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DIY Rosemary Mint Soap Recipe: a melt and pour version that is easy and fast! A beautiful gift idea for family & friends.
Making soap can be pretty complicated. As I was researching all the different ways that soap is made, I gained a new respect for the pioneer women who had no choice but to make their own. I, of course, chose the easiest method I could find! I wanted to include another handmade rosemary project that we can use in our holiday gift bags. (More on that to come.) This DIY Rosemary Mint Soap is not only easy, it smells so wonderful that your friends and family will surely be impressed.
The key to easy soap-making is using melt and pour soap. So in reality, we aren’t really making soap. We’re making soap bars. Which, in my opinion, still produces a handmade item. So let’s get started…
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DIY Rosemary Mint Soap Recipe: Supplies Needed
- Silicone mold
- Goats milk glycerine soap base
- Rosemary essential oil
- Peppermint essential oil
- Pyrex bowl & spatula
- brown kraft paper
- 4 x 9 inch cellophane bags
*The 2 lb. block of soap base, when melted, perfectly fills the six vessels in the silicone mold.
How to make DIY Rosemary Mint Soap:
- Cut the soap base into chunks. It cuts easily with a serrated knife or large paring knife.
- Place soap chunks in a large microwave safe bowl.
Tip: Make sure you choose a bowl that pours neatly. A pyrex bowl or bowl with a pouring spout works well.
- Microwave in 45 second increments, stirring well between each heating session.
- Soap base is ready when it is completely melted and stirs easily.
- Add 15 drops each of Rosemary essential oil & Peppermint essential oil. (I had readers write in that it’s better to use more than 15 drops each of the essential oil. Feel free to experiment, and use as much as you want!)
- Stir again to make sure the soap is mixed well.
Tip: DO NOT spray the mold with Pam or use any other type of no-stick spray. The soap bars pop out easily and the spray makes them greasy.
- Carefully fill each vessel in your silicone mold. Pour very slowly so the vessels don’t overflow.
Tip: Work quickly so the soap base doesn’t start to harden. Pour slowly, but work quickly!
- Let mold sit and harden for two hours.
- Carefully remove soap bars from mold…it should peel right off the bars.
- Let the bars cool completely. Package as desired.
I packaged the soap bars in two ways. First, I wrapped all of them in brown kraft paper. I made two different tags so you can choose which one you like best…or use them both. The first option is a wrapper that fits the soap bars perfectly when added length-wise. I simply closed the wrapper on the back of the bar with a piece of tape.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD WRAPPER TAGS (includes fresh rosemary)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD WRAPPER TAGS (excludes fresh rosemary ingredient)
The second option is a tag which can be tied on when the soap bars are slipped into a cellophane bag. I added a tiny sprig of fresh rosemary for a little added charm.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD RECTANGLE TAGS (includes fresh rosemary)
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD RECTANGLE TAGS (excludes fresh rosemary ingredient)
I’ve already shared how to make Rosemary Salt and Rosemary Sugar Scrub. I’ve got a savory rosemary bread recipe to share soon that will be the finishing touch to our rosemary themed holiday gift bags. If you don’t love rosemary, I’ll be sharing a couple of other themes that will work too. (Update: Get the rosemary buttermilk bread recipe.)
Click for 10 Ways to Use Rosemary!
NOTE: I did do research before I made this soap and found tutorials that used fresh ingredients, including rosemary. (I didn’t know melt and pour soap was a “thing,” but it is! There are lots of different ways to make it.) Anyway, I received a message from a reader who said that you should NOT ever use fresh ingredients. To be on the safe side, I removed that step from my tutorial. I will update this post if I get any further information.
As always, I am so glad you stopped by to spend a few minutes with me today. Thank you for your comments and support…but most of all thank you for your friendship. When I count my blessings, you all are at the top of the list. See you soon!
