Make a luxurious rose soap at home with this recipe, by combining high-quality oils like olive, coconut, and sunflower oil, with shea butter and a rosy fragrance blend. Avoid using fresh rose petals, which is very tempting, but dried petals can be added for decoration. Follow cold process soap-making techniques and enjoy these luxuriously fragrant and moisturizing soap bars.
Table of Contents
How Do You Make Homemade Rose Soap?
Rose soap is a classic. Creating your very own homemade rose soap is a rewarding and enjoyable process that allows you to indulge in the experience of a beautifully scented bath or shower. This cold process method combines a variety of nourishing ingredients to create a bar of soap that is not only gentle on the skin but also leaves you feeling pampered and refreshed.
To start, you’ll need a selection of high-quality ingredients. This luxurious rose soap recipe calls for extra virgin olive oil, which provides excellent moisturizing properties, along with coconut oil, known for its cleansing and foaming abilities. Sunflower oil is another key component that adds nourishment to the soap, while castor oil contributes to a creamy lather.
To enhance the soap’s conditioning effects even more, we’ll incorporate shea butter, a superfat oil that remains unreacted during the soap-making process. This buttery addition brings additional vitamins and antioxidants to the mix, transforming your soap into a purifying and conditioning treatment for your skin. And it gives your soap a rich, silky texture.
As for colorant I am using a simple mineral colorant, an ultramarine pink. I have tried in the past other more natural alternatives, including pink clay, red clay and a mixture of both. Maybe it’s the quality of my clays, but I never get a real rosy, pink color, only several shades of cream. It can be due to using olive oil in the recipe: its yellowy color changes red/pink into cream… So, I’ve decided to use this mineral pink colorant to end my frustrations. This soap is really rosy.
Finally, the soap scent. The scent is obviouly a key characteristic for this soap recipe. Therefore, we are going to use a selection of essential oils and fragrances that gives this soap more than a aroma of roses, a real scent of rose-scented soap. But why not just use pure rose essential oil only?
How Much Rose Essential Oil To Use In Cold Process Soap?
Always add no more than 3% of the soap weight in essential oils to your cold process soap, see Are Essential Oils Safe For Soap?. But to add rose essential oil to your soap has a big catch. Rose essential oil, also known as rose absolute or rose otto, is highly sought after for its exquisite scent and therapeutic properties. However, it comes with a hefty price tag, costing around $150 for only 5 ml (1/6 oz.)! When it comes to making cold process rose soap, utilizing pure rose essential oil in large quantities would make the soap cost prohibitive. And with the chance that it would evaporate with time!!
But fear not, there are alternatives that can still provide that luxurious scent to your handmade soap. We are not here to make you bankrupt, handmade soap is supposed to be cheap and simple.
To achieve a delightful fragrance of roses, you have a couple of options. One is to use rose fragrances specifically formulated for soapmaking. These fragrance oils, while partially synthetic, are designed to impart a lovely and long-lasting scent to your soap, capturing the essence of roses without the high cost associated with rose essential oil. The only issue is that it may accelerate your soap, as fragrance oils usually do. You will need to be careful if you use a rose fragrance: make sure you add your fragrance blend at the very last minute, and you are ready to pour the soap batter right afterwards.
Another option is to use rose geranium essential oil. While it may not replicate the exact aroma of roses, rose geranium essential oil possesses a deliciously floral and sweet scent that complements the soap beautifully, making it a perfect cheaper alternative to rose otto essential oil. I use this essential oil in many of my soap recipes (see for example Pink Clay Soap Recipe or this Face Soap Recipe with Shea Butter and Oat), along with patchouli essential oil. It makes for a perfect soap scent and I really can’t resist it.
You can mix rose geranium, patchouli and your rose fragrance oil. It’s a perfect blend for your rose soap. However, to avoid soap acceleration, I’ve replaced the rose fragrance by lavender essential oil. You may also simply use rose geranium and patchouli (2:1).
By using these fragrance options as substitutes, you can achieve a wonderful rose-scented soap without breaking the bank. The soap will still exude a captivating fragrance, allowing you to enjoy your bathing with the scent of roses. It’s garanteed.
Why Is This Handmade Rose Soap Considered Luxurious?
Luxury is often associated with indulgence, elegance, and exceptional quality. The true essence of luxury lies in the scent, and this handmade rose soap doesn’t disappoint. The essential oils blend includes a delightful combination of rose fragrance oil, essential oil rose geranium, and essential oil patchouli. These carefully chosen fragrances create an aromatic symphony that infuses your soap with a captivating and indulgent rose scent.
