15 Gorgeous Christmas Soap Recipes to Make and Give

A collection of the most festive Christmas soap recipes, perfect for gifting or simply enjoying this holiday season.

When I was a kid, soap was just..soap. But now as an adult I can totally appreciate the gift of a beautifully made bar of soap. These gorgeous Christmas soap recipes are the perfect combination of pretty, useful, and great gifts!

Slices of soap resembling peppermint bark candy, with layers of brown and white soap topped with red and white candy-like pieces.

Peppermint Bark Soap

This soap recipe looks exactly like peppermint bark candy. It has two layers of “chocolate” with “crushed candy canes” on top. It looks so real that you’ll need to label it carefully so no one tries to eat it! The soap is made with a goat’s milk melt-and-pour base, so you don’t have to worry about handling lye. Instead, you can focus on making it look beautiful. While there are other peppermint soaps on this list, this one really stands out.

Close-up of bar soap with a Christmas tree swirl design in blue and gold tones.

Christmas Tree Cold Process Soap

This recipe from Humblebee & Me creates a loaf-style bar soap with a lovely swirl inside that looks like a Christmas tree, and it’s topped with gold mica. It’s a cold process recipe made with tallow, coconut oil, and a few other soft oils. This soap makes a wonderful holiday gift that can be enjoyed all winter.

Three green soaps shaped like Christmas trees, displayed with holiday decorations.

Tree-Shaped Green Soap

If you want your soap to look just like a real Christmas tree, this is the perfect recipe. It’s super simple, even for beginners. All you need to do is melt a soap base, add fragrance and color, and pour it into a Christmas tree mold. Easy! This makes a great gift and is also adorable for kids.

Bars of brown soap tied with a red ribbon, featuring a small gingerbread man-shaped soap on top.

Cold Process Gingerbread Soap

This cold process recipe uses real molasses and chai tea to create a holiday soap with authentic holiday ingredients. The recipe also includes spice essential oils for fragrance, making it a natural soap that’s still festive and charming. It’s a great option if you prefer cold process soap and want something a little extra cute.

Striped soap bars in pink and white with a candy cane pattern on top.

Candy Cane Soap Recipe

This recipe is so cute! It’s perfect for winter with its layers and candy topping. The tutorial shows you how to make it using a melt-and-pour base that’s split into two parts. Every soap maker enjoys layering, and this one is sure to be a favorite!

Bright blue snowflake-shaped soap with a glittery finish.

Snowflake Glitter Soap

This cute soap recipe combines glitter and peppermint fragrance to create a crisp, wintry soap. The tutorial teaches you how to layer two sections: one glittery and one solid white. The end result is a beautiful snowflake-shaped bar. It’s another easy melt-and-pour recipe.

Stack of brown and orange soap bars displayed with fresh oranges and cinnamon sticks.

Spiced Orange Soap

This one might be my favorite! It’s a cold process recipe with a simple, natural look. The fragrance is spicy, filled with cloves, cinnamon, and other Christmas scents. It’s a great recipe that offers something a little different from the usual Christmas themes.

Pink soap bars labeled “Apple Pie Soap” next to green and red apples.

Apple Pie Soap

Sticking with the warm and spicy theme, this Apple Pie Soap recipe is another fantastic choice. The tutorial shows you how to use natural colorants and a blend of fragrance oils and vanilla to create an amazing scent that anyone receiving your Christmas gifts will love!

Two bars of pale yellow soap with small flecks, set on a light background.

Lemon Kitchen Soap

This soap is the least “holiday” of all the recipes, but handmade gifts should be useful all year round, and this kitchen soap is perfect for that. Everyone will appreciate it! You can also use orange zest to give it a more festive touch.

Soap designed to look like a chocolate cupcake with creamy white and brown frosting, topped with a red candy-like decoration.

Chocolate Peppermint Cupcake Soap

Homemade soap is impressive, but cupcake soap takes it to a whole new level. It looks delicious like a real treat, but it’s actually just soap. It’s the perfect gift for someone who loves sweets!

A stack of brown soap bars displayed outdoors with a sprig of greenery on a wooden plate.

Frankincense & Myrrh Hot Process Soap

Hot process is a great way to make soap because the bars are ready to use right away. If you need a quick gift, this recipe is perfect.

Clear soap bars with blue snowflake designs embedded inside, placed on a dark surface.

DIY Snowflake Soap

This snowflake soap is both impressive and simple. It uses a clear base with cute festive embeds. Kids will love it!

