I've had this idea for a banana soap in my head for quite some time. Something like a banana cream pie soap maybe. But what would the end result look like and would I be happy with it? I started to do some research and saw a variety of banana soaps that ranged from very brown to very speckled to creamy yellow with few specks. Some soap makers reported the specks would disappear after a while. Well, I decided it was time to do my own little research project on using bananas in soap.
Here's what I did:
Using Bananas in Soap Trial No.1:
- I used a fairly green, not ripe banana mashed it up with a fork and then stick blended it into the base oils (you absolutely want to avoid clumps here)
- Then I split my batch of soap batter in half: one part went into the oven at 170 degrees F to force gel, the other part went into the freezer to prevent gel
As you can see the gelled soap turned brown with small speckles and the non gelled soap stayed nice and white with I would say the same amount of speckles as the gelled soap.
Using Bananas in Soap Trial No.2:
- This time I used a very ripe banana where the peel was starting to show some brown marks, but the inside wasn't
- I proceeded the same way as above: made sure the banana was incorporated well by stick blending and then split the soap batter, one to be gelled and one to be frozen
The gelled soap - no surprise here - turned brown, but with more speckles. The non gelled soap has a lot more tiny specks as well with colors ranging from brown to almost orange.
The pictures you see in this post were taken after a 2 week cure. I didn't notice the speckles becoming over time, and if anything they became more especially with the ripe banana. But I will keep an eye out for any changes and as always I will update this post in 6 months with a follow up picture.
Curious to know what recipe I used? Here it is (makes 1 lb of soap or 454 g):
I made this recipe twice using the same amount of banana puree for both batches. The only difference was the ripeness of the banana. This recipe is superfatted at 5% and uses a lye concentration of 40% (which is steep, but accounts for the added liquid coming from the banana).
- Coconut Oil (30%): 3.5 oz / 99 g
- Olive Oil (virgin) (30%): 3.5 oz / 99 g
- Shea Butter (25%): 2.9 oz / 83 g
- Soybean Oil (10%): 1.2 oz / 33 g
- Castor Oil (5%): 0.6 oz / 17 g
- Lye: 1.6 oz / 46 g
- Distilled Water: 2.5 oz / 70 g
- Banana (pureed): 1 oz / 28 g
- Scent (optional, I left my soap unscented)
Tell me:
Have you tried using bananas in soap before? How did it turn out?
Until next time. Happy Tinkering!
Looking for more natural soap recipes? How about:
Brenda says
Hello
I tried your recipe and instead of water I used
Lavender blueberry almond milk I froze in
Ice trays. Added lye slowly 1tbs at a time
I added coconut flakes n little gr oatmeal
I put it in the freezer 24 hrs tried to slice it it was brittle
So now I’m letting it sit out what to do your
Recipe didn’t give instruction to cover or freeze I looked it up I saw freeze
Please advise
Thank you
Brenda
Celine says
Hi Brenda,
If the soap was brittle, I would let it rest at room temperature for another day, before trying again.
Emma Agbley says
I used ripened banana in my cold process soap. I added a bit of fragrance. It turned out so well. After a while, though, the soap turned very dark brown. Is it normal? Please tell me something
I gave to my friends to shave with.
Celine says
Hi Emma, the soap is still good to use. Cold process soap tends to change color over time. It could also be that your fragrance caused it. Try a less ripe banana next time.
Chelsea says
Hi Celine! I tried to make a rose banana soap today. I did it before reading this. I'm still learning, it's been just four months since I started making soaps. I really wanted to use bananas and roses together since is a very special combination that reminds me of my mom. As soon I mixed the rose water (made by myself) the lye turned it green and few seconds after turned orange and the smell was strange but then I mixed it and put the smashed banana inside and it saved the smell A LOT! it turned put completely brown like dark brown and it's really soft. I will make it again with your suggestions. Thanks a lot for this article and I'm going to follow you.
flora says
I want to make banana soap, but the oil I have is palm oil,camel oil,lye and banana.May I make it by using those oil I uave or?thanks
Celine says
Hi Flora, if you have a favorite recipe or one that you’ve tried before you can add banana to it. I’m not familiar with camel oil. But I would add another nourishing oil like olive oil for example.
Naomi says
Hi Celine
I love to make soap using a variety of things and bananas are one of them. I sometimes split the batch and add cocoa to make a decorative swirl. It's like chocolate covered bananas and has a nice natural scent.
Mine usually get, but after seeing this, I think I will try freezing for a different look.
Thank you for the informative article!
