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Homemade Body Wash Recipe

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body wash recipe

Can I just say I have never . . .
Had more fun testing a recipe for you?

I mean, I’m a mom, so showers are optional a lot of the time. But when I tested this recipe, I convinced myself that it was my JOB to shower.

It was one I took seriously, especially after one too many recent mishaps with my favorite shampoo bar and my tried-and-true coconut oil body bar. You see, they look identical, which is fine if you mix them up and shave your legs with the shampoo bar. But grabbing the body bar by mistake and washing your hair? Yeah, that doesn’t end well.

The solution? This simple homemade body wash recipe – it creates a rich, bubbly lather, moisturizes while cleansing, and most importantly, can’t be confused with a shampoo bar. Let’s take a closer look at the ingredients, shall we?

Liquid Castile Soap

Made from pure olive, coconut and/or hemp oil, castile soap is incredibly gentle – many with sensitive skin use it exclusively. I prefer this brand.

Honey

Contrary to what you might expect, honey adds moisture and lather without being at all sticky. It’s equally loved by all skin types for its infusion of nutrients: Vitamins B, C, E & K, beta-carotene, magnesium, sulfur, phosphorus, iron, calcium, potassium, copper and manganese. In this recipe it also thickens the mixture and promotes lather.

Moisturizing Oil

Soap can be drying, so it’s important to add a natural moisturizer such as olive, avocado, or almond oil to this recipe to replenish skin’s moisture.

EITHER "This simple DIY homemade body wash recipe creates a rich, bubbly lather and moisturizes while cleansing. All you need are three natural ingredients you probably already have on hand!" OR "Simple DIY homemade body wash recipe – creates a rich, bubbly lather and moisturizes while cleansing. All you need are three natural ingredients you probably already have on hand!

Homemade Body Wash Recipe

Ingredients

To Make

Add all ingredients in a bowl and mix until thoroughly combined. Pour into a squeeze-top or pump-top container.

To Use

Shake well before using. Add body wash to a soft natural sponge or loofah sponge and use like you would any body wash.

Storage/Shelf Life

Up to one year.

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164 Comments

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  3. I have tried a similar recipe that also used honey but it also used coconut oil. The problem I had was that EVERYTHING seperated. I like how this recipe looks and I plan on trying it but I am curious, is the honey essential or would regular store bought honey work?? I am concerned about separating and also cost as we use mainly local raw honey

    reply to this comment

  8. Heather,
    I love your recepies. This one is looking realy good.I just have one question.
    I would like to know if the honey would or could cause yeast infection if it used in the intim parts of your body.
    Thank you for all the help
    I would really appreciate a help with that.

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          • G’day from Down Under!
            I am also unable to buy castile soap and I have not yet found any olive oil soaps so, please let me know of an alternative product or if there is a reliable website where I can obtain castile soap at a reasonable price??

          • I have been getting my Castile from BulkApothecary.com for a couple of years.. I think they ship overseas too. I am going to try making this recipe for bath time tonight!

          • In Australia Dr Bronner has wonderful castile soap as does melrose. You can get it from any healthfood store

      • Actually these days any soap can legally be labeled “castile” regardless of whether it has any olivate. These sort-of-castile soaps are referred to by soap hobbyists as “bastile”, as in bastardized castile.

        So when someone says they got good results using “castile soap”, you don’t really know what kind of soap that was without further info. About the only thing you can tell by that name is that it’s actual soap soap, rather than “soap”, because at least in the USA for the past 40 years you can even label other soaplike detergents as “soap”, but “castile” so far is still reserved for product made of actual fatty acid salt.

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        • Castille soap is very easy to make. I haven’t bought liquid handsoap for about 1.5yrs. You need a slow cooker to make it. 1 bottle of olive oil goes a very long way! You make a paste that is diluted for use and thicken with a little saline. Add essential oils and it’s fabulous. Great satisfaction in using a homemade product. I also made a coconut oil liquid soap that is fantastic for home cleaning. Lots of recipes and instructions online. That’s how I learned. And it’s so cheap as the Dr. Bronner’s etc. Is expensive.

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      • Hi Dell,
        Castile soap is super easy to make. I make mine with olive oil only (the traditional way) and I also make a liquid castile soap. Just google (liquid castile soap recipe). Make it. Save lots of money. I make what I think I would use in the year. Therefore, only one lot of mess. Also shop around for the water prices vary considerably.

