10 Minute Gift Idea: DIY Natural Citrus Antibacterial Soap
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Our 10-Minute DIY soaps and sugar scrubs are some of our readers’ favorite posts, and I’ve had a few requests lately to add more tutorials for additional scents and varieties. Since cold and flu season is upon us, I wanted to try my hand at making an antibacterial soap that wasn’t laden with all kinds of funky and unpronounceable chemicals. I used of a couple of my favorite essential oils, both of which are natural disinfectants and have immune boosting properties, and the result is a natural antibacterial citrus soap that you can whip up in under 10 minutes!
What You’ll Need:
- Shea Butter Soap Base (2 lbs of soap base will yield eight large 4 oz. bars of soap)
- Soap Mold
- doTerra On Guard Essential Oil
- Lemon Essential Oil
- Microwave Safe Measuring Cup w/ Spout
- Dried Orange Peel (optional)
- Yellow Soap Colorant (optional)
I use about 1 lb (half the block) of shea butter soap base at a time which makes 4-5 large soaps depending on the size of the mold I’m using. The block of soap base is smooth and silky, and it cuts easily with a kitchen knife. I slice the soap base into cubes, place them inside a 4-cup Pyrex measuring cup, and melt in the microwave in 20-30 second increments, stirring well after each microwave session. For 1 lb of soap, I microwave for 30 seconds, stir, microwave for another 30 seconds, stir again, and microwave a final time for 20 seconds.
When the soap is completely melted, stir in 8-10 drops of On Guard essential oil and 8-10 drops of lemon essential oil. You can also add a few drops of yellow soap colorant and dried orange peel for texture if desired. There is no need to worry about the color coming off on your body in the shower since the colorant is designed specifically for soapmaking. Pour the melted soap into the soap mold, and allow to sit undisturbed until cool and firm (about 30-60 minutes). Remove & enjoy!
I like to wrap my soaps with a strip of patterned scrapbook paper or a piece of pretty ribbon for gifting. There’s nothing better than the gift of health during the holiday season! (Note: if you don’t plan on using the soap within a few weeks, I would advise wrapping it in plastic wrap or storing in a plastic zipper bag. The shea butter soap is water based, so over time it can lose a small amount of water and shrink just a bit if left unwrapped).
These white soaps are from a batch that I made without any added color or orange peels. Its antibacterial properties work just as well (and it smells just as good!), but without any cosmetic additives. Perfect for soap purists!
You may also enjoy our other DIY bath & body product tutorials:
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Heidi Kundin has captivated the hearts of millions with her colorful and inspiring approach to crafting, celebrations, and family fun. With over 15 years of experience, Heidi’s website has become a must-visit destination for those seeking quick and easy creative ideas and last-minute solutions. Her warm personality shines through her posts, inviting readers to join her on a creative journey that’s fun, rewarding, and achievable.
hello Heidi. I would like to make your anti bac soap, but I dont want to use the on guard oil as I think its quite expensive. Can you use the lemon oil on its own or add another oil that’s not so expensive?
Thankyou
Elaine Smith.
Hi Elaine, this oil is similar to On Guard, but not quite as expensive (https://amzn.to/2AksXSP). The blend of oils really helps boost up the antibacterial properties, so I wouldn’t skip it.
is soap base merely the shea butter, almond butter, etc?? i have chunks of each, can i use either as soap base?
what if I don’t have the on guard? Can I put drops of eucalyptus EO, orange EO, rosemaryEO & cinnamon EO? I have the lemon EO too
Any recipies that do not contain Shea Butter?
My wife is alergic.
Or is there a substitution?
Hi Vic, you can substitute goats milk or coconut soap base instead of the shea butter base.
Does the soap come out the same, or with the same antibacterial properties if you use a goats milk soap base instead of Shea butter?
Yes, you can substitute the shea butter base for goats milk base and still retain the soap’s antibacterial properties (which predominately come from the essential oils added). Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Heidi:
I love this idea – it sounds so refreshing. I will send you a quite note to see if we can do something similar together?
Carlos
I just followed this recipe. Waiting for them to cool now! This is my first time making soap. I was wondering, what makes this an antibacterial soap? Is it the lemon EO?
Yes, both the lemon essential oil and the On Guard (or Thieves if you’re using Young Living brand oils) contain antibacterial properties. 🙂
I’ve always wanted to try making soap–this sounds so easy!