Comfy Zen

for interior design enthusiasts

Soap Making

Easy Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap Recipe – Melt & Pour

by Leave a Comment

Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap top image

I use only honey-sweetened coffee grounds and just a teaspoon of cinnamon powder to scent this soap, so my Easy Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap Recipe is about as natural as you can get – and it smells heavenly.

What’s more, with this recipe you won’t need any coloring whatsoever, the coffee does it naturally all by itself!

For this recipe, I used my favorite goat’s milk melt and pour soap base, and while goat’s milk doesn’t typically give too much lather, it does give just the right amount to leave your skin feeling thoroughly cleansed. It’s also very moisturizing as well as incredibly gentle on the skin (see my photo of the lather below).

I think this long-lasting Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap would make a lovely hand soap to keep by your kitchen sink thanks to its delicate coffee scent and vintage/rustic aesthetic – although it’s also just as suitable for the bath and shower too!

For this recipe, I will be using just 1/2lb of melt and pour soap base. This will make approximately 5 bath-soap-sized bars (measuring approximately 3.1″ x 2.2″ x 1″ and weighing 3.4 oz).

Soap bases usually come in weights of 1lb or more, so you can easily double the recipe if you like, or why not try out my favorite Super-Easy Homemade Honey & Oatmeal Soap Recipe as well.

Just so you know, using the melt and pour method means that you won’t be using any of the harsh chemicals that you would if you were to use the lye process to make soap from scratch – that’s because the saponification process has already been done for you. If you would like a little more information on the difference between this method and making soap from scratch, or, if you fancy choosing a soap-making kit, please click here.

Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap - pin

RECIPE VARIATIONS

Fragrance – If you would like your soap to have a stronger scent you can add coffee essential oil and or vanilla – although I honestly prefer this soap without. The scent when following my recipe is delicate and more natural.

Adding honey to the coffee grounds sweetens the scent of the coffee grounds perfectly and the cinnamon gives the soap a cozy hint of warmth.

Color – The recipe doesn’t require any additional coloring whatsoever. The all-natural color of this soap is a rich, even chocolatey brown throughout – just from the coffee and a small amount of cinnamon alone.

Cinnamon – This ingredient may be left out if you prefer, it won’t affect the recipe.

Oils – I added extra virgin olive oil to my mixture as it’s my favorite, but the recipe will work just as well with another oil of your choice.

Base – This recipe uses a goat’s milk soap base which is just so creamy and silky smooth, not to mention, very gentle for sensitive skin. But you can substitute it for a different melt and pour base if you wish.

Rubbing Alcohol – A small spritz of isopropanol alcohol (rubbing alcohol) is used to eliminate any bubbles that may form on the top of your soap. If you don’t wish to use this ingredient, the soap will be perfectly fine but may look a little less than neat.

Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap - Recipe
Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap has a nice even color throughout.
Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap - Lather
This is the amount of lather this Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap recipe gives you using a goat’s milk base.

INGREDIENTS

Method

  1. Cut the soap base into roughly 1-inch-sized cubes. (The soap base can easily be cut with an ordinary kitchen knife.)
  2. In a small dish or bowl mix the used coffee grounds with the honey and cinnamon (if used). Warm the honey in the microwave a little if needed to help mix it with the grounds.
  3. Place the soap base cubes in a glass jug, and heat in the microwave until all of the cubes melt. Be careful not to overheat the soap base. You should melt the cubes in short bursts and stir in between heating times.
  4. Add the coffee mixture and extra-virgin olive oil and stir well.
  5. Pour equally into the silicone mold.
  6. Lightly spray the surface of the soap with rubbing alcohol to eliminate any bubbles.
  7. Allow the soap to cool and set by leaving it undisturbed for approximately two hours.
  8. When the soap is set, carefully turn out the soaps from the mold. Don’t worry soap molds are thin which makes this process very easy.

And that’s it… easy wasn’t it?

Photos of the Process

Goat's milk soap base
Cutting the soap base.

Coffee Cinnamon & Honey mixture for soap recipe
Coffee grounds, cinnamon, and honey. You can add the extra virgin olive oil to this mixture too.

Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap melt and pour recipe
Add the coffee mixture to the melted soap base and stir well.

Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap pouring into the mold.
Pour evenly into your silicone molds.

Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap - home made
Spray the surface lightly with Isopropanol Alcohol to remove bubbles.

Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap
Leave to set for approximately 2 hours before turning out of the mold.

