Looking for an easy, fun DIY gift idea for Christmas? Give this goat milk soap a try! This festive DIY features a lovely natural peppermint scent from essential oils that will make you feel merry and smell fresh.
‘Tis the season for gift ideas that are fun, easy, and good for you. Here is one homemade gift idea that fits all three of those: homemade peppermint goat milk soap. This soap is so pretty and smells absolutely amazing. Plus with essential oils, it’s an all-natural alternative you can feel good about using!
This peppermint soap looks fancy for very little effort because it’s quite simple to make!
As an added bonus, this soap makes a wonderful homemade gift for friends, neighbors, teachers, anyone on your list!
Exfoliating Peppermint Soap Bar
This goat milk soap recipe is perfect for the winter season and will help you (or your loved ones) slough off that rough winter skin.
Goat milk contains beneficial acids, like lactic acid, that gently and naturally remove dead skin cells from your body. This helps reduce that flaky, itchy skin that can feel so uncomfortable this time of year!
Not only is goat milk soap a gentle soap that offers natural exfoliation, but I’ve given it a boost with the addition of jojoba beads.
Jojoba Beads
These beads are solid wax bubbles made from jojoba oil. These natural exfoliants aid your skin cleansing process and produces natural oils to help lubricate your skin in the process.
It’s also important to note that the addition of jojoba beads in this goat milk soap is environmentally friendly. In the past, microplastic beads were used for beauty product and exfoliation, but these non-biodegradable pieces are frowned upon for the environmental problems they cause. Luckily, these beads are totally degradable and have no harmful impact on the planet.
How to Make this Peppermint Goat Milk Soap Recipe
Let’s dig in! Here’s everything you need to know about how to make these lovely peppermint soap bars.
Supplies Needed:
- 2 lb block of Goats Milk Glycerin Melt & Pour Soap Base
– this is enough for 12 bars - Silicone Mold
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Red Jojoba beads for soap making
- Microwave Safe Measuring Cup w/ Spout
- Spatula
- Decorative tape, burlap, ribbon, and or raffia
– this is enough for 12 bars
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Makes 12 bars
Note: The ingredients and supplies may cost a little initially, but since you can reuse them over and over (aside from the soap base), you will save a lot of money. If you were purchasing these in a store, it typically costs at least $4 for each bar, usually quite a bit more. See where the savings will come in?
How to Make Goat Milk Soap Step by Step
Once you make a batch of this recipe you’ll be hooked! These bars smell — and feel! —incredible. They really are the gift that keeps giving.
Cut your Soap Base
The large block of the soap base is smooth and silky, and it cuts easily with a kitchen knife. First, slice the soap base into strips, then cubes. Then, place them inside the microwave-safe measuring cup.
Melt Soap in the Microwave
Melt in the microwave in 30-second increments, stirring well in between to ensure that the soap is completely melted. It took a minute and 30 seconds for each batch to 100% melt.
You will want to be careful not to overheat your soap as the jojoba beads you will add later will dissolve if the soap is above 130 degrees. I also believe this could be the reason if your jojoba beads float to the top when you don’t want them to. So, my advice is to heat the soap until its barely liquefied and not any hotter.
My pyrex measuring cup was only big enough to melt half of the soap at one time, so I ended up making 2 batches out of the 2 lbs of soap base.
Add Essential Oil and Jojoba Beads
Once the soap is completely melted, add 20-25 drops of peppermint essential oil. Then, add half of your 1-ounce bag of red jojoba beads per batch (you will use 1 ounce of beads total for your 12 bars.) Stir well.
I just love using the jojoba beads for this! They are a perfect addition of color and are a great natural exfoliant that spruces up your soap.
Pour into Molds
Finally, pour the mixture into the soap mold and let sit for at least 45 minutes to cool.
Package as a Gift (Optional)
If you are making these as a gift, a little ribbon goes a long way in making these goat milk soap bars extra festive! I found some Christmas ribbon that I had in my craft stash to wrap around the soap. You could also tie a gift tag to some twine around each bar as the final touch, and maybe add a few peppermint candies to go with it. 🙂
If you decide to make your own, I’d love to see some pictures and hear about your experience!
