An olive oil soap recipe for beginners is a simple cold process method that combines olive oil with hard oils like coconut oil and butters such as shea or cocoa butter to create a balanced bar. To make it, mix a lye solution (sodium hydroxide and water), blend with melted oils at around 100–110°F, then stick blend to trace before pouring into a mold. Olive oil provides gentle cleansing and moisture, while added butters improve hardness and creaminess. After unmolding, the soap should cure for 4–6 weeks to become mild, long-lasting, and skin-friendly.

As an Amazon Affiliate I may earn small commissions on products purchased through links on this page.

🧼 Recipe 1: Olive Oil + Shea Butter Soap (Creamy & Conditioning)

Why this works:
Olive oil gives a gentle, conditioning bar, while shea butter adds creaminess and a more stable, longer-lasting soap.

🧪 Formula (Percentages)

• Olive Oil – 55%
• Organic Virgin Coconut Oil– 25%
• Shea Butter – 15%
• Castor Oil – 5%

⚖️ 1 lb. (454g oils) Batch

• Olive Oil – 250g
• Organic Virgin Coconut Oil – 113g
• Shea Butter – 68g
• Castor Oil – 23g

Lye (NaOH): ~64g
Water: ~150g (about 2.3:1 water:lye ratio)

⚠️ Always run your recipe through a lye calculator to confirm.

The calculator we use is Soapcalc.net

✨ Optional Add-Ins

• 1–2 tsp kaolin clay (for slip + silkiness)
• 15–25g fragrance or essential oil
  

Shop This Post: My Favorite Soap & Bath Making Supplies – Blue Dragonfly Handmade

🧼 What to Expect

• Creamy, stable lather (not super bubbly, but luxurious)
• Very moisturizing
• Great for dry or sensitive skin
• Cure time: 4–6 weeks                                                                                                    

🧼 Recipe 2: Olive Oil + Cocoa Butter Soap (Firm & Luxurious)

Why I chose cocoa butter:
It adds hardness and a rich, protective feel while still keeping the bar gentle.

🧪 Formula (Percentages)

• Olive Oil – 50%
• Organic Virgin Coconut Oil – 25%
• Cocoa Butter – 20%
• Castor Oil – 5%

⚖️ 1 lb. (454g oils) Batch

• Olive Oil – 227g
• Organic Virgin Coconut Oil – 113g
• Cocoa Butter – 91g
• Castor Oil – 23g

Lye (NaOH): ~65g
Water: ~150g

⚠️ Always double-check with a lye calculator.

Soapcalc.net

✨ Optional Add-Ins

• Cocoa powder (for natural color)
• Vanilla or warm fragrance oils
• 1 tsp sodium lactate (harder bar, easier unmolding)

Shop This Post: My Favorite Soap & Bath Making Supplies – Blue Dragonfly Handmade

🧼 What to Expect

• Hard, long-lasting bar
• Creamy + slightly more bubbly lather than Recipe 1
• Feels rich and protective on skin
• Cure time: 4–6 weeks                                                                                                    

🧴 Basic Process (Quick Overview)

1. Put on gloves + goggles
2. Mix lye into water (never the other way around)
3. Melt hard oils/butters, add liquid oils
4. Combine lye + oils at ~100–110°F
5. Stick blend to light trace
6. Add fragrance/add-ins
7. Pour into mold
8. Unmold in 24–48 hours
9. Cure 4–6 weeks

Soap Cutters & Soap Molds: A Beginner-Friendly Guide to Choosing the R – Blue Dragonfly Handmade

💡 Pro Tips (these make a BIG difference)

• Keep coconut oil around 20–30% for good lather without dryness
• Castor oil at 5% max boosts bubbles without stickiness
• Shea butter = creaminess; cocoa butter = hardness
• Longer cure = better soap (seriously) 

Shop This Post: My Favorite Soap & Bath Making Supplies – Blue Dragonfly Handmade

Related Posts: What Is Lye in Soapmaking? – Blue Dragonfly Handmade

Cold Process Soap for Beginners: Everything You Need to Start – Blue Dragonfly Handmade

Top 6 Highest Rated Books to Learn Soapmaking – Blue Dragonfly Handmade