Honey Oatmeal Palm-Free Soap

Creating handmade soap without palm oil supports environmental sustainability while maintaining the high-quality, creamy lather that soap enthusiasts demand. This recipe combines raw honey for its humectant properties and natural enzymatic benefits with colloidal oatmeal for gentle, non-irritating exfoliation. The result is a soap perfectly suited for sensitive, reactive, and eczema-prone skin. The honey adds subtle sweetness to the scent profile, while oatmeal provides visual texture and actual skin-soothing benefits. This beginner-friendly recipe demonstrates that environmentally conscious soap making doesn't require compromising on quality or performance.

Ingredients

Oils & Butters (total: 48 oz / 1361g)

• 18 oz (510g) Olive Oil (37.5%)
• 12 oz (340g) Coconut Oil (25%)
• 10 oz (284g) Avocado Oil (20.8%)
• 5 oz (142g) Sunflower Oil (10.4%)
• 3 oz (85g) Shea Butter (6.3%)

Lye Solution

• 6.5 oz (184g) Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH)
• 15 oz (425g) Distilled Water

Additives

• 2 oz (57g) Raw Honey (added at light trace)
• 3 tablespoons (45g) Colloidal Oatmeal
• 0.7 oz (20g) Essential oil blend: chamomile, lavender, and ylang ylang
• 1 teaspoon (5ml) vanilla fragrance oil (optional, pairs beautifully with honey)
• Dried chamomile flowers for garnish (optional)

Equipment Needed

• Stainless steel or silicone soap mold (2-3 lb capacity)
• Digital scale accurate to 0.1 oz
• Two stainless steel or glass mixing bowls
• Immersion blender (stick blender)
• Soap thermometer
• Safety gear: goggles, nitrile gloves, apron
• Plastic spatulas and wooden spoons
• Measuring spoons
• Heat source for warming oils
• Distilled water container
• Protective workspace covering
• Vinegar (5% acidity) for safety backup

Instructions

Step 1: Workspace Preparation

Cover your work surface thoroughly with newspaper or protective material. Arrange all ingredients and equipment within easy reach in an organized manner. This recipe is beginner-friendly but still requires respect for lye. Put on safety goggles and gloves before any work with lye begins. Ensure good ventilation with windows open and air circulation moving away from your face. Keep vinegar nearby as a lye safety backup.

Step 2: Prepare Your Mold

If using a silicone mold, ensure it's clean and dry, then place on a level tray to prevent tipping. For a traditional mold, line it with parchment paper, smoothing carefully to avoid wrinkles. Parchment should extend slightly beyond mold edges for easy unmolding. Position the mold on a level surface where it won't be disturbed during saponification. For a beginner, a simple silicone mold is most forgiving.

Step 3: Measure and Combine Oils

Using your digital scale, weigh all oils and shea butter precisely. Combine olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, sunflower oil, and shea butter in your mixing bowl. This palm-free combination uses only sustainable oils. Stir the mixture until the shea butter is completely dissolved and the oils appear uniform in color and consistency. No portions should be separated or stratified - the mixture should appear homogeneous.

Step 4: Prepare Lye Solution

Wearing goggles and gloves, carefully add lye to distilled water in a heat-safe glass bowl while stirring slowly. Always add lye to water, never water to lye. Stir constantly - the reaction is exothermic and will heat to 150-200°F (65-93°C). Continue stirring for 1-2 minutes until the lye completely dissolves. The solution should transition from cloudy to clear, indicating complete dissolution.

Step 5: Cool Lye Solution

Allow the lye solution to cool naturally to room temperature - typically 20-30 minutes. You can place the bowl in a larger container of cool (not cold) water to speed cooling, but avoid rapid temperature changes. Monitor constantly with your thermometer. Target 85-110°F (29-43°C) before combining with oils. Gentle, even cooling is preferable to rapid cooling.

Step 6: Warm Your Oils

Gently warm your oils to 85-110°F using a water bath method. Heat slowly - if using microwave, use 30-second pulses with stirring between. Monitor closely with your thermometer. The oils and lye solution should be within 10 degrees of each other. A temperature of 95-105°F is ideal. This beginner-friendly recipe is forgiving with temperature, but consistency still improves results.

Step 7: Combine Oils and Lye

Once both components are at proper temperature, slowly pour the cooled lye solution into your oils while stirring steadily with a plastic spatula. Pour in a thin, steady stream while maintaining constant stirring. This process should take 3-5 minutes. Continue hand-stirring until the mixture noticeably thickens and appears more uniform. At this point, you're ready for blending.

Step 8: Blend to Trace

Insert your immersion blender and pulse rather than continuously running it. Alternate between 10-second pulses and 20-second hand-stirring periods. Continue for 8-10 minutes. Watch for trace - the consistency where soap drips briefly leave trails on the surface. This recipe reaches trace relatively quickly due to the proportion of coconut oil. Don't over-blend - light to medium trace is perfect.

Step 9: Prepare Honey Addition

While the soap is blending, gently warm your raw honey - you can do this by placing the honey jar in warm water until it's liquid and easy to pour. Warm honey incorporates more smoothly than cold honey. Don't overheat the honey, as high temperatures can damage its enzymatic properties. The honey should be warm but not hot - around 110°F (43°C) is ideal.

