this floral mold from Hobby Lobby)
Chop the goat’s milk soap base into small cubes to make melting quicker. In a heatproof glass bowl, add the soap base and set on top of a saucepan with a few inches of water inside the pan. Stir occasionally until the soap is completely melted.
While the soap base is melting, add the dried calendula flowers and oatmeal to a spice grinder. Blend until the mixture has become a smooth powder. Set aside.
Remove the bowl from heat. Add in the oatmeal mixture along with the orange essential oil.
Allow the soap to cool for 5-10 minutes or until the temperature is 125-130 degrees. This will help prevent the oatmeal mixture from falling to the bottom of the soap. (I learned this trick from Easy Homemade Melt and Pour Soap book – thank you Jan Berry!)
Pour the melted soap into your silicone mold. Leave it in a cool, dry place for 1-2 hours or until it hardens completely.
Unmold and store in a sealed container out of direct sunlight.
Do you enjoy making homemade soap? Try out my vanilla mocha soap recipe. Perfect for coffee lovers!
Calendula & Oatmeal Soap
Materials
- 2 lbs (32 ounces) goats milk soap base
- 1/2 cup (4 g) dried calendula flowers
- 2 Tbs organic oatmeal
- 1/2 Tbs plus 2 tsp orange essential oil
- Soap mold (I used this floral mold from Hobby Lobby)
Instructions
Chop the goat’s milk soap base into small cubes to make melting quicker. In a heatproof glass bowl, add the soap base and set on top of a saucepan with a few inches of water inside the pan. Stir occasionally until the soap is completely melted.
While the soap base is melting, add the dried calendula flowers and oatmeal to a spice grinder. Blend until the mixture has become a smooth powder. Set aside.
Remove the bowl from heat. Add in the oatmeal mixture along with the orange essential oil.
Allow the soap to cool for 5-10 minutes or until the temperature is 125-130 degrees. This will help prevent the oatmeal mixture to fall to the bottom of the soap.
Pour the melted soap into your silicone mold. Leave it in a cool, dry place for 1-2 hours or until it hardens completely.
Unmold and store in a sealed container out of direct sunlight.
Pin for Later!
Soothing to the skin and smells delightful! Super easy to make and much better than any store bought soap!
I didn’t realize all the benefits to the ingredients in this soap! I’m thankful you explain all the wonderful benefits! Praise God for his divine creation!
Which brand of soap base did you use? Is it moisturizing and does it have lather?
My favorite brand of goats milk soap base is from Our Earth’s Secrets. You can purchase it from Amazon (https://amzn.to/4de0JHT). I also have had success with soap bases from Brambleberry and Bulk Apothecary. Yes, I have found that is keeps my skin moisturized and foams up nicely in the shower or sink.