Make turmeric soap that's beautiful and great for your skin! Here, you'll find step-by-step instructions on how to make turmeric soap using the cold process method. Turmeric powder, a lovely blend of essential oils, and wonderful nourishing base oils create a gentle bar soap perfect for sensitive skin.
In this post, I'll walk you through a soap-making process that uses lye and requires certain safety procedures. If you'd rather make turmeric soap using a melt-and-pour soap base, check out my easy homemade turmeric soap.
Turmeric root has been used in Ayurvedic medicine and skincare for millennia. It has many anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties that can benefit all skin types and conditions.
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Ingredients (makes 5-6 bars of soap)
- distilled water: 4.4 oz / 124 g
- lye (sodium hydroxide): 2.6 oz / 73 g
- coconut oil: 5.7 oz / 162 g (31% of the oils)
- pomace (olive oil): 5.7 oz / 162 g (31% of the oils)
- shea butter: 4.8 oz / 136 g (26% of the oils)
- sesame oil: 1.1 oz / 31 g (6% of the oils)
- castor oil: 1.1 oz / 31 g (6% of the oils)
- turmeric powder: 1 tsp
- lemongrass essential oil: 16 g
- cedarwood essential oil: 3 g
- ginger essential oil: 3 g
Equipment
- gloves
- protective eyewear/ goggles
- digital kitchen scale
- stick blender/ immersion blender
- digital thermometer
- 2 medium heat-resistant containers (one for the lye solution, one for the base oils)
- small plastic cup for measuring lye
- small glass container for measuring essential oils
- silicone soap mold
- cutting board to put soap mold on
- spatula
- small plastic spoon
Instructions
- Gear up for safety - make sure you're wearing goggles, gloves, and long sleeves. Work in a well-ventilated area away from kids and pets. Never leave your lye solution or fresh soap unattended.
- Prepare the lye solution into a small container, weigh the lye in a separate container weigh the water, then combine by adding the lye to the water (not the other way around!) while continuously stirring. Set aside.
- Melt coconut oil and shea butter over low heat - I like to do this in a water bath created by nestling two pots inside each other: the top one contains the oils the bottom one is filled halfway with water. You can also use a microwave on 20-second bursts.
- Add pomace, castor, sesame oil, and essential oil
- Add turmeric powder to the melted oils, and mix the powder in very well using your stick blender (you want a smooth mixture without clumps)Wait until lye water and oils have cooled down to at least 100 degrees F
- Combine lye water and melted oils and stick blend until you reach medium trace
- Pour the batter into the mold and tap it down to release any air bubbles
- Add texture to the top using a small spoon (optional)
- Remove from mold after 3 days by gently releasing sides first, then pushing from the bottom
- Cure for 3-4 weeks in a dark, cool spot
- Store in an old shoe box
- Use within 12 months
FAQs
You can add 3-4 oz of freshly grated turmeric per pound of oil to a cold-process soap recipe. Kenna over at Modern Soapmaking has a great recipe using fresh turmeric.
1-2 teaspoons of turmeric powder per pound of soap. The more you use, the darker the shade of your soap will be.
Yes, you can. It is particularly beneficial for oily skin. If you have mature or dry skin, it might be a bit too drying for you.
Turmeric Soap Recipe (CP, printable)
Cold process soap recipe for making beautiful turmeric soap with essential oils! Gentle on sensitive skin!