Celine says
Hi Naomi, that sounds great. Happy the article was useful to you. Happy Tinkering!
wendy Gold says
Hi Celine, Id like to do a goats milk and banana, Can i use my own recipe and just add the banana to the oils? Do i have to discount the milk for banana? Or leave my recipe and just add the banana?
Regards wendy
Celine says
Are you making your lye solution with goats milk? I like to reduce the amount of liquid in my soaps whenever I add a vegetable or fruit. Maybe try a 38% lye solution to begin with. Happy Tinkering!
Monica says
When you say a 38% lye solution, does that mean you are discounting the percentage of the water?
Celine says
Hi Monica, yes it’s a water discount. The solution is made up of 62% water and 38% lye. To calculate go to soapcalc and give in 38% under lye concentration.
Odissiearth says
Hi dear Celine ,
Am extremely happy with your answers. Developing a solution for a goat milk and banana puree liquid shampoo. Would you please guide about the percentage of KOH and water ratio..
Celine says
Hi, I wouldn’t put fresh fruits in a liquid shampoo. You most likely will run into mold issues and spoilage. Hope that helps. Happy Tinkering!
Scott says
Is there any scent benefit from the ripe banana version?
Celine says
Hi Scott, sadly the banana scent doesn’t come through in the finished soap.
Affrodite says
Hi, I'm planning to do a banana peel soap for my project. Am I just going to mix these ingredients and let it sit at room temperature to harden? Thank you!
Celine says
Hi Affrodite, I used fresh bananas in this soap without the banana peel. I liked the look of it better when I put the soap in the freezer after pouring it turns less brown. Keep in mind that this is a recipe for cold process soap, if you've never made soap before I recommend you read up on lye safety before you start. Happy Tinkering 🙂
Seetha says
Hi Celine,
Thanks for this post.
Is there any difference in the quality of soap or lather when the very ripe banana was used ? Which one was good in your opinion?
Thank you
Celine says
Hi Seetha, good question. The riper the banana the higher the sugar content and the stronger the lather will be. I liked the ripe banana the lather was creamy and abundant. Happy Tinkering 😊
sandy j wolfe says
in measurement is it cups and spoonfuls or what and 1 bannasa or what how ripe
plus can you use as a melt and pour
Celine says
It's 2 ounces, you should always measure in weight when making soap. I don't recommend using fresh fruit in melt and pour soap, you run the risk of spoilage. Happy Tinkering:)
Sujitha says
Hi
For few days now, I have been very curious about making banana soaps. I finally found your article. I have few queries regarding the same.
Should I make up lye and oil mixture and then add banana fruit juice in it?? What is the life span of the soap??
Can you please help me with this
Celine says
Please see my banana and cream soap recipe Banana and Cream Soap yes, the puree is added after the oils and lye are mixed. Happy Tinkering 🙂
Yulia says
Hi Celine! I am starting with soapmaking and am very curious about banana being an ingredient. Vwhst do you think about using dried banana skin? Have you tried it? Would love to know what you think about it. Thank you.
Celine says
Hi Yulia, I’ve never tried dry banana peel, but there could be a chance it could turn your soap brown or blackish. Let me know if you try it!
cathy patient says
Hi, im new to soap making im using melt n pour bases can you use banana in that?
Celine says
No unfortunately not.
Brittany Atkins says
I tried your recipe in about a three lb loaf and followed it precisely. It still did a dark circle gel in the middle even after putting it in the freezer for almost 24 hours. I’m discouraged because a lot of soaps I’m making lately are gelling and I don’t like it. I’m waiting for my oils to cool as well. Any advice? I’d love to have this banana soap turn out
Celine says
I'm sorry to hear that. It might be that your room temperature is too high in the summer months.
Hana says
I just made a banana soap with coconut milk about 2 weeks ago. I didn't insulate or do oven process since it was already heating up the moment I put my batter in the mold. It gelled but not completely so there are parts that have turned like the color of oats and the outer un-gelled rim is cream.
The speckles are from the banana seeds and they are well dispersed across the bars. The lather is rather nice! They're big and fluffy and rich.
I didn't read much about how much of the whole ripe banana I should use per pound of oils so I just put in the whole ripe banana that I had and blended them in my 1000 gram oils until there weren't any large chunks visible.
Now I'm praying that I won't smell anything rotting in the bars after 2 more weeks of cure time....
Celine says
I'm glad you tried this recipe. Let me know how it turns out.
Tracy says
What about putting a small amount of lemon juice in the soap if you don't Wang it to turn brown or even some of the lemon pulp?
Celine says
HI Tracy, I've never tried that method. I know that the acidity of lemon juice can mess with how effective your lye solution will be.