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    • Hi Linglee,

      If you haven’t already come across it on the website, there is a coconut shampoo bar recipe available with video turorial, or if you buy heathers book (one of the best books I’ve bought to date – my go to!) she has a honey shampoo recipe amongst many others. Happy shampoo making to you!

      reply to this comment

  14. I LOVE the way this soap makes my skin feel but it just doesn’t get sudsy for me! Is it maybe the kind of water we have at our house? I’d love to get my husband on board with this soap but as long as it’s not bubbly he won’t go near it! 🙂

    reply to this comment

    • I am in the same boat! No foam whatsoever and my husband won’t touch it. I have tried adding more castile soap to no avail. I washed my hands with straight castile soap and didn’t get much foam either, so I think that is my problem. Unfortunately, I have been unable to source another body use brand from the one I am using here in South Africa, but I’ll keep looking as I really love this wash and want my whole family to use it.

      If anyone has a different suggestion that would be great!

      reply to this comment

    • No castille will foam for me, our water is too hard. Ive used a foam pump & the bubbles quickly go flat. I’ve bought castille that is guaranteed to foam up, but it doesn’t. And I’ve made my own, pure, castille since most store bought have coconut soap in them too. Still no suds.

      reply to this comment

    • I have the same problem. It doesn’t suds up at all and even putting it on my bath puff results in no suds and the puff just ends up feeling scratchy on my skin. I am using a ton of the soap because of this. After I run the puff over one arm it feels like there is no soap left on the puff so I have to squirt more onto the puff. I am doing this about 6-10 times while taking a shower. Wish I could get it sudsier and keep the natural properties also.

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    • Hi just one suggestion…i found that if you cant find castile soap, you can also make it yourself with just cheap unscented bars of soap. You shave them down in a big pot and then add about 1 to 2 gallons of hot water and stir until dissolved. It is a great substitute especially if you are on a fixed income as i am.

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  19. I was wondering if you could add an emulsifier ingredient to the recipe in order to prevent the product from separating? I think I will try to do it. I’ve done that with simular recipes before. I dislike the separating, even with shaking the product up, it never mixes evenly.

    reply to this comment

    • No, but I can tell you in advance on general principles, it won’t work unless your water is softened (or if you use so much soap it softens the entire tubful of water). Even then, the oil in this recipe will break the bubbles quickly. And if you do succeed in making a bath sudsy with soap (actual soap soap), say by leaving out the oil in this liquid recipe, it’s going to be more grease-cutting on skin than commercial bubble baths for the same amount of bubbles. Most surfactants used in bubble baths have a higher ratio of bubbliness to detergency than soaps do.

      reply to this comment

  21. Heather, This recipe is awesome!! My family loves (me) “experimenting” with different EOs. I make a big batch (triple recipe) without EOs and pour off to smaller personal bottles that I add EOs to based on the users request. So fun and so wonderful!

    reply to this comment

  24. I just made this body wash recipe last night. Used it this morning and my skin is so soft (which is saying something since I am 8 months pregnant and prone to drier skin right now). It also smells great. I used Lavender castille soap, olive oil, honey, and no added essential oils. Thanks so much! So glad I can eliminate another chemical-laden product I use 🙂

    reply to this comment

  25. Hi I am new to all of this
    Could you please clarify for the 1/3 cup of oils is that 1/3 of each oil also do you have a solution for the separation would the emulsifier work and how much

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      • Hi Heather! Greetings from Maine! As I’ve been reading the comments, someone suggested using an immersion blender. I tried both ways (blending vs shaking) and the blended definitely works better! I am curious though…does blending it take away from the individual properties of the ingredients at all?

        reply to this comment

  28. It is extremely runny. I used ‘straight from the bee’ honey — so raw. I used organic Spectrum’s olive oil — unheated + castile soap.

    I shake it up before every use, but super runny — waste some because it is so runny. Any suggestions to correct this?

    reply to this comment

  34. Hello,
    I was wondering if anyone has noticed the “gross” smell after unscented castile soap is mixed with other products. I’ve added it to sugar scrubs and now made this body was which I love but even after adding essential oils… The smell is so gross. My 7 year old even thinks it smells discusting.
    Any thoughts?
    Thanks

    reply to this comment

    • Hi Alicia, do you think the soap might be interacting with something in the honey or oil? Variations are to be expected with different batches of honey/oil, so perhaps it is something unique to what you have on hand? My body wash smells slightly sweet (honey-like) without essential oils, not gross at all.

      reply to this comment

    • I’ve had the same experience! I paid $15 for raw unfiltered Australian Honey and added EO. The soap smells like old cooking grease, but when I washed my hands with it, I could smell the fragrance I used. Could it be because the honey isn’t solid or creamy?

      reply to this comment

  36. Hi! Any recommendation for an all natural sea sponge? We’ve been using synthetic sponges but I’ve read that these can harbor bacteria so looking for a better option.
    Thanks!

