DIY Elderflower Soap
“Elderflowers are great for complexion,” says Charlene, a small-batch, natural soap maker based in Branson, MO. “I enjoy looking around for herbs that are good for the skin. That’s when I came across elderflowers and elderberries. And that’s how I found Norm’s Farms.”
When we heard Charlene bought a couple of our 2oz dried elderflower bags to use in her homemade soap, we knew we had to give her a call to learn more. Turns out, elderflowers are mildly astringent. They can help minimize pores and dry up oily skin, rejuvenating its appearance, making them the perfect ingredient in your own DIY soap.
Charlene was kind enough to give us a basic elderflower soap recipe to share with all of you. Let us know how yours turns out!
When we heard Charlene bought a couple of our 2oz dried elderflower bags to use in her homemade soap, we knew we had to give her a call to learn more. Turns out, elderflowers are mildly astringent. They can help minimize pores and dry up oily skin, rejuvenating its appearance, making them the perfect ingredient in your own DIY soap.
Charlene was kind enough to give us a basic elderflower soap recipe to share with all of you. Let us know how yours turns out!
Note
Safety is very important, as the active lye is caustic and could cause severe skin burns. Always wear protective eye covering and gloves when making lye soap, and prepare lye mixture in a well-ventilated area. Once your soap is cured, it’s totally safe to use!
ToolsFor these cold process and hot process soaps, you’ll need the following tools:
- Stainless steel pot (no iron or aluminum)
- Stainless steel spoon
- Plastic spatula
- Hand mixer. A stick blender helps it come to trace faster.
- Digital scale that weighs in ounces to the tenths place (e.g. 2.3oz)
- Bowls to measure oils
- Container dedicated to lye water (an old plastic container works well)
- Thermometer (a cheap candy thermometer works fine)
- Mold to pour soap in
- Wax paper to line mold if necessary
- Towels for incubating mold.
- Safety googles and thick rubber gloves
Cold Process Ingredients
- One pound coconut oil
- One pound olive oil
- .303 pound food grade lye
- 12 oz water
- Chamomile tea
- Norm's Farms dried elderflower
Cold Process Directions
- Steep 2 chamomile tea bags and 4 tsp Norm’s farms dried elderflower in 12oz of hot water, for about 5 minutes. Strain after steeping and toss the steeped tea bag and flowers.
- In a well-ventilated area, pour tea into a container and then add the lye to the tea. Always add the lye to the tea and NOT the other way around.
- In a separate pot, melt oils and add dried elderflowers.
- Let the lye mixture cool. When the oil and the lye mixtures are both around 120 degrees, stir together with a combination of hand stirring and stick mixer.
- When the mixture becomes firm enough that you can see a portion of it remain on the surface (otherwise known as "trace") add new, dried elderflowers.
- Pour mixture into a mold and cover with an old towel for 24 hours. When firm, unmold and cut. You've made soap! Let cold processed soaps cure for 4 to 6 weeks before using.
Hot Process Ingredients
- One pound coconut oil
- One pound olive oil
- .303 pound food grade lye
- 12 oz water
- Chamomile tea
- Norm's Farms dried elderflower
Hot Process Directions
- Steep 2 chamomile tea bags and 4 tsp Norm’s farms dried elderflower in 12oz of hot water, about 5 minutes. Strain after steeping.
- In a well-ventilated area, pour tea into a container and then add the lye to the tea. Always add the lye to the tea and NOT the other way around.
- In a separate pot, melt oils and add dried elderflowers.
- Mix lye mixture and oils together stirring in a crock on low. Bring to trace as noted in cold process. Add your dried elderflowers.
- Cover and cook for about an hour. This will go through several stages, very firm, liquid, boiling up. You can control by stirring so it does not boil over. This soap will get very firm. Pour in mold, let set for about 24 hours, unmold, cut.
- Although the soap will benefit from setting for a few days, it is ready to use immediately.
What started as a hobby has become a small-batch business Charlene thoroughly enjoys. You can buy her elderberry and elderflower soaps by contacting her on Instagram. Her handle is @goodcleanfun2019.