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Washing hands is a part of our everyday lives. Here’s how to make your own foaming hand soap with essential oils.

Washing hands is not new, but now, more than ever it is at the forefront of being one of the top ways to prevent the spread of viruses and bacteria.

I will admit, I am typically a Costco bulk liquid hand soap buyer. Considering the lineups to get into Costco these days, due to the limited number of shoppers, I haven’t been to Costco in months. Hot off the heels of making my own hand sanitizer with essential oils, it was time to make my own hand soap.

Making your own hand soap can save time, money and packaging.

Why Foaming Hand Soap with Essential Oils?

For years I’ve used liquid hand soap in the house, but I have been gifted some foaming hand soap which is quite nice.

Foaming soap is still liquid soap but dispenses foamy. The soap is infused with air making it all bubbly and foamy. As a result, you are actually using less liquid soap and so you are also saving money! Plus, those bubbles are just lots of fun.

Foaming hand soap is not a special type of soap. What makes it foam is the dispenser, not the actual soap. So you can use any soap in a foaming hand soap dispenser.

It’s not easy finding a foaming hand soap dispenser. I was gifted a couple and could re-use the dispensers. I’ve found foaming hand soap dispensers at the dollar store but considered them to be too small. They only hold a few ounces. With all the hand washing we do, I prefer a decent-sized dispenser so I’m not constantly refilling them.

I really like these glass ones that I found on Amazon. They are a good size (14 oz) and clear – so I can see when we are running low.

Okay, so now you have the correct dispensers, let’s make the soap.

Supplies Needed to Make Your Own Foaming Hand Soap

You just need 5 ingredients to make your own foaming hand soap. Most of these can be found in your local drug store or health food store. You can also find these items online as well.

This recipe is based on the doTerra recipe, with the added vitamin E oil.

• Castile Soap. This is a vegetable oil based soap that is a great all-purpose cleaner for not only your body but for cleaning as well. I like the liquid form which is concentrated, so you only need a little bit. It is often infused with essential oils as well. I personally use the one with tea tree oil which is known to be antibacterial.
• Fractioned Coconut Oil. Fractioned coconut oil is NOT the same as regular coconut oil. The fractioned coconut oil not intended for eating but is absorbed by the skin easier. Fractioned coconut oil is odourless and colourless and acts as a carrier oil for essential oils. Carrier oils help combine with essential oils and help your skin absorb it better. A good alternative to fractioned coconut oil is almond oil.
• Vitamin E Oil. This acts as a moisturizer for your skin. Plain soap and water can be very drying so this helps your skin. To me, this is important – I hate having to put on hand lotion after washing my hands (it seems to defeat the purpose of washing your hands in a way).
• Essential Oils. These not only add antibacterial or antiviral properties to your hand soap, but they also help give a pleasant scent to your hand soap.
• Water.

Which Essential Oils Should I Use?

I am not a big essential oil person as I only have a few. In my move towards making things in my home more natural and using fewer chemicals, essential oils are a natural choice.

While essential oils are becoming more and more readily available, be sure that you purchase pure essential oils from reputable sources and that they are not diluted or have fillers.

There are just so many suggestions out there, but I’ve narrowed it down to my favourites.

I really like to use the essential oil blend from doTerra called On Guard. I used the same blend in my homemade hand sanitizer. It has a nice smell that is not too overpowering or distinct, yet it still smells fresh and clean. I love that it is all in one blend and I don’t really have to think too hard about how to concoct my own.

It is a matter of personal preference as to which essential oils you wish to use. The great thing about essential oils is that every time you make a batch, you can change it up so it’s not always the same.

How to Make Your own Foaming Hand Soap with Essential Oils

I like this recipe because I can make it right in the foaming soap dispenser. I altered the measurements as my foaming soap dispenser holds 14 oz, but the basic recipe makes 8 oz or 1 cup of liquid hand soap.

• Add the Castille soap, fractioned coconut oil, essential oils and vitamin E oil directly into your foaming soap dispenser.
• Swish to mix. It will look cloudy.
• Top up your soap dispenser with water. Add the water slowly as it may start to bubble. Give a gentle swish to mix.

I have this foaming soap in every bathroom as well as the kitchen. It smells nice and it is not hard on my hands. I love that it’s all-natural!

Given our current climate of hand washing and sanitizing, these would also make great hostess gifts.

Want to remember how to make your own foaming hand soap with essential oils? Be sure to save this to your favourite Pinterest board.