    reply to this comment

  37. I didn’t exactly use this recipe because I didn’t use honey but I’m desperately searching for what I did wrong in the body wash I made. I used dr. Bronners Castile soap and fractionated ( liquid) coconut oil and a little sweet orange essential oil and it worked great the first day but the next day it completely solidified into a gel… Any idea why this would happen??? I’m completely confused as I’ve used all these ingredients in other things and they never solidified…

    reply to this comment

  38. I just made this and it foams beautifully!! I am in the process of going all natural and have made all my own cleaning products, laundry detergent, and EO roller balls for different ailments. I love this recipe, I made it with vanilla and lavender EOs and it smelt so good. My 7year old daughter liked it so I know it’s good!!! Can’t wait to follow you!!

    reply to this comment

  41. I would love to find a DIY body wash that does not start out with buying the base product. I have tried making liquid soap, but with limited luck. Do you or will you at some point find a product you make from start to finish with raw ingredients?

    reply to this comment

  42. I just wanted to say that I bought some of Dr. Bonner’s 18 in 1 Hemp Lavender Castile Soap at GNC for $15.99+ tax on Wednesday. It was a 32 oz. bottle. They also had it in Peppermint and Tea Tree. With tax it only came to $17.11. I think this is a very good buy

    reply to this comment

  43. Looking forward to trying this. I’m curious, though, how this can last up to a year without going bad. Is there some kind of preservative in Castile soap? Otherwise, I can’t imagine bacteria not building up. I’m hoping you can put my mind at ease. Thank you!

    reply to this comment

    • Honey can stay good for years – in fact, unspoiled honey has been found in Egyptian tombs. The two other ingredients, castile soap and oil, also have long shelf lives. Not thousands of years, but at least one. 🙂

      reply to this comment

    • Oils are too thick for foaming pumps. Squeeze in into a loofah and it will foam. I use veg glycerin instead of olive oil and raw honey is too expensive where we live to wash with.

      reply to this comment

  46. I enjoy your posts very much-thank you for sharing!
    But, oh my goodness, you forgot to add a preservative to your wash!! Other than that, I think this would be a doable formula. Honey is a wonderful additive, especially when a preservative is added to a formula to prevent mold.
    When using a formula that contains water, a preservative is necessary to prevent the formation of mold (bacteria). This holds true whether we are making a soap type product, lotion or cream. A cleansing product such as a shower soap or hand wash needs a preservative when water and soap (no matter what other natural ingredients are used) are combined. Adding honey to this type formula will not preserve the product. Honey is a natural food product and by itself, in the jar or bottle, it will NEVER mold. But when we add honey (or aloe vera gel) to a product containing water, bacteria will grow quickly, within a day or two. We can keep the product in the fridge for a few days (WITHOUT a preservative) without having a tremendous amount of bacteria growing but I doubt many of us will go run to the fridge, grab our shower soap then return it after the shower.
    There is an article (from a blog) from a cosmetic scientist, Susan Barclay that we should all read about preservatives! Look for
    “When should you use a preservative?” written on Sunday, January 29, 2002 in the search block on the right side of the screen. Her blog is name Swiftcraftymoney and it will take you weeks to go through and read all of her posts…they go back for many, many years. Susan shares formulas for making skin care and bath products. And she gives explanations about products and why they work…just fascinating information. Most of her blogs are very intense with ingredients that most of us would never buy and use-cost prohibitive unless we are wanting to learn to be skin care formulators. But she does share formulas for simple products without 15-20 ingredients in them that are manageable for the home DIY enthusiast.
    Adding a thickener to the formula will help for those who think it is too thin and watery. Xanthan gum is a good thickener, the powdered product we add to gluten free flour recipes. This will take some experimenting however. The recommended rate of xanthan gum is only 0.1% to 0.3% of the total volume of the product being made. Bone up on your math skills for this formula!! And be sure to use a preservative! I use Optiphen Plus preservative in my soap cleansing product. It is available at many sites like lotioncrafters.com, Elements Bath and Body, etc. I also use Polysorbate 20 to emulsify oils and water (such as essential oils and water) as oil and water do not mix (water is polar, oils are non-polar) and a surfactant is needed to make the oil and water STAY mixed. Shaking does not properly mix a product containing oil and water without a surfactant to emulsify it.

    reply to this comment

  49. How can I use this as a base for a detoxifying body wash with activated charcoal. I want a liquid body wash not a bar soap. I have made this and love it but I want to incorporate activated charcoal.

    reply to this comment

  52. Hi Heather – have been reading a lot of your DIY posts lately (as I’ve been very unwell & started reading up on all the chemicals in all our household products) so your recipes appeal to me. I tried this recipe and like others – the final product isn’t very foamy nor create suds. Used the products you recommended (raw honey, castille soap & avocado oil) but it doesn’t seem right – any suggestions?? Many thanks! Christine

    reply to this comment

  54. I’m not sure which type of pump dispenser to buy.. I feel like Castile soap would do better in a foaming dispenser but not sure if the honey would clog it?? If anyone could give me feedback that would be great, thanks!

