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Experience the tropics with this zesty lemon and creamy coconut milk soap recipe. This recipe has been a long time coming, but I am so excited to finally share it with you!
A couple of things to note before we get started.
This uses a cold process soap-making method, and patience is required to allow the soap to cure properly.
In addition to being a cold process soap, there are a few extra steps, like freezing the liquid beforehand. Please be sure to read the instructions carefully beforehand and measure out the ingredients precisely.
If you make any adjustments to the recipe, you will need to recalculate with a soap calculator.
Finally, these bars take around 6 weeks to cure, making the soap ready for use. But it’s worth the wait, I assure you!
Coconut milk soap recipe
To make this coconut milk soap, you will need to prep beforehand.
You’ll need the supplies and ingredients, and I advise you to lay everything out on a table so you can see what you’ve got before you start the soap-making process.
Also, safety equipment is essential when making soap, so have an apron, goggles, and gloves at the ready.Lye will burn the skin and create fumes that we should not breathe.
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Supplies needed:
- Digital scale
- large bowl
- Immersion blender
- Gloves, mask, goggles, and protective clothing
This recipe is made with 5% superfat.
Coconut Milk Soap Ingredients:
Oils & Fats
- Coconut oil 6 oz
- Palm oil 6 oz
- Castor oil 4 oz
- Olive oil 2 oz
- Oils & Fats Total: 18 ounces
Liquid & Lye
- Coconut Milk 5.83 oz
- Lye 2.61 oz
- Liquid & Lye Total 8.44 ounces
Fragrance
- 30 drops of lemon essential oil
Coconut Milk Soap Instructions
- Step 1: Ensure you work in a well-ventilated area and wear proper safety gear. To begin, measure out the coconut milk and place it in the freezer at least three hours ahead of time. You can also pour the coconut milk into ice cube trays.
- Step 2: Measure out the lye in a separate container. Then, remove your frozen coconut milk from the freezer and add it to a clean, large glass bowl that is safe for high temperatures. Carefully add the lye to the milk.
- Be ultra careful during this step as the mixture will heat up quickly due to the lye. Give it a gentle stir to ensure the lye fully coats the frozen milk.
- Once the milk is fully melted and the lye is dissolved, set it aside out of kids’ reach.
Pro Tip #1: Make sure the jar you’re using is safe for rapid hot temperatures.
Pro Tip #2: Wear a mask and work in a well-ventilated area.
Pro Tip #3: Always add the lye to the milk. Never add the milk to the lye.
- Step 3: Melt the oils and fats in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Once melted, transfer them to a large mixing bowl with tall sides and set it aside to cool to about 100°F
- Step 4: Once the melted oils and fats have cooled to 100°F, slowly add the lye/coconut milk a little at a time and mix with an immersion blender. Continue mixing with the immersion blender until it comes to a light trace.
- Step 5: Then add your essential oils and continue mixing with the immersion blender until it comes to a medium trace.
- Step 6: Pour the soap into your prepared soap molds and allow them to harden for three days before removing them from the molds.
- Step 7: Lay the bars on their ends about an inch apart and allow them to cure for six weeks before using.
The key ingredients
- Coconut milk: known for its deeply moisturizing effect, coconut milk is also soothing and calming to the skin. It also has a gentle lightening effect, helping decrease the appearance of age spots and sun spots.
- Palm oil: Helps soap have that characteristic hard surface, meaning it lasts longer. Also, palm oil contributes to a creamier lather. Remember to shop for sustainable palm oil only.
- Olive oil: This oil is deeply moisturizing and good for the skin. I even use this as the main ingredient in these soap bars.
- Castor oil: A fantastic cleansing agent, helpful in removing skin impurities and dirt. It also contributes to this soap’s lather, making it a pleasure to use on the skin.
A cold-process coconut milk soap uses coconut milk as the primary liquid source (instead of water.)
It results in a creamy, luxurious texture with a trademark coconut scent, which, admittedly, is quite mild. But at least the beautiful lemon scent stands out strikingly!
The ‘cold process’ method means you mix the oils and fats in the soap mixture with an alkali substance (such as lye) to initiate the saponification process.
Saponification is what transforms oils and fats into soap.
Using milk to make soap bars
Milk is popular to use as a soap base due to its creamy lather production, making the soap a pleasure to use.