I have made my own bars of soap using a “melt & pour” soap base I bought through Amazon and they turned out amazingly well. I do have a few guidelines that I’ve learned, though. For each 1 lb block of M&P soap base you can add no more than 5% added oils, which is approx 1 teaspoon of essential/fragrance oil. Adding too much oil will greatly decrease the amount of lather you’ll produce and your soap bar will be too soft. My absolute favorite is making Peppermint Soap using a premium grade of essential oil. IMO, I’d stay clear of the soap bases sold at craft stores like Michael’s. You can read the list of ingredients of their M&P soap base and it’s chock full of chemical’s. I hope this will be helpful.
I’ve made the rosemary and mint soap and found that for 2 lbs of soap base you can actually use quite a bit more fragrance essence than 15 drops of each. This should make 8 four ounce bars in most molds. I doubled the amount of fragrance. Also, once you’ve cooled the soap and removed it from the molds wipe the oiliness off and let sit in a cool place for a few days before you package it up. The oily slick typically dries out, though I don’t live in a humid climate like Guatemala. I also put my soaps in my freezer for about 20 to 30 minutes after they are slightly set up. Good luck.
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe, it is incredible the consistency is awesome! just have some question, I use 2lb of goats milk glycerine soap base and added 15 drops of mint and the 15 drops of romero but at the end it dind’t smell so much, can I add more drops to get a stronger fragance? and another thing is that when I put the soap on my hand and
the soap is quite oily but maybe it is for the added oils, I would greatly appreciate your opinion and greetings from Guatemala. thank you for the recipe and the tips.
Where may I buy the silicone soap form?
Good Afternoon,
I am trying to find the rosemary wrap tags, and box.com keeps saying they have been moved.
Do you know where I can find that tag?
I sent you an email Patricia!
Thank you so much. I did make a batch of the soap and love it! My only problem was a few bubbles on the surface of the soap. I read on another blog that you can spray the soap after pouring it into the mold with 99% isopropyl alcohol…result: no bubbles…
Thanks for the great recipe!
I can’t get these to load either? Please email me…trish5321@yahoo.com. I’m so excited to make these as wedding favors – do you think I can cut them in half after they form to make them go further?
Hi Trisha…I just checked the download links and they worked perfectly for me. If you are on a Mac, you need to be running the latest version of Safari and all your Apple updates need to be current. And yes…I think you could cut them in half if you use a very sharp knife. Let me know if you are still having issues with the tags.
Hi Ann,
Thank you for all your beautiful ideas and free printables. This soap sounds amazing and looks so lovely with the addition of the rosemary. I love your idea for the simple yet beautiful packaging.
Great easy idea and even better with the lovely smell of rosemary. Thank you.
Thanks for this great DIY. I think I can do this!!
I’m so excited to try this! Perfect for Christmas gifts. You are awesome Ann! Thank you.
Ann-
Can’t wait to go to the crafts store, with my coupon, of course, to get soap base so that I can try your recipe!!! I, personally, love rosemary and peppermint scents. This will make a great addition to your other recipes! Thank you!
What a great tutorial. I totally want to make these this year! Thank you for all of your great ideas.
Hi Ann,
I was just reminded that I have three pounds of “odds & ends” unscented goat milk soap. Could I melt that and use it?
Thank you!
Absolutely! At least try it and see how it melts. If it’s smooth, it should set up well. Enjoy!
Thank you so much for sharing! This year we’ll be celebrating Christmas with my two sisters and their families in Leavenworth, Washington in a cabin in the woods. I wanted to make some beautiful but practical gifts to put under the tree. I’ll be watching for even more gift ideas from you!
Love this idea, Ann! Can’t wait to try making this soap. I wonder if you have tried paring rosemary with other oils, like lemon? Also, would you say it has good cleaning power as compared to commercial soap bars?
Hi Mila! Absolutely use whatever essentials you like best. It’s a gentle soap but cleans well. My hands don’t have that dry feeling after drying. Enjoy!
If I use dried Rosemary verses fresh will the soap last longer?
Hi Wendy…yes, if you used dried Rosemary, the soap will last much longer. The dried herbs might bleed a little bit, but they are very pretty in the soap. Enjoy!