Step 10: Add Honey at Light Trace

Once light trace is achieved, add your warm honey while stirring vigorously. Pour in a thin stream while stirring - this prevents the honey from clumping or creating sticky pockets. Stir for 1-2 minutes to ensure the honey is thoroughly and evenly distributed throughout the soap. The soap may slightly darken in color and become slightly more translucent where the honey is distributed.

Step 11: Add Colloidal Oatmeal

Once the honey is fully integrated, add your colloidal oatmeal while stirring vigorously. The oatmeal should be finely ground almost to powder consistency - true colloidal oatmeal, not steel-cut or rolled oats. Stir thoroughly for 1-2 minutes to ensure even distribution. You shouldn't see any clumps or oaty streaks - the oatmeal should be uniformly dispersed throughout the soap.

Step 12: Incorporate Essential Oils and Fragrance

Add your essential oil blend (chamomile, lavender, and ylang ylang create gentle, soothing appeal) and the vanilla fragrance oil if using. Stir thoroughly for 1-2 minutes to ensure even scent distribution throughout the batch. The aroma should smell naturally sweet and herbal without being overpowering. The vanilla and honey combine to create a subtle sweetness that appeals to customers seeking gentle, natural soaps.

Step 13: Add Garnish (Optional)

If using dried chamomile flowers for visual appeal, sprinkle them over the top of the soap in the mold just before or immediately after pouring. These will create visual interest and reinforce the chamomile scent profile. However, this is purely optional - the soap is equally beautiful and effective without garnish.

Step 14: Pour Into Mold

Working quickly, pour the soap mixture into your prepared mold. The consistency should be medium trace - pourable but thick enough to hold shape. Tap the mold gently on your work surface several times to release trapped air bubbles. Smooth the top with a spatula, creating an even surface. Try to avoid incorporating too much air - you want a dense, creamy bar.

Step 15: Insulation

Wrap your mold with towels, blankets, or cardboard to insulate it. This maintains the heat from saponification and encourages gel phase development. Place the insulated mold in a warm, draft-free location away from direct sunlight. Do not move or disturb the mold for 24-48 hours. Stability during this period is essential for preventing cracks and separation in your finished soap.

Step 16: Unmold

After 24-48 hours, check if the soap has firmed enough to unmold. It should feel solid and pull slightly from the mold edges. Gently unmold using the parchment paper if lined, or by flexing a silicone mold. If the soap still feels warm or soft, wait another 12 hours. Once unmolded, allow the soap block to cool completely to room temperature before cutting.

Step 17: Cut Into Bars

Using a sharp soap cutter, serrated knife, or wire, cut the soap block into uniform bars. This recipe produces approximately 20 bars of approximately 2 inches wide by 3 inches long by 1.5 inches thick. Use steady, deliberate cutting motions rather than sawing. The honey and oatmeal make the bars slightly softer initially, so be patient and use a sharp cutting tool.

Step 18: Curing

Arrange bars on parchment paper or wooden boards with space between each for air circulation. Place in a cool, dry location away from direct sunlight. Rotate and turn bars occasionally during the first week. Cure for 4-6 weeks minimum. The honey and oatmeal benefits develop during curing. After 6 weeks, the bars will be hard, long-lasting, and perfect for distribution or gifting.

Tips for Success

• Raw honey is important: Processed or pasteurized honey loses enzymatic properties. Raw honey provides real skin benefits including natural enzymes and antimicrobial properties that survive the soap-making process.
• Colloidal oatmeal only: Ground oatmeal to a powder consistency (colloidal form) is essential. Steel-cut or rolled oats will settle and create uneven texture. True colloidal oatmeal stays evenly dispersed throughout the soap.
• This recipe is beginner-friendly: The oil blend is very stable, the trace is predictable, and the recipe is forgiving with temperature variations. If you're new to soap making, this is an excellent starting point.
• Honey benefits: In addition to skin conditioning, honey provides subtle sweet notes to the scent profile and can encourage better lather due to its carbohydrate content.
• Sustainability story: Share the palm-free aspect with customers. Environmental consciousness resonates with many soap buyers, and this recipe delivers on that commitment while maintaining quality.

Variations

• Ultra-Soothing: Replace some lavender essential oil with 0.3 oz of chamomile essential oil and add 1 teaspoon of dried chamomile leaf for an even more soothing bar targeted at extremely sensitive skin or eczema sufferers.
• Honey Enhancement: Increase honey to 2.5 oz for even more moisturizing properties and sweeter scent profile. This creates a slightly softer bar that requires slightly longer curing, but delivers exceptional conditioning.
• Herbal Garden: Add 1 tablespoon of finely ground dried calendula flowers in addition to oatmeal for the famous "oatmeal, milk, and honey" combination with added skin-soothing calendula benefits.

