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3 Fall Soap Recipes – Easy with herbal coloring

Posted by Kelly Handmade Soap, Homemade Soap Recipes 13 comments
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September is a great month to start making these Fall Soap Recipes. After three to four weeks, they’ll be ready in time to use during October and November. They’re also great as holiday gifts for teachers, Fall get togethers, and Thanksgiving.

3 Fall Soap Recipes - natural cold process soap from Simple Life Mom

The past few years, I’ve shared a number of fun soap recipes for Autumn.

  • 5 Fall Soap Recipes
  • 5 More Fall Soap Recipes

This year, I was excited to come up with three MORE!

These wonderfully fun new Fall soap recipes are: Hot Chocolate, Cranberry Orange, and Vanilla Maple

If you need more help getting started with soap making, check out my Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners. It’s currently #1 in Soap Making on Amazon!

The Natural Soapmaking Book for Beginners by Kelly Cable

3 Fall Soap Recipes

Here are the Hot Chocolate, Cranberry Orange, and Vanilla Maple soap recipes. They all make 3lbs or 12 four ounce bars of soap. You can double or halve these recipes. I’ve done so with great success.

Fall Soap Ingredients

You can add color to these recipes as instructed to in the directions, or you can leave the coloring out. All coloring is 100% natural (I only use natural and healthy methods and ingredients), but the scents themselves make the soaps wonderful with or without the coloring.

I use essential oils for scents, never fragrance oils. You can learn more about why here.

I like to use one ounce of essential oils per two pounds of soap. I use a variety of brands. I really like the quality of Starwest Botanicals.

Hot Chocolate Soap Recipe

This hot chocolate soap recipe gets its scent from the cocoa butter and cocoa powder that is added to the recipe. You’ll make a chocolate base with a “marshmallow” or “creamy foam” white topping.

Feel free to add some peppermint essential oil (1/2 to 1 ounce) if you’d like a mint chocolate scent.

10% superfat, 3lbs or 12 four ounce bars

Ingredients:

  • 10 ounces olive oil
  • 9 ounces coconut oil
  • 7 ounces cocoa butter
  • 5 ounces castor oil
  • 4 ounces shea butter
  • 4. 4 ounces lye
  • 12 ounces water
  • 1-2 Tablespoons cocoa powder

Directions:

  1. Combine olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, castor oil, and shea butter in a large stainless steel pot and melt over medium heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool to 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Weigh lye into a plastic disposable bag. Weigh water in a plastic bowl. Go outside with ingredients and large spoon. Wearing gloves and charcoal mask and long sleeve shirt, add lye to water and stir until lye is dissolved. Allow to cool to 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. Prepare 3lb mold by lining with wax paper if needed.
  4. Pour lye water into pot of oils and stir with a hand mixer for 1-3 minutes. Repeat until soap begins to thicken to light trace (See: What is trace). If you are adding peppermint essential oil, now is the time. Stir well.
  5. Separate 1 cup of soap into a separate bowl.
  6. Add cocoa powder to larger batch 1 tablespoon at a time until you are happy with the color.
  7. Pour cocoa soap into mold.
  8. Slowly, using a spatula to slow the pour if necessary, pour white soap over the cocoa soap. This is easiest when the soap starts to thicken to medium or thick trace.
  9. Cover and insulate for 24 hours (do not insulate if your house is above 80 degrees). Remove from mold and cut. Allow to cure for 3-6 weeks, until hard.

Below is the printable version of the recipe so you can easily keep it handy. Make this with friends!

3 Fall Soap Recipes from Simple Life Mom
Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Hot Chocolate Soap

A natural Fall Soap recipe with cocoa butter and peppermint
Prep Time1 hour hr
Insulation Time1 day d
Cure Time21 days d
Type: Cold Process
Superfat %: 10%
Keyword: cold process soap, fall soap recipe
Makes: 3 pounds
Author: Kelly

Equipment

  • 1 measuring spoons
  • 1 large stainless steel pot
  • 1 scale
  • 1 rubber spatula
  • 1 large glass bowl
  • 1 3lb soap mold
  • 1 stick blender
  • 1 small glass bowl

Ingredients

  • 10 ounces olive oil
  • 9 ounces Coconut Oil
  • 7 ounces cocoa butter
  • 5 ounces castor oil
  • 4 ounces shea butter
  • 4.4 ounces lye
  • 12 ounces water
  • 1-2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • 1 ounce Peppermint Essential Oil optional