But what sets this handmade rose soap apart is the carefully selected ingredients that provide a multitude of benefits for your skin. The combination of extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, sunflower oil, castor oil, and especially shea butter creates a soap that is exceptionally gentle and nourishing. These oils work in harmony to moisturize, cleanse, and protect your skin, leaving it feeling soft, supple, and pampered.
Beyond the enchanting fragrance and skin-loving properties, this handmade rose soap represents the care and craftsmanship that goes into each bar. The list of ingredients is actually simple, but the result is a product of high-quality: a luxurious rose soap. This is part of the magic of cold process soap making.
And why shouldn’t you bathe with a simple, yet luxurious soap? Your bath becomes a self-care ritual, a moment of indulgence, and a reminder to treat yourself every day.
Can I Use Fresh Rose Petals In Soap?
Adding fresh rose petals to a handmade rose soap can be very tempting, but it’s essential to consider the suitability of the ingredients. When it comes to fresh rose petals, leaves, or other plant materials, it’s not recommended to incorporate them directly into cold process soap. Fresh botanicals contain water, which can lead to issues such as rotting or mold formation within the soap. The soap would no longer be luxurious with rotting material inside, right?
The cold process saponification process, coupled with the high pH of soap, can also cause plant materials to break down and lose their visual appeal. Over time, the petals change color and become brown due to the alkaline environment of the soap. Besides, the addition of rose petals is primarily for decorative purposes and does not contribute with any additional benefits to the soap. This is why I don’t usually add flower petals to my soaps, it’s a waste of plant material without much benefit to your soap.
However, if you still wish to incorporate a touch of rose petal decoration, there’s a simple method to achieve that. Instead of adding fresh petals to the soap mixture itself, it’s best to use them dry and reserve them for the top of the soap during or after the curing process. Lightly spritz the soap with alcohol before applying the petals. Then, gently press dried rose petals onto the surface. This will help them stick to the soap.
I don’t use the fresh petals in the soap, they are merely for the pretty image 🙂
Luxurious Rose Soap Recipe
If you’re ready to embark on the journey of creating your own luxurious rose soap, try this recipe. Crafting your own homemade rose soap not only allows you to tailor it to your preferences but also guarantees the use of natural and nourishing ingredients that promote healthy skin.
The oils mixture, especially shea butter, results in a mild, very moisturizing, skin-loving soap. I really love the way shea butter turns an ordinary soap into a silky, luxuous one.
The essential oils blend used give the special touch of rose-scented soap. The rose fragrance oil adds a romantic touch, while the rose geranium essential oil lends a delicate floral note. The earthy and grounding aroma of patchouli essential oil adds depth to the overall fragrance profile, and works very well with rose scents, resulting in a soap that evokes feelings of opulence and relaxation.
I find that using a rose fragrance is essential for a homemade rose soap. However, you can have soap acceleration, depending on the fragrance oil you buy. I would recommend to use lavender essencial oil in its place, or more of rose geranium. In the end, it’s a matter of personal taste, and whether you can handle soap acceleration or not.
Using heart shaped silicone molds, this soap becomes a must for Valentine’s day, as a romantic gift to your beloved, for Mother’s day, as a birthday gift, or simply as a treat to yourself.
With this cold process method, nourishing vegetable oils, and a thoughtfully selected blend of essential oils, you can transform an ordinary bath or shower into a luxurious and rejuvenating experience. So, roll up your sleeves, gather your ingredients, and immerse yourself in the wonderful world of creating your very own homemade rose soap.
Find Where to Buy Handmade Pink Soap
If you’re not yet ready to try to make this recipe at home, but you still wish to enjoy natural soaps, you can find handmade rose soaps at the following links:
- Rose Geranium and Pink Clay Soap (Etsy)
- Apple Valley Rose Geranium Salt Bar
- Heart Shaped Soaps (Etsy)
- Other Soaps – Apple Valley Natural Soaps ReviewEtsy carrot soap
How To Use This Soap
In the shower or bath, wet your hands and rub your soap in them to create a lather. Wash your hands first, then repeat the process and apply soap to your whole body using the soap directly and your hands. You may also wash your face with it. Rinse hands and body abundantly. Also wash your soap from lather before placing it in your soap dish or bag saver.
Washcloths and sponges should be avoided. Avoid washing your intimate zone and your hair, soap pH in not adequate for those parts of your body. Avoid eye contact with soap to prevent stinging. Make a patch test before using your soap. Stop using your soap if you feel any immediate adverse reaction in your skin (red skin, rashes, itching).