Cost Breakdown

Total Cost: $16.95Estimated Cost per Bar: $0.85

Related Recipes

• Hemp Seed Oil Soap Recipe - Another skin-conditioning option
• Sea Salt Spa Soap Recipe - Exfoliating alternative
• Mango Butter Tropical Soap Recipe - Indulgent tropical option

Troubleshooting Palm-Free Soap

Faster Trace Than Expected

Palm-free recipes sometimes trace faster due to the higher proportion of coconut oil in the blend. If you reach trace quickly, reduce immersion blender time and rely more on hand-stirring to control the process and avoid over-tracing.

Softer Bars

Without palm oil's firmness, these bars may remain slightly softer than traditional soap. This is actually desirable - the soap is more luxurious and creamy. If bars are too soft even after 6-week cure, extend curing to 8-10 weeks or slightly increase coconut oil in future batches.

Honey Separation

If honey appears in golden streaks rather than fully incorporated, this is actually a sign the soap is extra-conditioning. The honey is still providing benefits; it's just not completely dissolved. Stir more vigorously and longer when adding honey to prevent this.

Environmental and Ethical Impact

Choosing palm-free soap is choosing sustainability. Palm oil production is the leading cause of rainforest destruction in Southeast Asia, directly threatening orangutan, tiger, and elephant populations. Each batch of soap made without palm oil represents a vote with your purchasing power for forest preservation and animal habitat protection.

The oils used in this recipe (olive, coconut, avocado, sunflower) are sustainable alternatives that support smaller-scale agriculture and don't require destroying irreplaceable rainforests. By using these alternatives, you're supporting agricultural practices that preserve ecosystems while creating superior soap quality.

Beginner-Friendly Success

This recipe is specifically designed for beginners - the oils are very stable, tracing is predictable, and the recipe is forgiving with temperature variations. If you're new to soap making, starting with palm-free soap teaches fundamental techniques without the complexity of more delicate oils or unusual ingredients.

Sustainability Note: This recipe uses only ethically sourced, palm-free oils supporting rainforest preservation and orangutan habitat protection. By choosing palm-free alternatives, each batch of soap supports environmental conservation while delivering superior quality and skin benefits.

Gift with Purpose: Give palm-free soap to environmentally conscious friends knowing you're supporting both their skin health AND rainforest preservation. Include a note about the environmental choice - many people appreciate knowing their personal care choices align with their values.

Quality Assurance: Palm-free soap makes better bars in many ways - more creamy lather, better conditioning, superior skin feel. The reduction in palm oil actually improves the final product, making this recipe a win-win for both skin and environment.

Honey's Medicinal Properties

Raw honey contains over 180 different compounds, many with proven skin benefits. Enzymes naturally present in raw honey (particularly glucose oxidase) create low levels of hydrogen peroxide on skin, providing gentle antibacterial action without the irritation of commercial hydrogen peroxide products.

Proline and other amino acids in honey support collagen formation and skin elasticity. These building blocks integrate into skin cells during cleansing, supporting cellular regeneration and providing structural support for skin firmness. For aging skin, honey's amino acid content provides measurable benefits in reducing fine lines and improving skin elasticity.

Honey's humectant properties are legendary - it draws moisture from air and deeper skin layers to the surface. This hydration effect is preserved in soap form, making honey soap particularly beneficial for dry, dehydrated skin. The hydration benefits become more apparent over 2-4 weeks of consistent use as skin moisture content increases measurably.

Polyphenols and other antioxidants in honey protect skin from free radical damage caused by sun exposure, pollution, and environmental stress. These protective compounds integrate into the soap during saponification, providing ongoing antioxidant protection during daily cleansing.

Oatmeal Colloidal Properties

True colloidal oatmeal is ground to powder consistency where oat proteins and starches disperse evenly throughout the soap rather than settling. This fine dispersion is crucial - steel-cut or rolled oats won't achieve the same effect.

Oatmeal's starches absorb excess oil without stripping necessary skin moisture. The beta-glucans in oat starches activate immune cells in skin, reducing inflammation and supporting the skin barrier. For eczema and sensitive skin, oatmeal's soothing action is well-documented and scientifically validated.

The gentle exfoliation from oatmeal doesn't create micro-tears like harsh scrubs. Instead, it gently lifts dead skin cells without damaging living skin underneath. This safe exfoliation improves skin texture and circulation while remaining appropriate for regular use even on sensitive skin.

Environmental Impact Beyond Palm

This recipe uses sustainable oil sources at multiple levels. Olive oil production has thousands of years of sustainable history. Avocado oil comes from fruit processing byproducts. Sunflower oil is a rotational crop that improves soil health. Coconut oil, when sourced ethically, supports small-scale farmers rather than industrial agriculture.

By consciously selecting these ingredients, you're supporting sustainable agriculture globally while creating superior soap products. This sustainability story resonates with modern consumers who want personal care that aligns with environmental values.

Beginner Success Metrics

This recipe is ideal for learning soap making because it:

• Traces predictably and consistently
• Is forgiving with temperature variations
• Produces excellent results even if technique isn't perfect
• Teaches fundamental cold-process principles without special handling
• Creates a beautiful, professional-looking finished product
• Requires no specialty equipment beyond basic soap supplies

Success with this recipe builds confidence for advancing to more challenging recipes with delicate oils or specialty ingredients.