By the way, this is a very versatile recipe where you can add different scents and experiment with creating your own custom creation! I know this peppermint one is great for Christmas time, but also check out this Lavender Goat Milk Soap variety – this one too is heavenly and just as easy to make!
Other DIY Christmas Gift Ideas:
Looking for even more homemade Christmas gift options? Try these!
- DIY Christmas Candles with Essential Oils
- 3 Easy DIY Christmas Wax Melts
- DIY Air Freshener Spray with Christmas Essential Oils
- How to Make Flower Pens
- Homemade Peppermint Sugar Scrub
Pin the image below to save the recipe for later!
Peppermint Goat Milk Soap Recipe
This Peppermint Goat Milk Soap recipe is so pretty and smells amazing. It’s easy to make and a perfect homemade gift idea!
- Prep Time: 5 mins
- Cook Time: 5 mins
- Total Time: 10 mins
- Yield: 12 bars 1x
Ingredients
- 2 lb block of Goats Milk Glycerin Melt & Pour Soap Base – this is enough for 12 bars
- Silicone Mold
- Peppermint Essential Oil
- Red Jojoba beads for soap making
- Microwave Safe Measuring Cup w/ Spout
- Spatula
- Decorative tape, burlap, ribbon, and or raffia
Instructions
- Slice the soap base into strips, then cubes, and place them inside the microwave safe measuring cup.
- Melt in the microwave in 30 second increments, stirring well in between to ensure that the soap is completely melted. It took a minute and 30 seconds for each batch to 100% melt. My pyrex measuring cup was only big enough to melt half of the soap at one time, so I ended up making 2 batches out of the 2 lbs of soap base.
- Once the soap is completely melted, add 20-25 drops of peppermint essential oil. Then add half of your 1 ounce bag of red jojoba beads per batch (you will use 1 ounce of beads total for your 12 bars.) Stir well.
- Pour into the soap mold and let sit for at least 45 minutes to cool.
valmg @ Mom Knows It All says
I have never made my own soap. This is really pretty, it reminds me of some of the soaps I’ve seen in stores and catalogs.
Grace Hodgin says
I can only imagine how refreshing this s using while taking a shower. I love DIY projects and what a great gift idea too.
Nicole B says
I love homemade soap gifts. Goat’s milk is so nourishing for the skin, too.
Jenny says
That’s one thing I just love about this time of year, all the peppermint! This would smell so good in the shower.
Jacqui Odell says
I wonder how it smells? Looks like it would be pretty easy to make.
Maura says
The goat milk soap base has zero odor. I was concerned about that before I bought it and was concerned what it would smell like. So the only scent the soap has is the wonderful essential oils you add to it!
Carol says
Where do you get the jojoba beads?
Maura says
I ordered mine on Etsy.
Laura Albrecht says
I made this today and not sure what I did wrong. All the jojoba beads floated to the top, so they were all on one side, not intermixed throughout the soap. Any ideas / suggestions? Was thinking I could re-melt it and try again, but not sure what I did wrong. Thanks.
Maura says
This has not happened to me personally, but someone else did ask about their jojoba beads floating to the top. It could be the type of beads or soap was different than the combo I used. Did they float to the top right away, or as the soap was cooling?
If it was gradual and they floated to the top as it was cooling, I wonder if you could stick the soap in the freezer and cool it faster before the beads move around too much??? That is just one guess to try and solve this.
Can you us know the exact brand of soap and jojoba beads you used? I’m curious about this one and would love to do some testing – or at least put a warning in this post about brands of soap and beads this could happen with.
Another thing – how terrible does it look with beads on one side?? A more “striped” soap could be cute too!
Lois says
the same thing happened to me too – it’s not cute – the top is all red and white on the bottom – very disappointed – I followed the recipe exact.
Maura says
Did you use Dr. Adorable’s Goats milk soap? I’m very curious myself and want to know why this happened to you and not me.