To take best advantage of your handmade soap (made by yourself or store-bougth), read How Do You Use Handmade Soap?
Related Posts
- Vegetable oils: Oil Properties For Soap Making
- Essential oils: Best Essential Oils for Soap Making
- Colorants: How To Color Your Soap With Kitchen Ingredients
- Cold Process Tutorial Guide: Learn To Make Cold Process Soap?
- Cold Process Soap Recipes: Free Cold Process Soap Recipes
- Beginner Recipes: Soap Recipes for Beginners
Watch This Video About Safety
Cold Process Soap Making Tutorial Video
Cold Process Soap Making Lessons
The tutorials in this blog are a great – and free! – help to start with cold process soap making. Practice is the next step to harness the art of making soaps at home. However, I understand if you prefer to have some formal lessons, where you will feel more supported with the steps. Feel free to join these courses at Udemy.
How To Make Soap – Homemade Soap Making for Beginners – Shona O’Connor
Equipment
Ingredients
Lye Water
- 240 g distilled water
- 128 g lye (100% sodium hydroxide)
- 2 tsp fine salt recommended to harden soap fast
Oils
- 364 g extra virgin olive oil
- 272 g refined or organic coconut oil
- 182 g sunflower oil
- 46 g castor oil
- 2 tsp pink ultramarine
- 4 g colloidal oat powder or oat flour
After Trace
- 46 g refined or organic shea butter
- 12 drops grapefruit seed extract (GSE) (anti-oxidant)
- 30 ml essential oils blend
- alcohol or witch hazel to sprinkle
Essential Oils Blend
- 10 ml lavender essential oil rose fragrance oil
- 10 tsp essential oil rose geranium
- 10 tsp essential oil patchouli
Instructions
Get Ready!
- Wear goggles and gloves! Look at “Safety Precautions” in the video above or in Soap Making Safety Precautions
- Watch the video above about "Cold Process Soap Making Tutorial" or read the post Learn To Make Cold Process Soap for instructions on cold process soap making before starting. These are generic but important steps for all recipes.
- Assemble everything: ingredients, equipment, safety equipment. Prepare your workstations. Measure all the ingredients. Don’t start the recipe without having everything ready!
Heat The Oils
- Heat the oils until the solid oils are completely melted (it is not necessary to heat all the time).
Make the Lye Water
- Make the lye solution according to How To Make Lye Water. Add the fine salt to the water. Mix well until the vapours start to dissipate.
Make the Soap Batter
- Use as a target temperature 40 °C–38 °C for the oil-solution mixture. If necessary, you can reheat the oils, but not the lye solution.
- Pour the lye water into the oils.
- Use the immersion blender in the mixture. Add the oat flour and the pink colorant before reaching trace.
- Reach medium trace with the immersion blender.
Add After Trace Ingredients
- Melt the shea butter before adding it to the soap. Add after trace ingredients: essential oil(s), grapefruit extract and shea butter. Mix well the batter only with a spoon.
- If you use rose fragrance oil, be aware of soap acceleration. Fragrance oils usually can accelerate trace.
Molding and Curing
- Pour the batter into cute hearts molds, and sprinkle with alcohol or witch hazel, to avoid soda ash. Let it set for 48 hours, always keeping an eye on the hardness of the soap.
- In alternative, you can also use a rose-shaped mold, and made these lovely soaps as well
- Unmold when fully solid and let it cure for 4 to 6 weeks. See How To Cure Soap.
- Enjoy your beautiful romantic soaps!
Using organic shea butter for a more conditioning effect, I never thought of that, cool! I usually use shea butter lotions for my skin and I really love it as it’s very moisturizing especially for those with dry skin like me but having one for soap would be great. Do you think it’s good if I use shea butter for the soap too if I’m already using it for lotions?
Hello Riaz and thanks for your comment.
Yes, you can use shea butter in soap and lotions, I don’t think there’s a problem. Soap is going to be washed off your skin anyway, it’s just when the soap is doing its work, it’s not so harsh, due to some of the shea butter acting on your skin. Anyway, you should always test to see if it works for you.
By the way, I find the best conditioning soap to be 100% olive oil, or pure castile soap. You can give it a try as well.
Cheers,
Sofia
Castile soap, interesting! Definitely checking that out, thanks!
Yes, give it a try, it’s easy and fun!
Thanks again for your comment and come back any time!
Cheers,
Sofia