A white soap bar with dried cranberries inside, tied with a twine bow, with fresh cranberries in the background.

Cranberry Vanilla Shea Butter Soap

This melt-and-pour recipe is vanilla-scented and has real cranberries inside. It’s perfect for beginners and makes a lovely gift for anyone.

Round soap bars with various spices like cinnamon sticks and star anise embedded inside, arranged in a line on a wooden surface.

Christmas Spice Soap

This soap has a natural look with beautiful whole spices inside, making it perfect for the guest bathroom. You can add any Christmas fragrance oil for a festive scent.

A gingerbread man-shaped soap in a rich brown color, standing on a red and white polka dot background.

Gingerbread Jelly Soap Recipe

These cute little soaps are made with a mix of gelatin and castile soap. They smell amazing and make great stocking stuffers.

Supplies for Handmade Christmas Soaps

Any recipe can be made festive. You just need the right color, fragrance, and maybe a festive mold

Molds

snowflake soap bars
  • A beautifully styled Christmas tree mold that works well with any simple green soap.
  • These snowflake soap molds are a beautiful choice too.
  • And who doesn’t love gingerbread men! Use this mold with a spicy fragrance for adorable gingerbread soap.

Mica and Colorants

Key Takeaways

  • Start Simple: If you’re new to soap-making, start with melt-and-pour recipes. They’re easy, quick, and don’t require handling lye.
  • Use Quality Ingredients: High-quality oils, butters, and fragrance oils make a big difference in how your soap feels and smells. Always choose skin-safe ingredients.
  • Get Creative with Molds: Holiday-themed molds, like snowflakes or Christmas trees, add a festive touch to your soaps and make them even more special as gifts.
  • Plan Ahead: If you’re making cold process soap, remember it needs to cure for 4 to 6 weeks. Plan your soap-making sessions early so your soaps are ready in time for the holidays.
  • Label Clearly: Some soaps look so much like treats that they could be mistaken for food! Label your soaps clearly to avoid any mix-ups.
  • Customize for Sensitive Skin: If you’re gifting soaps, consider the recipient’s skin type. Use gentle, fragrance-free ingredients for those with sensitive skin.

FAQs

Do I need any special equipment to make Christmas soaps?

Not really! Most recipes just need basic kitchen tools like measuring cups, spoons, and a microwave or stovetop. If you’re doing cold process soap, you’ll need a stick blender and some safety gear like gloves and goggles. Check out this article for using lye safely. For melt-and-pour soaps, all you really need is a soap base, molds, and a microwave-safe container.

Can I use any type of fragrance for my Christmas soaps?

Yes, but it’s best to use fragrance oils or essential oils that are safe for skin. For a festive feel, go for scents like peppermint, cinnamon, pine, or vanilla. Just make sure whatever you use is skin-safe and meant for soap-making.

How long does it take for cold process soap to be ready?

Cold process soap needs to cure, which means it needs to sit and harden for about 4 to 6 weeks. This allows the soap to fully set and become milder for the skin. If you’re in a hurry, try a hot process or melt-and-pour recipe instead.

Are homemade soaps good gifts for people with sensitive skin?

Absolutely! Homemade soaps are great because you can control the ingredients. If you know someone has sensitive skin, you can use gentle ingredients like shea butter, oatmeal, or aloe vera, and avoid fragrances that might irritate their skin.

Can I add things like glitter or dried flowers to my soaps?

Yes, you can! Just be sure to use body-safe glitter that’s made for cosmetics. Dried flowers are a lovely touch, but they can sometimes turn brown in the soap, so it’s something to keep in mind. Make sure whatever you add is safe for skin and won’t cause any irritation.

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I hope you found something from this list of gorgeous Christmas soap recipes that has sparked your creativity and given you some fun ideas for holiday gifts. Soap is such a great gift because everyone uses it! You can make a batch for family and friends, and even keep a bar or two for yourself.

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By Katie Shaw

Katie lives in Virginia with her husband, three daughters, a chocolate lab, and over thirty chickens. She loves creating simple tutorials for sourdough, bread, and soap. Her recipes, articles, and YouTube videos reach millions of people per year.

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6 Comments

  1. Hi Katie,’
    I’ve tried opening several of the recipes but I can’t get any if them to open. I especially like the candy cane soap.

    Thank you!

  2. Hello, love your website. I’m having a problem opening the orange spice soap receipe? I have tried several times but it won’t open.
    Thank you
    Deborah