Handmade Frankincense and Myrrh Soap Recipe - Simple Life Mom (2024)

Posted byKelly Handmade Soap, Holidays, Homemade Soap Recipes33 Comments

Handmade Frankincense and Myrrh Soap Recipe - Simple Life Mom (1)

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A few of you have asked for my Christmas Soap recipes. I’ve shared my Pumpkin Spice Recipe. Over the next few days I’ll share a few more Christmas Soap recipes. If you’re just buying for gifts, you can find these in my shop. You may think these are coming out too early, but if you are going to make some soaps to use and give for the Holidays, you need to be making them NOW! So, here you go! A Golden Frankincense and Myrrh Soap Recipe.

I have these available in my shop for the Holidays, as well as other holiday soaps and gifts.

Handmade Frankincense and Myrrh Soap Recipe - Simple Life Mom (2)

Color

I wanted this soap to be slightly golden instead of just creamy in color. Obviously, it’s just more fun to call it Golden Frankincense and Myrrh!! That’s easy enough. There are a number of things that can be added to make a more golden color. I have a color guide I’ve put together for anyone wanting something different.

  1. Natural Additions to give you a yellow or golden color: turmeric, annato, ginger, and sometimes a bit of paprika to make it a bit richer in color. These don’t add a physical texture or spiciness to the soap. Paprika can give it small speckles, depending on how it is mixed, cured, and the size of the paprika particles. For this soap I’d suggest using turmeric with a small amount of paprika. I tried just turmeric the first time and it was a lovely “nacho cheese” color before it cured, so my daughter said. After curing it had only a slightly more golden color than my usual recipe. This is why I like to combine it with a little paprika to enrich the color.
  2. Or Add milk! Milk (cow or goat) will naturally give your soap a more golden color. Substitute a small amount of your water with milk and add your lye SLOWLY.

Scent

Honestly, Myrrh stinks. I’m sure there are people who love it, but I’m not one of them. I don’t hate it, but it’s not something I’d like to smell all day. Frankincense on the other hand is a scent I just can’t get enough of. Yet, I know it’s not the favorite of everyone either. Everyone’s different.

They both have a woody scent. After all, they both are tree saps. When you buy a good Myrrh essential oil it will be super thick. I actually dilute it 50% in a carrier oil and shake it like crazy before each use. I’ll then double whatever I put in a recipe so I get the correct amount. If you don’t, it will never come out of your dropper!

To make this into an AMAZING smelling soap, still getting the medicinal and “Christmasy” qualities you want, add another oil such as Orange, Lavender, Patchouli, Rose, Rosewood, or Sandalwood essential oil. I chose orange essential oil and it blended beautifully!

Handmade Frankincense and Myrrh Soap Recipe - Simple Life Mom (3)

Frankincense and Myrrh Soap Recipe

This makes 24 – 4oz bars. If you’d like to recalculate for a smaller batch try a calculator like soapcalc.net

Handmade Frankincense and Myrrh Soap Recipe

A wonderful Christmas time (or any time) soap recipe.

Prep Time1 hour hr

Insulation Time1 day d

Cure Time21 days d

Type: body bar

Superfat %: 5%

Keyword: christmas soap, frankincense, holiday soap

Makes: 3 pounds

Author: Kelly – Simple Life Mom

Ingredients

Instructions

  • Weigh and combine tallow, olive oil coconut oil, and cocoa butter in a large stainless steel pot. Melt and cool fats to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

    15 ounces tallow, 8 ounces olive oil, 8 ounces coconut oil, 1 ounces cocoa butter

  • Wearing a charcoal mask, gloves and safety glasses. Weigh water and lye. Add lye to water (not the other way around) OUTSIDE, being careful not to breathe in fumes. Cool to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.

    10 ounces water, 4.5 ounces lye

  • Add lye water to oils and stir with hand mixer on and off until light trace.

  • Remove a cups worth to a separate bowl and add turmeric and paprika. Combine until there are no clumps and add soap back into batch, mixing well (or wait and swirl it in after you pour your batch into your mold).

    1 tablespoon turmeric, 1/2 teaspoon paprika

  • Add essential oils and mix until well combined.

    0.5 ounce frankincense essential oil, 0.25 ounce myrrh essential oil, 0.25 ounce orange essential oil

  • Add to prepared mold and insulate if necessary. Let set for 24 hours before cutting and setting to cure for 3-6 weeks until hard.

What other soaps would you like to see? Any questions? Please leave a comment below!

