Patchouli Soap

Patchouli is a sturdy Asian plant, known for its woodsy fragrance and therapeutic properties. It is used in herbal remedies, and in making beauty products, like perfumes, creams and body wash soaps. Commercially sold patchouli soaps are formulated with fragrant oil extracted from the plant, or most likely its barks. If you are fond of using this soap for its moisturizing effects or just for long-lasting scent, you can try making homemade soaps with patchouli essential oils. Believe me, the resulting patchouli bar soap is much better than store bought ones.

How to Make Patchouli Soap at Home?

The popularity of patchouli soaps is partly due to strong fragrance that suits both men and women. And the recipe is no different from other homemade soap recipes. There is a variation only in replacing the fragrance with specific amount of patchouli essential oil, or bark to get the desired aroma. You can use goat's milk or glycerin soap base for the purpose. For your interest, some handmade patchouli soap recipes with detailed info about requirements and making directions are given below.

Patchouli and Goat's Milk Soap Recipe

Ingredients

• 4-5 ounces goat's milk soap base
• 1 tablespoon grounded patchouli bark
• ½ tablespoon sandalwood essential oil

Directions for Preparation

This simple goat's milk soap recipe with patchouli bark requires absolutely no time for preparation. You just need to start a double broiler and melt goat's milk base. In case, double broiler is not available, take boiled water in a large bowl and melt soap base. By the meantime, prepare soap molds with a mold release agent, and keep them ready. As the base is melted completely, add patchouli bark and mix well. Stir in sandalwood essential oil, and then pour the base in soap molds. They will take about 24 hours to harden. You can cut them into bars, if desired.

Basic Patchouli Soap Recipe

Ingredients

• 7.21 ounces lye
• 19 ounces water
• 2 ounces shea butter
• 2 ounces cocoa butter
• 2 ounces hemp butter
• 1 ounces castor oil
• 10 ounces olive oil
• 10 ounces hemp seed oil
• 10 ounces coconut oil
• 10 ounces palm oil
• 6 ounces palm kernel
• 3 ounces patchouli essential oils

Directions for Preparation

Wear safety gears, and add lye to water in a non-reacting pitcher. As expected, the mixture will become hot. Wait till it cools down to about 100° F. Meanwhile, melt shea butter, cocoa butter and hemp butter. Mix them with castor oil, olive oil, hemp seed oil, coconut oil, palm oil and palm kernel. To this soap concoction, add lye mixture. Stir in patchouli essential oils and mix well. You can pour this in soap molds and leave overnight. Next day, cut the hardened soap into bars. But, complete cure of this soap for dry skin will take 1-1½ months. Loaded with shea butter and healthy oils, this homemade patchouli soap is perfect for providing extra moisture to the skin.

Needless to mention, the organic patchouli soap sold in market is quite pricey (costing about USD 8 for a single bar soap). So, instead of purchasing from beauty stores, you can consider making your own soap with organic based goat's milk, oils, glycerin and lye. The recipe ingredients and directions will remain the same as discussed above. That way, you can still reap the benefits of patchouli soaps, while reducing the cost of buying them. Of course, you need to spend a little more on purchasing organic oils.

So, these were some methods for making homemade soaps using patchouli oil and bark. You can search for additional patchouli bar soap ingredients according to your skin type. Some essential oils that complement patchouli oil include lavender, vanilla and sandalwood. Try adding them in the patchouli soap recipe to get different flavored soaps.