Ingredients
- distilled water: 4.4 oz / 124 g
- lye (sodium hydroxide): 2.6 oz / 73 g
- coconut oil: 5.7 oz / 162 g (31% of the oils)
- pomace (olive oil): 5.7 oz / 162 g (31% of the oils)
- shea butter: 4.8 oz / 136 g (26% of the oils)
- sesame oil: 1.1 oz / 31 g (6% of the oils)
- castor oil: 1.1 oz / 31 g (6% of the oils)
- turmeric powder: 1 tsp
- lemongrass essential oil: 16 g
- cedarwood essential oil: 3 g
- ginger essential oil: 3 g
Instructions
Equipment
- digital kitchen scale
- stick blender/immersion / immersion blender
- 2 medium heat-resistant containers (one for the lye solution, one for the base oils)
- spatula
- silicone soap mold
Instructions
- Gear up for safety: goggles, gloves, long sleeves. Soap in a well-ventilated area away from kids and pets
- Prepare the lye solution in a small container and set aside
- In a medium-sized container measure and melt the coconut oil and shea butter over low heat
- Add pomace (olive oil), castor and sesame oil and essential oil
- Add turmeric powder to the melted oils, and mix the powder in very well using your stick blender (you want a smooth mixture without clumps)
- Wait until lye water and oils have cooled down to at least 100 degrees F
- Combine lye water and melted oils and butters by stick blending until medium trace
- Pour the batter into the mold and tap it down to release any air bubbles
- texture the top of the soap with a small spoon (optional)
- After 3 days remove from mold by gently releasing sides first
- Cure for 3-4 weeks in a dark, cool spot
- After that store in an old shoe box
- Use within 12 months
Zankhana Panchal says
Hi
I want to ask that u have used real papaya
pulp so the soap will lasts for how many
months?means expiry of soap?
Celine says
Hi Zankhana, good question. The process of making soap with lye will turn the papaya pulp into soap as well. Meaning all microbes are killed off and your soap should have at least a shelf life of one year. The shelf life also depends on your climate (keep soap away from humidity) and the freshness of your oils. You can recognize soap that has gone bad when you see orange spots that feel sticky and have a bad odor. Using fresh ingredients in soap does NOT work with melt and pour soap. I hope this helps.
Morgan patience says
Lye is it still the same as caustic soda NAOH
Celine says
Yes, Sodium Hydroxide NaOH
Akshitalakhotia says
If I use melt and pour recipe then also can fresh puree added
Celine says
Unfortunately you can’t use fresh purée in melt and pour soap. Melt and pour soap doesn’t go through the saponification process and you will have problems with mold developing in your soap.
Onika says
Hi. Great recipe. Do you subtract 2oz from the water to be replaced by the puree.
Celine says
Hi Onika, yes the amount of the puree has already been subtracted from the amount of water. you can just go ahead and follow the recipe. Happy Tinkering 🙂
Samiksha says
Hi, I just followed the same recipe with exact measurements but the batter turned very thick and became kinda dry after adding lye water to the oils. Why is that so?
Celine says
I’m not sure. Have you made soap before? Usually something like this is due to measuring errors.
Sasha says
Hi, instead of using the pringles can, can a regular soap mold be used?
Celine says
Absolutely. Happy Tinkering 🙂
Jhan says
Hello I just wanna ask about the lye. Is that lye water or lye soap? Where I can buy of that?. U think have in super market?
Thanks and hoping u will response.
Celine says
Hi Jhan, it is solid lye (sodium hydroxide) which you dissolve in water. Working with lye requires safety precautions like goggles and gloves since it’s a chemical. You might be able to find it at a supermarket used as drain cleaner.
Akeiva says
Hi I love the recipe but could I replace it with carrot instead of papaya?
Celine says
Hi Akeiva, yes absolutely you can 🙂
Abbey says
Hi, what natural remedy works for skin tags
Celine says
Hi Abbey, I’m not sure.
Valora says
"Papaya contains the enzyme papein which is used as a natural exfoliant in skincare products."
This is true, but heat destroys enzymes very quickly. This is why, for example, fresh fruits which contain these types of enzymes (papaya, pineapple, kiwi) have to be lightly cooked before adding to jello. If you put them in raw, the enzymes will "eat" (break down) the gelatin's protein, and prevent it from 'gelling'. Likewise, the heat from the saponification process does destroy the papein. You'd have to put the soap in the freezer to prevent any heat build-up to keep the papein from being destroyed, and hope that's enough to do it!
Thangboi says
Is there any alternate organic form of lye instead of the chrmical one pls
Celine says
Hi Thangboi, No, lye is required to turn oils into soap.
Jobelle De Castro says
Hi i use goat milk (9oz) instead of water. How much ppya puree should I use?