Thank you! I will do that. 😉
Can you remelt the silicone if it hardens before you completely fill the molds???? Lovely project. I am tempted to make these for gifts.
Hi Annelies! Yes you can…in fact I had to do that the first time around because I didn’t work quickly enough.
Why can’t you use fresh herbs in the soap?
Hi Laurie! From what I understand, they spoil after a month or two. If you plan to use your soaps right away, fresh herbs or other ingredients like fruit peel, can be used with great results.
These soaps and the packaging are darling! Thank you! It looks so doable and I can’t wait to smell them!
This sounds great! I’m making this for sure. Your soaps have sprigs of rosemary in them. I know you stated someone said to never had the fresh herb. Do you know why? Without it, the soaps will look so plain. The sprig of rosemary adds so much to the aesthetic of the soap. How is your bar of soap holding up with the fresh herb in it?
Yes I added fresh rosemary…and it’s fine if you use the soaps within a month or two. To achieve a longer shelf life, leave any fresh ingredients out. My soaps are holding up well. It’s been about 3 weeks since I made them. I hope this helps!
Yes, it does help. Thank you so much for answering my question.
I’m loving all of your Rosemary ideas. I have a large pot of Rosemary and these are coming in quite handy. Thank you!
I love these soaps, they look simply charming in the packaging.
Thank you Ann! I just found the perfect gift for my creative grand-daughter, she will love it!
I love the aroma of rosemary and all of your ideas for using it, but will be looking forward to your other options since I found out the hard way a few years back that my brother absolutely hates everything about rosemary! I was living in Phoenix at the time and was on a tight budget and decided to take him some rosemary, which grows like a weed there and is frequently used in landscaping containers, for Christmas. When I presented my gift he bluntly told me he didn’t like rosemary. I was deflated! I love to cook with it and think it is particularly good, along with garlic, on pork.
Oh Teddee, your brother should have faked it! I know a few people who don’t like rosemary and for the life of me I don’t understand. Thanks for your fun comment!
I can’t stand rosemary. I think the smell is awful. Though I like your blog, I do find myself tiring of all the rosemary posts. I wonder if you might offer some alternatives for those of us who don’t like it?
Hi Lauri…in past years I have tried to offer holiday gift ideas with a theme. Last year it was vanilla. This year it’s rosemary. This series is almost over so hang in there!
Awww I bet this soap does smell heavenly Thank you for the info and have a blessed Sunday
Love, love, love!
& pinned. But as mentioned: oil amounts & when plus links. 😊
Thanks Ann…I make a Lavender Soap and pair it up with your Lavender Sugar Scrub…Heavenly!!!!
Hi Lorri! Do you use dried lavender buds in your soap?
Yes I did.When I harvested my plant in late August I keep the buds in a dry place in a jar.Then I make my sachets, soaps and now your sugar scrub.It turn out lovely. Lovely gifts for people who love Lavender.
Once thank you for the recipe.
When do you add the essential oils & how much of each?
I’m sorry…I added that to the tutorial!
ANN, when do you add the essential oils in with the soap? You showed the bottles of oils and you mentioned them in the list of supplies but in the recipe it doesn’t say when to add them or how much. THANks , sue
I’m sorry Sue! I added that info to the post. Thanks for asking and keeping me straight!
I never thought to make soap… With all the ingredients available, that it will be easy to make!
Love , love rosemary and other herb scents . Thank you for the wonderful idea!
Have a great weekend🍁🍁
Another great way to use Rosemary! Thank you, Ann
I think Ann forgot about what to do with the oils or where to get the goat soap and oils ! Sounds easy !
I did forget…thank you! I added the information to the post.
I did find the soap & oils 😊
Awesome gift ideas for my friends and family. Happy fall!
I like this. Sounds really easy and I love handmade things.
Love this, thanks! Do you have any secrets for keeping rosemary plants alive, especially in the winter? They always die on me after a few weeks!
My best tip for keeping rosemary alive indoors is that it can never dry out…which is really tricky. Once it dries out, or you forget to water, it starts to turn brown and is hard to turn around. Hope this helps!