Handmade Frankincense and Myrrh Soap Recipe - Simple Life Mom (5)

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Handmade Frankincense and Myrrh Soap Recipe - Simple Life Mom (2024)

FAQs

How many drops of essential oil for 1 pound of soap? ›

Essential oils should be added to a soap recipe at a rate of 5-10 drops per pound of base oil. Because the oils are so concentrated, you don't need as much essential oil when you pour soaps. -Measure essential oils and mix them together to create the desired scent.

How much essential oils to add to soap? ›

For a strong scent, you can add 0.7 ounces of fragrance or essential oil per pound of cold process soap. For melt and pour, you can add 0.3 ounces per pound. This number will vary based on what oil you choose. For instance, Cherry Almond Fragrance Oil is really strong.

What is the ratio of essential oils to melt and pour soap? ›

Essential oil soapmaking ratios

It is theoretically possible to use essential oils as part of any soapmaking process, but opting to use a Melt and Pour base is usually the most straightforward choice. As a general rule, you should aim for your essential oil (be it a single or a blend) to be around 3% of a bar of soap.

Can you rub pure frankincense on your skin? ›

When applied to the skin: Frankincense essential oil or gum extract is possibly safe. It might cause skin irritation in some people. When inhaled: Frankincense essential oil is possibly safe. There isn't enough reliable information to know what the side effects might be.

Can I dilute frankincense with olive oil? ›

The carrier oils that can be used for frankincense are fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, and sweet almond oil. Some additional carrier oils that can be used are avocado oil, macadamia nut oil, grapeseed oil, apricot kernel oil, extra virgin olive oil, and avocado oil.

What happens if you put too much essential oil in soap? ›

Wrong amount of oils and lye

Essentially, the lye turns the oil into soap. You have to have the right amount of oil and lye because if you don't, whichever is left over after the saponification process will stay in your bar. If you have too much oil, you can end up with soap bars that are greasy and soft.

What essential oils should not be used in soap? ›

I do not recommend using benzoin or orris root as both are skin sensitizers and have potential to induce allergic reactions. If you choose to use either, please label your soap accordingly. (Want to dive deep and learn everything about using essential oils in soap and cosmetics in one place?

Which essential oils last longest in soap? ›

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil

Ylang ylang is a base note and the scent should easily last the lifetime of your bar of soap. Ylang ylang can be a little too much on its own but as part of a blend gives a fantastic depth of fragrance.

What are good essential oil combinations for soap? ›

My favorite combinations with these ten Essential Oils are:
  • Lemon & Litsea Cubeba.
  • Lavender & Litsea Cubeba.
  • Lavender & Any Citrus (Orange, Lemon, Lime, etc.)
  • Lavender & Any Mint.
  • Lavender & Rosemary.
  • Rosemary & Lemon.
  • Rosemary & Spearmint.
  • Lime & Spearmint (aka "Mojito")

What is the best oil for homemade soap? ›

The best base oils to use for soap are saturated fats. They make the bar harder and last longer. These are usually solid oils that have to be melted before use, such as Coconut oil, Cocoa Butter or Palm Oil. Then there are the unsaturated fats that can be added to the soap for their properties.

How to prevent scent fading in soap? ›

Cure the soap in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight to keep the scent strong. While the soap is curing, soak a cotton ball or balled-up paper towel in the fragrance oil and place it near it.

How to calculate fragrance oil for soap? ›

Find the general recommended amounts for various products below - they are medium strength.
  1. Essential Oils:
  2. Cold Process Soap: 0.7 ounces per pound.
  3. Melt and Pour Soap: 0.3 ounces per pound.
  4. Rebatch Soap: 0.4 ounces per pound.
  5. Lotion: 0.2 ounces per pound.
  6. Liquid Soap: 0.2 ounces per pound.

What essential oils accelerate trace for soap making? ›

Essential oils that can speed up trace include – Ylang ylang, Geranium, Clove and Cinnamon. Generally floral essential oils and spicy ones can really accelerate trace.

What are the benefits of frankincense soap? ›

Soothing and calming, it's a wonderful soap for needy skin. Plus, the scent is sure to delight. Frankincense is a powerful oil found in many alternative healthcare practitioners' tool kits for discomfort, spasms, and skin irritation. Bring it into your home for effortlessly healthy skin.

Is it safe to bathe in frankincense oil? ›

Using frankincense essential oil in bath water has no known harmful effects. Still, all essential oils should be diluted and dispersed in your bath to avoid problems.

How do you extract frankincense oil at home? ›

Frankincense Oil Extraction
  1. Weight the plant material.
  2. Use a blender to make the botanical material powder.
  3. Add water to powder with ratio ½ ml water per gram of Frankincense potential mass (½:1 by mass).
  4. Mix until it is a consistent paste.
  5. Place in EssenEx as describe in User Manual.

References

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