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  58. Omg this sounds easy and awesome!!! But I have a few too many questions & some regarding this body wash! Lol.
    #1 Do you think Makuna Honey would be ok instead, I have it is why I ask or would it be better, & cheaper to go buy the kind you suggest?? And #2 (anyone plz feel free to chime in) I’ve never used essential oils for a man before BUT I’m doing my very FIRST try at natural, homemade products for Xmas gifts this year. The first set will be for my sister who just had a baby a month ago & I’m planning 3 items: fizzing bath salts (like bath bombs but not made using a mould) using Himalayan Pink Salts, epsom salts, Geranium E.O. etc. Since the salts are pink I am doing a floral scented theme. Also making her little “Coconut Oil Moisturizing Drops” like mini oil/lotion bars with coconut oil, and it said various citrus rinds (but I think it’s the wrong time of the year for that) so I was thinking of a tad of dried rosemary &/ dried herbs? Oh and scented with Rosemary. I am BRAND new to all of this DIY body stuff. So plz feel free to let the advice flow. For the oil lotion drop things you basically just pour it all (oil & then herbs last) into a mould & refrigerate- it’s for newbies.) The last is a Himilayan foot soak. The recipe I saw called for obviously the salt, epsom salt, baking soda etc. & peppermint essential oils but I don’t know about peppermint since it doesn’t go with my floral, feminine theme. Are there any other floral scents nice for a foot soak? Ylang Ylang? Jasmine? I know peppermint is ALWAYS used but never understood why lol. OK so then I decided to make the same 3 products but for her husband. Bc last minute I remembered he occasionally likes baths so I thought last night “wait! Why not make the same for him?!” But now definitely will make him this body wash instead of the foot soak!!!
    Question is what 3 scents are best for men or even just 1 or 2?? I’ve never ever used one on or for a man and need help!

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  59. I made mine using liquid coconut oil, Dr. Bronner’s hemp rose castile soap and raw honey. Mixed thoroughly and placed it in a foam bottle for the shower and it didn’t foam. So, I poured it into a pump container (my container is clear and the soap has an amber color to it with no separation) and I get great reviews from everyone who uses it.

    How do I clean the containers before each refill?

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  63. I used almond-scented liquid Castile soap (Dr. Woods brand), borage oil, and gently heated the raw honey in a double boiler until it was pourable. Then I used a wire whisk to mix it all together thoroughly. Smells heavenly, and my skin feels amazing after using it. Thank you so much for this recipe!

    reply to this comment

  64. Looking forward to making this recipe as soon as I can get out to purchase some liquid castille soap. Just about every store around here carries it. My plan for the oil is to use the infused oil I’ve made for whenever I make your salve. Right now I’ve got two different blends, one with hemp oil and the other with grape seed oil.

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  66. Wait a minute! You previously wrote that you DID once use your all-coconut superfatted body soap bar on your hair, and were very pleased with the results. Now you write “that doesn’t end well”? Which is it?

    The only thing you mentioned that was at all wrong with using the body soap on hair was the amount of superfatting, and that even then the overall effect was pretty good. I’ve known some people to like more superfat on hair than on skin, and others like you, vice versa.

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  69. Heather, water is the first ingredient in dr bronner’s castile soap 🙂 🙂 🙂

    Water, Organic Coconut Oil*, Potassium Hydroxide**, Organic Palm Kernel Oil*, Organic Olive Oil*, Lavandin Extract, Organic Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Lavender Extract, Citric Acid, Tocopherol

    Your recipe needs a preservative. Vitamin E would be fine.

    reply to this comment

    • Hi Nicole, the water has been saponified as part of the soapmaking process, and is therefore considered shelf stable. Vitamain E is an excellent antioxidant but because it does not inhibit bacterial growth it cannot be classified as a preservative.

      reply to this comment

  71. Hi!
    Great article. I didn’t know about honey creating lather! I have a few questions for you:

    – Can I add vegetable glycerine or guar gum or both to thicken this and make it more gel-like?
    – Can I use Leucidal (a preservative) to make this last longer?
    – Can I use natural butters to make it a creamy consistency?
    – Can I use the same dye I use for making bar soaps to add a hint of color?

    Thanks in advance!

    reply to this comment

    • – Possibly, but I haven’t tried it so I can’t offer specific guidance.
      – Possibly, but if you’re using essential oils you’ll want to use the body wash within a few months or however long their listed shelf life is. Essential oils are the most likely thing in this recipe to oxidize.
      – Natural butters would need an emulsifier to incorporate. It might work but I haven’t tested it.
      – I would think so.

      reply to this comment

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I'm Heather, aka The Mommypotamus. I’m a wife, mom, real food lover, research geek, and amateur homesteader. And potamus... obviously.

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