Instructions

  • Combine olive oil, coconut oil, cocoa butter, castor oil, and shea butter in a large stainless steel pot and melt over medium heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool to 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
    10 ounces olive oil, 9 ounces Coconut Oil, 7 ounces cocoa butter, 5 ounces castor oil, 4 ounces shea butter
  • Weigh lye into a plastic disposable bag. Weigh water in a plastic bowl. Go outside with ingredients and large spoon. Wearing gloves and charcoal mask and long sleeve shirt, add lye to water and stir until lye is dissolved. Allow to cool to 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
    4.4 ounces lye, 12 ounces water
  • Prepare 3lb mold by lining with wax paper if needed.
  • Pour lye water into pot of oils and stir with a hand mixer for 1-3 minutes. Repeat until soap begins to thicken to light trace (See: What is trace). If you are adding peppermint essential oil, now is the time. Stir well.
  • Separate 1 cup of soap into a separate bowl. Add cocoa powder to larger batch 1 tablespoon at a time until you are happy with the color. Pour cocoa soap into mold.
    1-2 tablespoons cocoa powder
  • Slowly, using a spatula to slow the pour if necessary, pour white soap over the cocoa soap. This is easiest when the soap starts to thicken to medium or thick trace.
  • Cover and insulate for 24 hours (do not insulate if your house is above 80 degrees). Remove from mold and cut. Allow to cure for 3-6 weeks, until hard.

Cranberry Orange Soap Recipe

I have tried straight up cranberries and cranberry juice in soap a few times. It does not stay a pretty pink/red color. It turns brown.

So this soap is more in the spirit of cranberries. You’ll add a little bit of cranberry juice, but you can leave it out if you want to. We’ll get the color another way (All natural of course). This is going to be a half pink, half orange soap bar. Very pretty. Feel free to give it a little swirl as well.

I have a few fun scent combinations for you to try. Which one sounds the best to you?

  • orange and vanilla (smells lie a creamsicle)
  • orange and geranium (floral made gentle with the citrus)
  • orange and lime (sweet and tart like cranberries and oranges)

I’ve gone for orange and lime, but try half and half amounts of any of your favorites.

*Note: If you want a vegan recipe, use the bulk of the vanilla maple recipe below with these additives and instructions.

10% superfat, 3lbs or 12 four ounce bars

Ingredients:

  • 9 ounces tallow (or lard)
  • 8 ounces olive oil
  • 8 ounces coconut oil
  • 5 ounces avocado oil
  • 5 ounces castor oil
  • 4. 6 ounces lye
  • 9 ounces water
  • 4 ounces cranberry juice (pure, not cocktail) If you don’t want to add the cranberry juice, add 4 more ounces of water to lye water.
  • 1 tablespoon rose clay
  • 1 tablespoon orange Moroccan clay
  • 0.75 ounce sweet orange essential oil
  • 0.5 ounce lime essential oil

Directions:

  1. Combine tallow, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, and castor oil in a large stainless steel pot and melt over medium heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool to 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Weigh lye into a plastic disposable bag. Weigh water and in a plastic bowl. Go outside with ingredients and large spoon. Wearing gloves and charcoal mask and long sleeve shirt, add lye to water and stir until lye is dissolved. Allow to cool to 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. Prepare 3lb mold by lining with wax paper if needed.
  4. Pour lye water into pot of oils and stir with a hand mixer for 1-3 minutes. Repeat until soap begins to thicken to light to medium trace (See: What is trace).
  5. Add essential oils of choice and cranberry juice and mix well.
  6. Separate half of soap into a separate bowl.
  7. Add rose clay to one half. Mix well.
  8. Add orange Moroccan clay to the other half. Mix well.
  9. Pour rose soap into mold. Carefully, using a spatula to break the pour if necessary, pour orange soap over the pink soap. Leave as two separate layers or insert a dowel rod or spatula and swirl.
  10. Cover and insulate for 24 hours (do not insulate if your house is above 80 degrees). Remove from mold and cut. Allow to cure for 3-6 weeks, until hard.

3 Fall Soap Recipes from Simple Life Mom
Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Cranberry Orange Soap Recipe

A natural Fall soap recipe with natural coloring and essential oils
Prep Time1 hour hr
Insulation Time1 day d
Cure Time21 days d
Type: Cold Process
Superfat %: 10%
Keyword: Autumn soap, christmas soap, fall soap recipe, holiday soap
Makes: 3 pounds
Author: Kelly

Equipment

  • 1 large stainless steel pot
  • 1 large glass bowl
  • 1 scale
  • 1 rubber spatula
  • 1 3lb soap mold
  • 1 measuring spoons
  • 1 small glass bowl
  • 1 stick blender
  • 1 measuring spoons