Super-Easy Homemade Honey & Oatmeal Soap Recipe – Melt and Pour

by Leave a Comment

Honey & Oatmeal Soap Recipe -pin

Today I’d like to share my favorite, super-easy, homemade honey, and oatmeal soap recipe with you. One of the best things about this recipe is that it doesn’t feel like a typical grocery store soap. Made with a goat’s milk soap base, the scent is delicate, and natural and the consistency is soft and smooth. It also lasts a long time and has a lovely lather (see photo below) – so it’s perfect for a bath or shower!

RECIPE VARIATIONS

You can leave out either the oatmeal or the honey if you wish – the recipe still works. I used porridge oats that I blitzed in my Nutribullet for just a couple of seconds so that some of the flakes remained.

Color and Fragrance – You can customize this soap recipe by adding a couple of drops of essential oil, and a little coloring – although I honestly prefer this soap without.

Oils – I added extra virgin olive oil to my mixture as it’s my favorite goto skincare oil, (I even use olive oil as a natural body moisturizer), but do feel free to substitute with any oil of your choice.

Base – The recipe calls for a goat’s milk soap base which gives the soap a soft, creamy texture that is very gentle on sensitive skin but you can use any melt and pour base that you prefer.

Rubbing Alcohol – This is used to eliminate any bubbles that may form on the top of your soap. If you don’t wish to use it the soap will be OK but may look a little less than neat.

Honey & Oatmeal Soap vintage
Packaged with brown paper and string, this old-fashioned homemade Honey & Oat Soap recipe makes a lovely vintage-style gift.

This recipe will make four bath-soap-sized bars (measuring approximately 3.1″ x 2.2″ x 1″ and weighing 3.4 oz) – using just 1lb of goat’s milk melt and pour soap base. You can easily double the recipe if you wish.

Just so you know, the bases are commonly 2lbs and more but I prefer to make smaller batches at a time when making soap just for myself and my family unless I’m making extra for gifting, see above.

And I thought it might be a good idea to give you the recipe for a smaller quantity so that you’ll have plenty of soap base left over to try out my Easy Coffee Cinnamon & Honey Soap Recipe or make more of this honey & oat soap when you run out.

Honey & Oatmeal Soap lather
Goat’s milk doesn’t typically have much lather, but this soap recipe lathers nicely.

If you’d like a little more information on the melt and pour method v’s the lye process or if you fancy choosing a soap-making kit, please click here.

INGREDIENTS

Method

pouring the soap base into the mold
  1. Cut the soap base into roughly 1-inch-sized cubes. (The soap base is quite easy to cut with an ordinary kitchen knife.)
  2. Place the cubes in a glass jug, and heat in the microwave until all of the cubes melt. Be careful not to overheat the soap base. You should melt the cubes in short bursts and stir in between heating times.
  3. Now add the oats, honey, and oil and stir well.
  4. Pour evenly into the silicone mold.
  5. Lightly spray the surface of the soap with rubbing alcohol to eliminate any bubbles. (The bubbles may not disappear immediately but don’t worry, they will have by the time the soap is set).
  6. Sprinkle a few flakes of oats on the top for decoration if you wish.
  7. Allow the soap to cool and set by leaving it undisturbed for approximately two hours.
  8. When the soap is set, carefully turn out the soaps from the mold. Don’t worry soap molds are thin which makes this process very easy.

And that’s it all done – enjoy your soap!

Ohh and if you need some pretty handmade labels to package your soap, I have some free printable ones here.

Home made Honey & Oatmeal Soap

Photos of the Process

Ingredients.
Ingredients.

Cutting the soap base.
Cutting the soap base.

Extra-virgin olive oil, oats, and honey.
Extra-virgin olive oil, oats, and honey.

Melted soap base
Melted soap base.
Melted soap base
Pour the mixture into the silicone mold.

Spraying the Soap with Rubbing Alcohol
Spraying the Soap with Rubbing Alcohol

Finished saop

The Best Soap Making Kit 2022

by Leave a Comment

As an enthusiastic soap-maker myself, I would highly recommend that the best way to get started is to choose a good soap-making kit. These kits use the melt-and-pour method which makes the process easy, fun, and above all safe. That’s because the saponification process has already been done for you. So there’s no need to use the harsh chemicals that are required in the lye process when making soap from scratch.

And don’t worry, it’s super easy to make beautiful artisan soap. I regularly make my own soap, you can check out my favorite homemade honey oatmeal soap recipe if you like. Let me tell you, it doesn’t take too much time out of your day, – preparation is about 30 minutes or less. It’s also practically foolproof and a fun activity for kids too.

There are tons of soap-making kits on the market to choose from, so we’ve done the hard work and chosen our top 5 recommendations for the best soap-making kit on the market.

