We’ve been making our own hand soap since we started experimenting with essential oils. This was a simple step in removing unwanted chemicals from our home while infusing our lives with the power of essential oils. Plus, it was something we used every day.
This DIY recipe for Homemade Foaming Hand Soap moisturizes while cleansing your hands. We had fun trying different combinations and scents at every sink in the house!
Here’s a fun fact about me: I always thought that there was something special about foaming hand soap…something that made it impossible to duplicate with our own ingredients. Boy, was I wrong!
I found that homemade foaming hand soap is a super easy way to save money and live naturally.
Here are the basics:
- The liquid mixture for foaming hand soap is basically watered down soap. Yup! It’s way less soap than you would normally put into a dispenser. And this simple fact is what will save us so much money this year. One batch of foaming hand soap only takes 1 tablespoon of Castile soap!
- The magic of foaming hand soap is all in the pump. The pump adds air to the liquid and makes it thick and foamy. But I think it works to make us feel like we have “enough” soap to get our hands clean. Or am I the only one whose kids get 3 – 4 pumps of regular soap for one hand washing session…that only lasts 10 seconds, which is a completely different problem!
- The essential oils in foaming hand soap can help moisturize and beautify your skin, not to mention adding a light scent even once your hands are dry.
That’s it. So easy! Enjoy the recipe to make your own homemade foaming hand soap today!
New to essential oils? Learn more about how we use them and why you should use them as well.
Homemade Foaming Hand Soap
Ingredients
- 1 cup distilled water (to prolong shelf life)
- 8 drops Thieves Essential Oil (*see more options below)
- 1 tablespoon unscented Castile soap
- Refillable foaming soap dispenser
Directions
- In a foaming soap dispenser, add the water and essential oil
- Then add the soap
- Put on the pump and screw to attach
- Swirl to combine
- To use: Wet hands. Add a pump of soap. Massage over your hands. Rinse
Here are some alternative essential oils that would be amazing combinations in hand soap:
- Frankincense and Orange
- Because this is basically what heaven smells like, people!
- Elemi and Lemon
- Wowza! This smells like a bright ray of sunshine. You’ve got to try it!
- Lavender and ANYTHING
- Seriously, Lavender Essential Oil basically smells good with almost any other essential oil.
- Seriously, Lavender Essential Oil basically smells good with almost any other essential oil.
Natalie says
Should we use a glass bottle because the oils break down plastic?
Jenn says
You certainly can, however, our dilution ratio is very high so the concentration of oils is not a concern in our recipe in regards to using a plastic container. Plus, YL also uses plastic bottles for their hand soap and their oil ratio appears to be higher than ours. Hope that helps! 🙂
JoAnne Roy says
Can you tell me where you purchased the beautiful amber soap foaming soap dispenser?
Beth K says
Thanks for that comment, Joanne. I bought that soap dispenser at Target a few months ago. I don’t really love the pump action because sometimes sticks in the down position. The clear plastic dispensers linked in the post actually work perfectly in that regard. 🙂
sheila says
I agree. I buy those pretty glass pump bottles and before long it sticks in the down position. I remove it and soak it and still have the problem. So it’s back to the Thieves bottle even though they are not as pretty.
Deborah Klepac says
If you are using a blend is 4 drops of each?
Jenn says
Around 8 drops was a good number for us with the Thieves essential oil. If you are using alternate oils or blends, then go for around that number and add more if needed. (Thieves is pretty strong smelling, so we didn’t use a lot. If your choice of essential oils is a lighter smell, then you might want to use more.) Hope that helps! 🙂
Debbie Forrester says
I made this recipe with Thieves and love the smell, but my hands are drying out. I tried adding some Vitamin E and sweet almond oil, but still feel that same dryness instead of the smooth silky feeling you get from purchased foaming soap. Any ideas on how to fix that?
Beth K says
Debbie, you might try substituting Lavender essential oil for the Thieves. It’s very gentle and great for sensitive skin.
Gizella says
I put about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon jojoba oil in with the Castile soap, swirl, add EOs swirl again and fill with water. Experiment to see how much jojoba works for you, keeps my hands soft.
Dawn Milford says
I really wish you would include the alternate suggestions in the printable form of the recipes.
Jenn says
Hi, Dawn! I completely understand wanting all the suggestions and tips etc. on the recipe, and we do include all the information to make the recipe. From what we’ve found, most people want to be able to save on ink and paper, so they just want the recipe without all the extras. So if printing the recipe off doesn’t work for you – then an alternative suggestion would be to print the entire screen or copy all of our text into an email and print it off that way for you. Hope that helps! 🙂
Beth K says
From what we’ve found, most people want to be able to save on ink and paper, so they just want the recipe without all the extras. So if printing the recipe off doesn’t work for you – then an alternative suggestion would be to print the entire screen or copy all of our text into an email and print it off that way for you. Hope that helps! ?
Dianne says
Where do yoh find the soap castile to make the foamy soap. I live in Canada.
Jenn says
We purchase our Castille soap on amazon. Is that product available in Canada on amazon.com?
Alice says
I bought mine at the Superstore and someone told me that Costco also carries it! Hope this helps!
Jule says
I added a few drops of vitamin E oil you can purchase by pharmacy. Makes hands soft. I love my foaming hand soap. There are lots of scented Castile liquids now too. I have lavender scented.
Beth K says
LOVE vitamin E on my hands and elbows!
Jane Watson says
I have made this previously but find the end of the spout gets clogged up with dried liquid castile soap.
courtney says
I only have peppermint castile soap on hand… would that still be ok with any combination of oils?
Beth K says
It will work, yes. I just prefer to add my own scents with essential oils instead of the scented kinds. 🙂
Donna Pulido says
I saved the foaming pump bottle after used other brand name stuff; works great! Never a problem with clogging. I have experimented with adding Vitamin E, Aloe and Jojoba oil. Going to try Glycerin also.
Love this recipe! Thanks Jenn and Beth.
Marianne says
Hi, i just tried this recipe using grapefruit essential oil. Love the smell of the grapefruit, but i have a problem. How do you get the essential oil to mix with the soap. It sits on the top and the soap that is dispensed has no scent.
Beth K says
Did you try giving it a good swirl/shake? I’ve never really had this problem with this recipe.
Pam Ringguth says
I also make my own foaming soap but my husband doesn’t really like thieves so I use northern lights black spruce for him. However, my water is so hard it curdles my Castille soap & is not kind to our hands. Does anyone have any suggestions as to a replacement?
Cindy Camp says
How about using distilled water? It’s less than a dollar for a gallon at Walmart
Beth K says
Yes, in fact we recommend it. I just updated the post to reflect that. Thanks so much for the feedback.
Joanna says
Do I have to use the unscented Castile soap? Was thinking of using the orange scented Dr Bonners instead??
Recipes With Essential Oils says
Yes, you can use a scented Castile soap like orange or lavender. I just prefer to add my own scents with essential oils.
Becky says
I read a suggestion of 4 drops lavender and 4 drops of lemon myrtle. Sounds interesting! Just need to order lemon myrtle.
Missy says
This is great. Thank you so much for reposting this. I was thinking the same thing about it being impossible to make your own foaming soap. …and yes, my kids use 3-4 pumps of regular soap all the time. I had to go to foaming soap so the sinks would stop clogging every couple weeks. Now that’s gross to clean! Yuk!