Celine says
The amount stays the same with goat milk.
Helen says
Please is it right to use part of water and the puree as lye solution? I mean to freeze the puree, water and when you weigh it you add your lye to it. Will it still be effective like when you pour puree directly to soap batter or melted oil? Then is there any particular fruits or veggies we use for cold process soap? Thank you.
Celine says
Yes you can freeze the water and purée before adding the lye. I have many recipes on the blog that use fruit and veggie purées. Take a look!
Tatiana says
Won't the sugars of the papaya cause the soap to overheat when insulating?
Celine says
Mine didn’t overheat but I kept checking for any signs of cracking. if you prefer you don’t have to use the towel. If you really wanted to prevent gell you could put the mold in the freezer as well.
Oladayo john says
I haven't produce soap with lye before ,but the company that hired me want me to produce papaya soap , I need to ask you this question to avoid mistakes ,how will I know my measurements is accurate , although I used soap calculator I will just pick the material I need to use to make it 100% then I generate the result ,2 if you are add papaya puree,or lemon juice all this thing's are not on soap calculator,if I'm to add it to my ingredient will I subtract it from the amount of the water of lyes used ,pls kind help me out , I need to be perfect , I will be glad if there is any way you you can help me.to communicate with you different either through email or WhatsApp pls kindly help me thanks ([email protected]) .
Celine says
Hi! The easiest way especially as a beginner is to find a recipe and follow it precisely. Lemon juice however won’t work lye soap it’s too acidic.
Adrian says
Can I remove the puree all together. I love the idea of turmeric soap but not so much with papaya.
Celine says
Yes you can!
Lisa3002 says
I'm new to soaping and I just love your website and recipes! Question regarding natural powders: when I read "turmeric powder" is that the same as "turmeric spice" that I'd get in the spice aisle? At my local health food store I've noticed that some natural spices also come as powders and are labeled "powders" and can be found in a different section, not the spice aisle. So I'm wondering if the "spice" is the same thing as the "powder" and are they used interchangeably? I hope that makes sense.
Celine says
Hi Lisa, the turmeric in this recipe was from the spice aisles at the grocery store. If a spice or powder is safe to eat it’s safe to use in skincare products. Sometimes the color you get might vary though. Sometimes spirulina powder varies in how strong the color comes out.
Eva says
Hi Celine
Is it ok for me to boil the paw paw and seave the water and use that for mixing the lye?
Celine says
Hi Eva, I’ve personally never tried that, but I don’t see why you couldn’t try. You will have to freeze or at least chill the water before mixing in the lye. Simply to prevent scorching the liquid.
Sash says
Good day I dont like your recipe and wanting to make a soap with potato and papaya I am new to soap making but dont have the oils that you use how should I measure the papaya and potato puree to go in the soap??
Celine says
Making changes to a soap recipe is not advisable. If you don’t have any of the oils I’m using in this recipe I would try to find a different one. I’ve never added potato to my soap so I’m not sure if it’ll work.
Basudev pandey says
Hii Celine can I add papaya and tarmaric pouder to my soap Batch melting soap with available in supermarket
Celine says
Hi, unfortunately you can’t add any fresh papaya to melt and pour soap.
Allison Best says
Can I use a infused papaya oil instead for melt and pour soap base?
Celine says
I’m not sure I’ve never tried it
sanali says
Will the papaya colour get caramelized?
Celine says
it will get a dark orange
Keketso says
Hi Celine,
Can I triple this recipe to make more soaps.. I like the idea of you using sesame seed oil have you ever used mustard seed oil in soapmaking as it also has amazing benefits
Celine says
You can triple the recipe if you like. I've never used mustard seed oil, have you?
Mac says
Hello,
Thank you you for sharing such a lovely recipe. Is it ok to double up on the Papaya puree? I also would like to know if the papaya seed will affect the quality of the soap if I decided to leave it in. Thank you
Celine says
I wouldn't use more puree than indicated in the recipe. I would leave out the seeds unless you don't mind a bumpy soap 😉