How to Make Dandelion Soap – And Why You Should

Dandelion soap is such a mood lifter in the early spring as the bright yellow flowers start popping up everywhere after the long, cold winter. This colorful and fragrant soap is wonderful to use any time of the year, and leaves the skin feeling fresh and well moisturized.

This recipe used a glycerin melt-and-pour base to make the dandelion soap bars. You can choose any melt and pour base to create the same soap without adjusting any of the ingredient measurements or processing times.

Dandelions are often an active base ingredient in natural body care products such as soap, massage oil, shampoo, lotions, hair conditioner, face masks, ointments, bath teas, creams, body scrubs, and bath bombs.

Why Are Dandelions Good To Use In Soap?

• Dandelions contain significant amounts of both vitamins A, C, D, B1, B2, B3, B6, and B12.
• The hardy little yellow wildflowers (that are sadly deemed mere weeds) also contain significant amounts of zinc, manganese, copper, iron, magnesium, choline, calcium, potassium, and copper.
• The antioxidant properties in dandelions can help fight damage caused by free radicals and perhaps even slow down the signs of aging.
• Dandelions may also help treat common and minor skin rashes and help soothe more chronic skin issues, like dermatitis and eczema.
• Powdered dandelion roots may help make curly and wavy hair more manageable.
• The roots from dandelion flowers may also enhance hair growth.
• Soaps (and of course shampoo and conditioner) made from dandelions may also be helpful in eliminating dandruff, and moisturizing both the hair and scalp.
• Dandelion-based soap is also excellent for correcting oily or greasy hair problems – in my personal experience gleaned from making a bath soap for loved ones.
• Dandelions may help relieve and prevent issues commonly associated with athlete’s foot.
• Using dandelion soap on acne prone skin can help heal the pimples, and possibly prevent them and blackheads.
• Age spots are yet another common skin and aging issue that may be aided by the use of dandelions.
• If you want to treat and prevent warts naturally, using dandelion soap may help you do so.
• Natural beauty products and soaps that contain any part of the dandelion plant may also help to both tone and firm sagging skin caused by the course of aging.
• Washing your hands with a bar of dandelion soap can help reduce the inflammation and pain associated with common insect stings, and bug bites.

What Part Of Dandelions Can Be Used?

Dandelions are not only one of the oldest known flowers on the planet, they are also among the most versatile. Not only have all parts of dandelions been used in food and remedies, but the leaves, flowers, and roots may also be used in soapmaking.

In soap making, regardless of what type of base you are using, it is best to use only dried ingredients – but is especially important when using a melt and pour base. A bar of soap can only handle a small amount of water content and still cure properly.

Fresh flowers and other natural material can cause fungus and bacteria to grow when placed in a melt and pour soap base.

Print Recipe

Dandelion Soap Recipe

Equipment

• Soap molds – if you do not own soap molds, a plastic disposable drinking cup cut to size or just about any small plastic container, will work.
• Glass measuring cup or another type of microwave safe container.
• Mixing spoon
• Measuring spoons
• Sharp knife

Ingredients

• 2 pounds melt and pour soap base
• 1 cup dandelion tincture
• 1 teaspoon either dried and powdered dandelion roots and leaves or combination of the two optional
• Essential Oils optional, for added fragrance

Instructions

• Cut up 4 chunks of the chosen soap base, and put them in a glass measuring cup or microwave safe container.
• Place the container in the microwave and heat for approximately 35 seconds.
• Add in up to five drops of essential oils for added fragrance if desired and stir thoroughly to combine. I recommend eucalyptus or lavender, if you feel the bar needs to have an additional scent.
  
• Place your soap molds on the counter so they will be ready to use once the soap base chunks have melted.
  
• Remove the container from the microwave, and stir in the dandelion tincture to combine thoroughly.
• Stir the dandelion infusion into the hot soap base for at least 15 seconds to ensure the thick oil is thoroughly combined.
  
• Pour the mixture into the awaiting molds – unless you want to add additional visual interest to the bar using one of the steps below. It will take roughly two to three hours for standard size soap bars to cure completely at room temperature – or a half an hour in the refrigerator.
  
• If you want the dandelion soap to have a top of exposed dandelion parts, place the desired amount of dried and powdered pieces in the soap molds now – arranging them how you want them to look before pouring in the hot soap base.
• If you are using a clear glycerin soap and want the bar to have the look of a suspended floral soap, fill the base halfway full with the hot soap base and then sprinkle in the wanted parts. Allow this to cure for about 3 hours at room temperature on the counter or for about 30 minutes in the refrigerator. Once the first part of the soap bar has fully cured, fill it up the rest of the way with more melted and hot soap base, and allow it to cure as well.

On average, bars of soap made from a melt and pour soap base will maintain their hard shape, color, and scent for about 12 months when both made and stored properly The soap should be stored at room temperature or cooler, and away from direct sunlight.

A glycerin soap base is typically more susceptible to diminished quality due to heat exposure than melt and pour soap bases that use goat’s milk, aloe vera, oatmeal, or shea butter.

Always allow the soap to cure fully before using, storing in an airtight container, or wrapping it up to give as a lovely gift made straight from the homestead.