Choosing a Soap-Making Kit

One thing to note about soap-making kits is that they don’t all contain the same basic items. In other words, some kits are more complete than others. The DilaBee kit, for example, includes a bowl and pitcher for melting the soap base whereas the Chelseas kit doesn’t. I have mentioned any additional items you might need at the end of each review.

Melt and Pour Soap Bases

The most important factor to consider is the quality of the soap base – as well as the quality of any fragrances included.

High-grade kits are made with vegetarian or vegan-based SLS, SLES, and paraben-free oils. The fat content of the base has two purposes:

  • Saturated fats increase a soap’s lathe.
  • Unsaturated fats moisturize and nourish the skin.

As you probably already know, each type of fat has its own unique properties and therefore provides its own benefits. Bases include:

  • Shea Butter
  • Aloe
  • Olive Oil
  • Charcoal
  • Coconut Milk
  • Avocado Butter
  • Hemp Seed Oil
  • Glycerin

Molds

Some kits it has to be said, contain cheap plastic molds. They are not my favorite as they can make releasing the soap from the mold more difficult. Silicone molds in comparison are much more resilient and because they are more flexible it makes it easier to remove the soap. Fortunately, they are easy to find separately and you may want to experiment or diversify your soap shapes anyway. So you can always buy additional molds for future soap-making ventures.

Price

Soap-making kits are inexpensive and are pretty good value for money average prices are between $30 – $50. They make great gifts for like-minded crafty friends or as a treat for yourself if you fancy trying something new.

Our Top Pick
DilaBee Soap Making Kit
ZenseMe Soap Making Kit for Adults

Custom Melt and Pour Glycerin Soap Gift Kit by Glory Creek

Complete DIY Soap Making Kit by Nicole

Saponify Melt and Pour Soap Base Sampler Kit

Pifito Melt and Pour Soap Base Sampler Kit 2

Our Top Pick

DilaBee Soap Making Kit

The DilaBee has got everything you need to get your soap-making game on point:

2 lbs of Shea Butter Soap Base, 4 essential oils, 4 liquid dyes, 2 plastic molds (choose between standard shapes or flower designs), a pouring pitcher, 2 stirring sticks, a mixing bowl, and 4 soap boxes for gift-giving or re-selling. Plus, the instructions are clear and easy to follow.

Check Price on Amazon

But the best part about this soap-making kit? It’s for everyone. Whether you’re a seasoned soap-making pro or just starting out, this kit has everything you need to create your own luxurious soap bars. And if you’re not thrilled with the process, no worries – your purchase is covered by a 100% Money-Back Guarantee.

So if you’re looking to get creative with soap making, this kit is the way to go.

Pros:

  • Comes with 2 lbs of Shea Butter Soap Base, 4 essential oils, 4 liquid dyes, 2 plastic molds, a pouring pitcher, 2 stirring sticks, a mixing bowl, and 4 soap boxes
  • Clear and easy-to-follow instructions included
  • Suitable for both beginners and experienced soap makers
  • 100% Money-Back Guarantee

Cons:

  • Comes with plastic molds which are less practical than silicone.

Also Great

ZenseMe Soap Making Kit for Adults

This kit has everything you need to get started on your soap-making journey.

Introducing the only luxury melt-and-pour soap making kit you’ll ever need.

Check Price on Amazon

With all-natural ingredients and 6 therapeutic essential oils, you can create about 8 colorful and luxurious homemade soap bars that are organic, vegan, and great quality. Plus, the included silicone mold allows you to turn out beautiful and unique soaps (with ease) in endless scent combinations. And if you run out of the included 2lbs of Shea Butter soap base, you can buy goat’s milk, glycerin, and Shea Butter soap bases to try with this kit.

Pros:

  • Comes with everything you need to get started on your soap-making journey
  • All-natural ingredients and 6 therapeutic essential oils included
  • Can create about 8 colorful and luxurious homemade soap bars that are organic, vegan, and of great quality
  • Silicone mold allows for easy creation of beautiful and unique soaps in endless scent combinations
  • Includes Shea Butter soap base, but other soap bases such as goat’s milk, glycerin, and Shea Butter can be purchased to use with the kit

Cons:

  • Additional items may be needed, such as a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol, measuring cup, and wooden spoon

Best Kids Kit

Custom Melt and Pour Glycerin Soap Gift Kit by Glory Creek

It’s so easy to get into making embeds with this super-cute fun kit.

The Glory Creek is a step up from children’s soap kits but your kids will definitely want to join in.