Ingredients

  • 9 ounces tallow
  • 8 ounces olive oil
  • 8 ounces coconut oil
  • 5 ounces avocado oil
  • 5 ounces castor oil
  • 4.6 oucnes lye
  • 9 ounces water
  • 4 ounces cranberry juice or 4 more ounces of water
  • 0.75 ounce orange essential oil
  • 0.5 ounce Lime Essential Oil
  • 1 tablespoon rose clay
  • 1 tablespoon orange Moroccan clay

Instructions

  • Combine tallow, olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, and castor oil in a large stainless steel pot and melt over medium heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool to 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
    9 ounces tallow, 8 ounces olive oil, 8 ounces coconut oil, 5 ounces avocado oil, 5 ounces castor oil
  • Weigh lye into a plastic disposable bag. Weigh water in a plastic bowl. Go outside with ingredients and large spoon. Wearing gloves and charcoal mask and long sleeve shirt, add lye to water and stir until lye is dissolved. Allow to cool to 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
    4.6 oucnes lye, 9 ounces water
  • Prepare 3lb mold by lining with wax paper if needed.
  • Pour lye water into pot of oils and stir with a hand mixer for 1-3 minutes. Repeat until soap begins to thicken to light to medium trace (See: What is trace).
  • Add essential oils of choice and cranberry juice and mix well. Separate half of soap into a separate bowl.
    0.75 ounce orange essential oil, 0.5 ounce Lime Essential Oil, 4 ounces cranberry juice
  • Add rose clay to one half. Mix well. Add orange Moroccan clay to the other half. Mix well.
    1 tablespoon rose clay, 1 tablespoon orange Moroccan clay
  • Pour rose soap into mold. Carefully, using a spatula to break the pour if necessary, pour orange soap over the pink soap. Leave as two separate layers or insert a dowel rod or spatula and swirl.
  • Cover and insulate for 24 hours (do not insulate if your house is above 80 degrees). Remove from mold and cut. Allow to cure for 3-6 weeks, until hard.

Vanilla Maple Soap Recipe

Vanilla can be an any time of the year scent. in the summer it reminds me of vanilla sunscreen days. In the winter its a warm and comfortable home.

There is no such thing as a maple syrup essential oil. Since I do not want to use fragrance oils, I choose to add a warm scent to the vanilla: nutmeg. Nutmeg is a scent that is more subtle than cinnamon, and brings out the deeper notes of vanilla. It is a unique scent combined with the sweeter scent of the cocoa butter, which is why I call it vanilla maple.

You can find this soap in my shop if you want to check it out before making it.

*Note: Vanilla extract does not leave a scent in soap. You must use a vanilla oil.

5% superfat, 3lbs or 12 four ounce bars

Ingredients:

  • 8 ounces coconut oil
  • 6 ounces olive oil
  • 5 ounces castor oil
  • 5 ounces sweet almond oil
  • 5 ounces shea butter
  • 4 ounces cocoa butter
  • 4. 6 ounces lye
  • 12 ounces water
  • 0.75 ounces vanilla oil
  • 0.5 ounces nutmeg essential oil

Directions:

  1. Combine coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, sweet almond oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter in a large stainless steel pot and melt over medium heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool to 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
  2. Weigh lye into a plastic disposable bag. Weigh water and in a plastic bowl. Go outside with ingredients and large spoon. Wearing gloves and charcoal mask and long sleeve shirt, add lye to water and stir until lye is dissolved. Allow to cool to 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
  3. Prepare 3lb mold by lining with wax paper if needed.
  4. Pour lye water into pot of oils and stir with a hand mixer for 1-3 minutes. Repeat until soap begins to thicken to light to medium trace (See: What is trace).
  5. Add essential oils and mix well.
  6. Pour into mold, cover, and insulate for 24 hours (do not insulate if your house is above 80 degrees). Remove from mold and cut. Allow to cure for 3-6 weeks, until hard.

Don’t forget that you can find the Vanilla Maple, Pumpkin Spice, Fall Sunset, and other great holiday soaps in my shop: Click here to check out what’s available.

3 Fall Soap Recipes from Simple Life Mom
Pin Recipe Print Recipe

Vanilla Maple Soap Recipe

A natural Fall soap recipe with essential oils
Prep Time1 hour hr
Insulation Time1 day d
Cure Time21 days d
Type: Cold Process
Superfat %: 5%
Keyword: christmas soap, fall soap recipe, holiday soap
Makes: 3 pounds
Author: Kelly

Equipment

  • 1 large stainless steel pot
  • 1 large glass bowl
  • 1 large spoon
  • 1 rubber spatula
  • 1 scale
  • 1 stick blender
  • 1 small glass bowl
  • 1 3lb soap mold

