Orange Peel Handmade Small Batch Cold Process Soap

Ingredients (INCI):
Sodium Olivate, Sodium Cocoate, Sodium Avocadate, Sodium Ricate, Sodium Shea Butterate, Sodium Cocoa Butterate, Sodium Castorate, Fragrance, Citrus Aurantium Amara (Bitter Orange) Peel, Kaolin

Key Ingredients: sweet almond oil

All the oils—olive oil, coconut oil, castor oil, and sweet almond oil—are used as a comprehensive blend for moisturizing and lather.

Sweet orange essential oil is a key fragrance component, along with other essential oils, for a natural and long-lasting citrus scent. Room temperature distilled water is used for dissolving lye and ensuring purity. Sodium lactate improves texture and hardness.

Orange peel powder provides natural color and texture; a coffee grinder can be used to micronize botanicals or orange peel powder for smooth integration into the soap batter. Orange peels are included for decorative and aesthetic appeal.

When using botanicals or colorants, consider using the entire bag of a pre-measured ingredient for consistency. Other additives such as botanicals or natural colorants offer enhanced benefits. Sodium olivate, sodium cocoate, sodium avocadate, sodium ricinate, sodium shea butterate, sodium cocoa butterate, sodium castorate, fragrance, citrus aurantium amara, and kaolin are also included.


This combination forms the basis of the orange peel handmade small batch cold process soap recipe.

Leaves skin feeling clean, soft, and lightly scented with citrus. The blend of oils provides moisturizing benefits. This is a handmade soap crafted using the cold process method for a natural soap experience. Kaolin contributes to a smooth, gentle cleanse. The longer curing time allows the saponification process to fully complete, ensuring a high-quality finished soap that results in a harder bar with an extended shelf life.

Before you use or make soap at home, always follow safe handling practices. This means goggles (safety goggles), rubber gloves, long sleeves, and other safety gear to protect your skin and eyes from lye and hot ingredients. Work in a well ventilated area, and be sure kids, pets, and other distractions are kept away from your workspace to avoid tripping hazards and ensure a safe environment.

When you make soap, slowly add lye to room temperature distilled water to create the lye solution (lye water), and gently stir until the lye is fully dissolved. For cold process soap making, use a stick blender (or immersion blender) to stick blend the oils and lye solution together, gently stirring at certain stages to avoid overmixing and to achieve a smooth, even soap batter.

The main difference between cold process soap making and the hot process method is that hot process soap involves a cooking step, resulting in hot process soap that is ready to use much faster. Melt and pour is another alternative, where you simply fully melt a pre-made base and add your own colors and scents—ideal for beginners. If you want to learn more about making soap at home, check out our orange soap recipe or detailed blog post for step-by-step instructions and tips.

Lather onto wet skin, massage, and rinse. This bar soap is designed for easy lathering and can be used directly on the skin or lathered in your hands. The soap batter is carefully mixed to minimize air bubbles, resulting in a smooth, even bar. A lather quick mix technique is used to ensure a rich, creamy lather every time you use it.

Its lively citrus aroma and creamy texture make it a refreshing favourite. This soap makes a wonderful gift for any occasion.

Made with natural items, including botanicals and citrus essential oils, it is the result of artisanal soap making.

This homemade soap is a popular choice for those who appreciate handcrafted quality.