Whitelacey says
Sometimes if the soap is too hot when colorants are added, this can happen. Ideally, the soap mixture should be about 130-140 degrees.
Maura says
Thanks for the info!!
Kristen Dahl says
Here’s a great explanation of why jojoba beads are floating. This article from soapqueen.com. You need the temp to be between 120-125 degrees.
http://www.soapqueen.com/bramble-berry-news/sunday-night-spotlight-jojoba-beads/
Maura says
Very helpful – Thank You!
Libbi says
Is the 20-25 drops of peppermint for the whole 2 lbs or just half ??
Maura says
I’d put that much in half.
Teena says
After reading the comments I put the beads in at 140. They still floated to the top.
I tried to remelt it, but got the heat too high and the beads melted. It’s still a pretty bar of soap. There are light traces of the beads on top. And, it smells good. It’s all a learning experience. If I make these again I feel I could probably get it correct.
I am pretty new to soap making and have never used these beads again. The 2nd batch I made had mistakes. I should have cut up the soap, and instead left each bar intact. So, that meant a longer time to microwave to get the soap to melt. I noticed this about half way through, but at that time there was no turning back.
Thanks for sharing your recipe. If I had more beads I’d make another batch…..that’s how confident I am in just making sure to heat the soap base at a higher temp. Wonder if living in a higher elevation has anything to do with this? Silly question. I know with baking it does. We moved from IN to AZ. I always have to bake my foods longer.
Teena says
Whoops, I meant this was the first time I ever used these beads.
Maura says
I would try putting jojoba beads in at 130 degrees next time and see if you can mix them throughout the soap. The higher the temp, the more likely they float and then eventually melt.
Shannon says
You need the SUSPENSION soap base…this allows even distribution of anything added to your soap.
I found that the Goats Milk base had an odour. Still made it, but could definitely smell something other than peppermint.
Heather says
Can I use Shea butter soap instead?
Maura says
Absolutely! You can use any soap base that you can melt.
Carrie says
This is the first Peppermint Soap I’ve tried where I absolutely love how it turns out & the smell is out of this world! Thank you so much. I am so happy to have found an easy recipe where it turns out beautiful enough to give as gifts:)
Maura White says
So glad you enjoyed!
Tonia says
Can you place in freezer to harden faster? I don’t know if I would have patience waiting 45 min to do two-three molds at a time. Or will they be like chocolate and sweat once removed from freezer? Hmmm
Misty Berry says
Can I use Jojaba oil instead of beads?
Maura White says
Misty – I’ve never used jojaba oil. I only used the beads for a splash of color and texture. I believe you could add the oil to your soap base if you’d like though.
Tina says
This only takes 45 minutes to set up? I thought soap takes like 4-6 weeks to cure? Is this different because of using the premixed soap base?
Lisa Hammond says
Because she used a melt and pour soap base. Which only takes a short time to set up. Cold and hot process soap takes weeks to cure.
Jackie says
Even checking the temp with my candy thermometer, as I started pouring the soap, I could tell it was too warm and the beads floated. I (messily) slowly stirred the ones I had already poured. They cooled quickly and the beads distributed. Then, instead, I watched the beads in my pyrex as I occasionally stirred it. The cool thing about the pyrex is that if you just watch it through the side and give it a stir, you can see when the beads are no longer trying to float. then you know that it’s a good time to pour.
Helen says
This sounds amazing! Can’t wait to try. I love the ribbon u used – did u get it on Etsy as well – when I go to the link u had I do not see it – it really looks awesome on the soap. I noticed the comments about the jojoba beads will hv to watch that – I’ve only made soap once before so am new to this. Want to make them as Christmas gifts for my PSW’S – they r awesome – also want to make for my daughter & granddaughter. Many tks for sharing.
Erika says
These photos were taken a few years ago so I honestly can’t remember where I found that particular ribbon. It might have been Hobby Lobby or Etsy.
Helen says
Tks for getting back to me anyway – much appreciated. Stay safe!