Ingredients

  • 8 ounces Coconut Oil
  • 6 ounces olive oil
  • 5 ounces castor oil
  • 5 ounces sweet almond oil
  • 5 ounces shea butter
  • 4 ounces cocoa butter
  • 4.6 ounces lye
  • 12 ounces water
  • 0.75 ounce vanilla essential oil
  • 0.5 ounce nutmeg essential oil

Instructions

  • Combine coconut oil, olive oil, castor oil, sweet almond oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter in a large stainless steel pot and melt over medium heat. Remove from heat and allow to cool to 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
    8 ounces Coconut Oil, 6 ounces olive oil, 5 ounces castor oil, 5 ounces sweet almond oil, 5 ounces shea butter, 4 ounces cocoa butter
  • Weigh lye into a plastic disposable bag. Weigh water and in a plastic bowl. Go outside with ingredients and large spoon. Wearing gloves and charcoal mask and long sleeve shirt, add lye to water and stir until lye is dissolved. Allow to cool to 90-100 degrees Fahrenheit.
    4.6 ounces lye, 12 ounces water
  • Prepare 3lb mold by lining with wax paper if needed.
  • Pour lye water into pot of oils and stir with a hand mixer for 1-3 minutes. Repeat until soap begins to thicken to light to medium trace (See: What is trace).
  • Add essential oils and mix well. Pour into mold, cover, and insulate for 24 hours (do not insulate if your house is above 80 degrees).
    0.75 ounce vanilla essential oil, 0.5 ounce nutmeg essential oil
  • Remove from mold and cut. Allow to cure for 3-6 weeks, until hard.
3 Fall Soap Recipes - cocoa, cranberries and vanilla. Natural ingredients in the cold process method with natural coloring and essential oils for scent.

Please Share
13 comments

About Kelly

Kelly is the author of number one best seller The Natural Soap Making Book for Beginners and Easy Soap Making. She's also written multiple ebooks on herbal remedies and natural bath and body DIYs. Her journey toward better health has inspired her to make things in and around the home from scratch, start a homestead, and become more resourceful when it comes to health and home. She shares her recipes and DIYs here on Simple Life Mom and has a shop where she sells products for those who would rather buy than make (SimpleLifeMom.com/shop).

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13 comments

Leave your reply.
  • Stella
    · Reply

    October 6, 2020 at 9:12 AM

    Kelly! Very excited to try your cranberry soap. I’m a chef so ingredients that are easily found in the kitchen are VERY appealing. All the recipes have caster oil…..is there something else to sub? I have flax seed, pumpkin seed, walnut etc. From what I have read there is no substitute for castor oil. Thoughts?

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      October 11, 2020 at 6:22 PM

      Castor oil doesn’t have an exact oil equivalent, but you can use honey to add bubbles. Sugar has that reaction in soap. Just make sure you don’t add too much or it will overheat your soap.

  • Blanca Shalhoub
    · Reply

    October 6, 2020 at 5:20 PM

    Hello, I have a question can I add CBD oil to your recipes. thank you

  • Joe Wiedenman
    · Reply

    October 7, 2020 at 9:50 PM

    Hi Kelly I made some of your soap from your book. I’m a 57 year old dad and I made your soap with my daughter as a father daughter project. We made the cinnamin rol soap and it turned out really good. I loved your book The natural soapmaking book for beginners. My only comment is it was really difficult to track down all the oils and fragrances I live in Canada. I finally did find all the ingredients but I think each bar is worth $20. Keep up the good work

    • Kelly
      · Reply

      Author
      October 11, 2020 at 6:12 PM

      What’s way too expensive! Wow! You should definitely try to use only oils that are cheaper on hand. If you let me know what you have, I can help you put together a recipe that would be cheaper. You can still use the book to add coloring and essential oils for scent, while using the cheaper base recipe for the soap.

      • Erin E
        · Reply

        October 17, 2020 at 10:37 AM

        I would second Joe’s comment. I made the first suggested recipe in your book (I believe it’s the tried and true? It just used olive oil, tallow, and coconut oil for the oils…I think). I am currently unemployed, so I’m trying to make CP soap as cheap as possible. I am finding that there is a lack of recipes available for those of us trying to make CP soap on a budget. I’d love to see a series or post of some cheaper recipes. I’d like to make my own recipes, but I’m not sure how comfortable with that I am since I’ve only made literally one loaf, haha.

        Your book is great, all things considered. I’m excited to start making some colors with the wonderful colorant and scents charts you’ve included in your book!

        • Kelly
          · Reply

          Author
          October 19, 2020 at 8:49 AM

          I’ve made recipes specifically for regions of the world based on the oils they have on hand. It is different depending on what you may be able to render or find cheaply. I don’t mind helping if you let me know what’s available in your area.

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