Many kinds of milk moisturize the skin, including goat’s milk or, in this case, coconut milk.
This moisturizing effect also means that milk can be soothing to the skin, helping calm down blemishes, spots, and any areas of redness on the face and body.
The great news is – coconut milk is all these things and more!
Tips and precautions
- You need to freeze the coconut milk because it will scorch when the lye is added to it. The freezing process stops this from happening.
- Look for coconut milk that is pure with no added ingredients. Avoid the cooler section in stores as the coconut milk there might contain additives and flavors.
- Take extra care at all times when working with lye. It’s harmful to the skin and body and will cause burns if any splashes on your skin, which is why I advocate for larger mixing bowls, and all the safety equipment to prevent any mishaps.
- Use separate utensils and bowls solely for soap-making purposes, independent from any shared regular kitchen supplies.
FAQs
Can I make soap without lye?
No, you can’t. Lye is needed for saponification to occur, which is where the fats and oils turn into soap. It’s a chemical reaction that only happens when lye is present.
There are melt and pour options, where the lye step has already been completed, and you can simply add your personal touches. Try this melt and pour recipe here!
How long does cold-process soap take to cure?
It takes around five to six weeks for soap to cure. This is where the soap settles and hardens fully, allowing any excess water or milk to evaporate.
Can I substitute the ingredients for ones I have on hand?
Yes, the oils and fats may be substituted. However, you must recalculate everything with a soap calculator.
Is coconut milk soap good for the skin?
Yes! Compared to anything you could buy in conventional soap form, coconut milk soap is natural, soothing, moisturizing, and just downright lovely to use on your skin.
This post’s coconut milk soap recipe contains no harsh chemicals or preservatives in the final product.
I hope you enjoy this recipe and making lemon-scented coconut milk soap at home. Remember to follow the instructions and adhere to safety precautions, and you won’t go wrong.
And most importantly, have fun!
For more exciting soap recipes, check these out:
- Sea salt soap bar recipe
- Easy turmeric soap recipe
- Simple coconut oil soap bar recipe
Lemon scented coconut milk soap recipe
Laura Ascher
Experience a tropical fusion of zesty lemon and creamy coconut in this coconut milk soap recipe.
4.67 from 3 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe Save Recipe
Project Type Bath and Beauty
Prep Time 20 minutes mins
Active Time 30 minutes mins
Additional Time 40 minutes mins
Total Time 1 hour hr 30 minutes mins
Equipment
large bowl
Gloves, mask, goggles and protective clothing
Ingredients
Instructions
Make sure you’re working in a well-ventilated area, away from any kids, and wearing proper safety gear. (long sleeves, gloves, goggles and a mask).
Measure out your lye and set aside.
Next, measure out the coconut milk and place it in the freezer at least three hours ahead of time. I like to pour the coconut milk into ice cube trays so they come out easily.
Remove your frozen coconut milk from the freezer and add it to a clean, large glass bowl that is safe for high temperatures. Carefully add the lye to the milk. Be ultra careful during this step as the mixture will heat up quickly due to the lye. Give it a gentle stir to ensure the lye fully coats the frozen milk. Set aside to cool.
Next, melt the oils and fats in a small saucepan over medium-low heat. Once melted, transfer them to a large mixing bowl with tall sides and set it aside to cool to about 100°F
Once the melted oils and fats have cooled to 100°F, slowly add the lye/coconut milk a little at a time and mix with an immersion blender. Continue mixing with the immersion blender until it comes to a light trace.
Then add your essential oils and continue mixing with the immersion blender until it comes to a medium trace.
Pour the soap into your prepared soap molds and allow them to harden for three days before removing them from the molds.
Lay the bars on their ends about an inch apart and allow them to cure for six weeks before using.
Notes
Wear a mask and work in a well-ventilated area.
Make sure the jar you’re using is safe for rapid hot temperatures. Do Not use the same container that you froze the coconut milk in to add your lye!
Always add the lye to the milk. Never add the milk to the lye.
Once the milk is fully melted and the lye is dissolved, set it aside out of kids’ reach.
Use separate utensils and bowls solely for soap-making purposes, independent from any shared regular kitchen supplies.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!
This recipe is for your own viewing pleasure and is not meant for healing purposes. Readers must perform their own research and tests before making any recipe.