Check Price on Amazon

The kit comes with 4 stars, 4 hearts, and 4 seashells. You also get squigglies and ribbons, so you can really get creative with your designs.

You get a generous 2 lbs of white and clear soap base. The kit also comes with 2 craft sticks for stirring, a silicone mini loaf pan, 8 gift bags, with jute ties, and gift cards.

Pros:

  • Fun kit with lots of embeds to get creative with
  • Comes with 2 lbs of quality glycerin soap base
  • Includes gift bags and tags for handmade soap gifts
  • Easy to use and great for practicing soap-making techniques

Cons:

  • Additional items may be needed, such as a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol, measuring cup, and wooden spoon
  • May not be suitable for advanced soap makers looking for more complex techniques

Also Consider

DIY Melt & Pour Shea Butter Soap Making Kit

Create soaps that are more fun and visually appealing than the typical bar

This kit contains the same molds that I use when making my favorite recipes.

Check Price on Amazon

This package includes everything you need to create your own homemade soap. You’ll get 2 lbs of shea butter soap base, 2 silicone square containers, 6 fragrance oils, 6 liquid dyes, a glass measuring cup, a silicone stirring stick, 2 dry flowers, and 12 homemade wrap labels. Plus, there’s a detailed introduction to guide you through the soap-making process.

But what sets this kit apart from the rest is the ability to get creative with your soaps. You can mix and match scents and colors to create your own unique soaps. Plus, with the included dry flowers and other fun embeds, you can create soaps that are more fun and visually appealing than the typical bar.

And don’t worry if you’re a beginner – this kit comes with step-by-step instructions to ensure your soap-making experience is a successful one. So don’t be afraid to dive in and try your hand at soap making.

Pros:

  • The kit includes a variety of fragrance oils and liquid dyes, allowing you to mix and match scents and colors to create your own unique soaps.
  • The kit includes dry flowers and other fun embeds, giving you the opportunity to create visually appealing soaps.
  • The kit includes step-by-step instructions, making it suitable for beginners.
  • Contains silicone Molds (preferable to plastic).

Cons:

  • Additional items may be needed, such as a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol.

Other Worthy Mentions:

Pick No 1

Complete DIY Soap Making Kit by Nicole

This kit even goes one step further. If you want to make soap from scratch you can use the lye method with this kit too (it includes safety glasses, gloves, a ph test kit and thermometer, and glass rod for stirring, etc).

Check Price on Amazon

What we love about this kit is that it comes with a food-grade loaf soap mold, a wave knife, a soap knife (for a straight edge), and a wooden beveler for chamfering your edges, so you can make artisan soap slices. Also included are 4 sizes of measuring cups, two pipettes, a silicone scraper, and a stainless steel whisk for blending your essential oils, botanicals, and minerals. If you intend to make soap using the lye process you will need to invest in a stick blender, and of course, you will need lye, distilled water, and a spray bottle of rubbing alcohol (to remove bubbles from the surface of your trace).

The kit also contains a 500g soap base to get you started with the melt-and-pour method. The soap base provided isn’t the best quality in our opinion. So If you go for this kit we recommend buying a good quality soap base.

Pick No 2

Saponify Melt and Pour Soap Base Sampler Kit

If you’d like to make soaps to sell, this sampler kit is the ideal way to get started.

I know from the photo you might think the kit only gives you a small sample of each soap base but this is a big kit.

Check Price on Amazon

The kit consists of 8 different, 1lb soap bases allowing you to sample and try out different the different varieties including shea butter, avocado butter, coconut milk, olive oil, charcoal, and aloe.

The kit includes a leaf-shaped mold that will give you up to 12 guest-sized bars from each 1 lb block of soap base – that’s a total of 96 bars.

We love the scope this kit gives you to experiment and develop your soap-making skills. You can keep things simple or create multi-layered combinations. You can add your own botanicals, like flowers and herbs, or add skin-safe fragrances, and colors up to 3%.

You will still need a small spray bottle containing rubbing alcohol if you want a bubble-free surface on your trace. You’ll also need a microwave-safe measuring cup, a wooden spoon, and of course, any botanicals or scents you want to add.

Pick No 3

Pifito DIY Hand Soap Making Supplies Kit

This is a great little starter kit if you want to experiment with different bases.

The best part about this kit is that it takes all the guesswork out of soap making. You don’t have to go around trying to figure out which base is the best one for you.

Check Price on Amazon

You can just try them all and see which one works best for you. And the best part is, you get a whole bunch of each base, so you can make a ton of soap and really get a feel for which one you like best.