The secret to the perfect foaming hand soap is not actually the recipe itself. Sourcing a reusable "foam-forming" pump bottle is the secret to making your own wonderful foaming soap. I was able to get reusable foam-forming pump bottles easily enough from a local storage supply shop. Foam-forming pumps are THE best for getting the perfect foam with very little ingredients. It has a little spring mechanism it the top of the bottle, to make the soap into foam. This is what you should look for. The thick/wide neck on the pump bottle is usually easy to spot....this type of pump helps get the perfect foam without the "perfect" recipe. The best bit? Reusable, refillable, over and over again! If you can't find the foam forming ones, I was also able to find basic amber hand pump bottles from Target. The amber colour helps protect the ingredients and the amber and black colour combination is so "in" right now. They look super sophisticated for their budget price tag.

You'll need:
Liquid castile soap
Essential Oils of choice
Water to dilute
Pyrex
Spoon
Funnel (if desired)
Reusable foaming pump bottle or 'recycled' hand soap bottle

If you're wanting to make your own liquid soap products, the main thing you need to start with is liquid castile soap. (You can find this easily online in Australia or from your local health food store.) This forms the base for your "soapy" products. It is very versatile, and can be bought in a whopping 20L bottle if you so desire! For most of us though, the 1L will be plenty enough. Place your desired amount, usually I use enough to half fill my container, of liquid soap into a pyrex. Add a few drops of essential oils of your choice. Stir slowly, then sniff... gently.... we dont want bubbles out our nose!  Can you smell your essential oil? If not, you may need to add another drop or two. Now add enough water to the purex to fill the rest of your container.  This is due to the special foaming soap pump bottle, straight liquid castile soap can be a bit thick, so we dilute with water, or even if you'd just like to make it go further. If you like a thicker liquid soap, or if you are not using a foaming pump bottle, use more castile and less water. Stir gently. When your happy with your creation pour or funnel into your container.

I find I can dilute my bottle with half water to liquid castile soap and still get a great foam. You just need to experiment. While you're at it you could also make up a bulk amount and store away from direct sunlight to use throughout the house over a couple of months. This is good if you have multiple bathrooms and sinks. 

As far as essential oil scents go for hand soaps, this too is up to your experimentation and creativity, but I would happily use the Thieves essential oil blend every time in my liquid hand soap! Thieves is perfect for clean hands due to the powerful essential oils in this blend. Citrus scents are also good, as is Lavender.

If you can’t be bothered with all that fuss, here’s some we made earlier! I love this foaming hand soap infused with Thieves essential oil. The cloves and cinnamon really come through, and as a cinnamon lover, this is perfect. Reminds me of the holidays and baking. Mmm, baking. Must put something delicious in the oven! This little foaming bottle is perfect for reusing and refilling, and has the foaming mechanism in-built, so you'll get a great foam every time. Then simply refill with the bulk buy natural hand wash that you can keep on hand under the sink. 
Click the photos below to see more of how you can clean your hands using chemical-free hand wash.

Do you make your own hand wash? What's your favourite hand soap recipe?

I don't know about you, but salt scrubs are a favourite of mine...and if I can make it myself, all the better! This recipe is quite straight forward, so collect your ingredients and let's get started. This scrub is great for scrubbing off those dead skin cells, with the firming and toning taken care of with the addition of Grapefruit essential oil. You could substitute another essential oil favourite if you like. Just make sure to test it on your skin first. I've also included subtitutes, so you can change it up as you like. The basic recipe for Salt Scrubs are: High Quality Salt, Carrier Oil, and Essential Oil for Scent/Skin Treatment. So get your natural creative on!

YOU'LL NEED:
​1/2 cup Pink Salt
1/2 cup Dead Sea Salt (could substitute for Epsom Salts or Pink Salt)
Juice of One Lemon
1/3 cup Mango Kernel Oil (could substitute another carrier oil)
10-15 drops of Grapefruit Essential Oil 
Mixing Bowl
Jar and lid

TO MAKE:
Stir all ingredients together well, and place in a clean jar. Simple!

PS. If you don't like elevator music, you may wish to watch this one with sound off!

Massage onto skin using circular motions, focusing on areas that need firming. Scrub away the old skin layer for lovely fresh skin. This scrub would make a lovely gift for someone too! Find Grapefruit Essential Oil here.
Have you ever made a salt scrub? How did it go? What is your favourite DIY salt scrub recipe?

Here's a really quick DIY for all you lovers of the healing power of touch. Make your own massage oils easily with your favourite essential oils. Make sure you are using high quality essential oils as your skin is just going to draw it right in. You don't want any fillers or synthetics!

​You'll need:
Carrier oil of your choice
One little bottle of essential oil

A carrier oil is just an oil that is used to dilute the essential oils, named as such for their ability to "carry" the oils to the skin. I love coconut oil, olive oil, or vegetable oil (our ready-made V6 vegetable oil is great for custom blending). If you're not sure what essential oil to use, see our series of blog posts on "one little bottle," or our shop page for inspiration.


Then, pick a favourite essential oil scent, Lemon Myrtle or Frankincense perhaps, or try a blend. The blends are single essential oils that have been specially combined together to work in harmony, for every aspect of your life. Most are named for the feelings they are said to encourage. The great thing about these essential oils is that you only use single drops at a time, like as in, one drop (talk about economical) and if stored properly will last indefinitely. I use pure essential oils of a high quality as they are going to be absorbed by the skin.

I use little pinch bowls for mixing up small amounts of massage oil. Maybe you have some little bowls that you use for serving sauce? This is perfect. Pour in your carrier oil, add a few drops of your essential oil. Stir gently. Can you smell the aroma? If not, add a couple more drops. Don't overdo it, these essential oils are very pure, and in a concentrated form, so you really don't need much at all. Of course, you could also mix up larger amounts if you like. Add 8-12 drops of essential oil into a larger bottle. Easy! Would make a lovely DIY gift too. Just print off and attach a lovely personalised label. 
Warm a small amount between your hands. Apply to yourself or someone you love!

If you're not so much the DIYer, we have a selection of beautiful, pre-blended massage oils ready to go, with names like Sensation, Cel-Lite, Relaxation, Dragon Time and Ortho Sport, you're bound to find something to suit your particular tastes.

​Have you ever made massage oil before? What's your favourite blend?

Mix all the ingredients and spritz with a small amount of water until mixture holds together. Press into silicone moulds for fun shapes. If you dont have one, forming into small ball shapes is fine. I have a love-hearts chocolate mould that is perfect for this. You can find these in most department stores. Let it dry for 1/2 an hour, then press out onto wax paper to allow to dry furthur. These are ready to use as soon as they are dry. You could leave them for 24 hours if you want to be sure they will hold. 

Add to your bath for a relaxing soak. You could gift these to a friend in a nice jar. For a variation, you could also colour them, or add some real lavender buds from your garden. Just make sure to use a small amount of colour as you dont want your skin to turn purple in the bath!

​You can find pure lavender essential oil in a 15ml bottle for $50RRP from our shop. This pure, high quality essential oil is free from synthetic alteration and chemicals. If you're not into DIY, maybe for a good alternative, you'd like to add milk or epsom salts to your Lavender bath.

Have you tried to make any of your own bath products? How did it go? 

I absolutely love a hair treatment, don't you? Here's one you can DIY at home. Start with a carrier oil, of your choice. I like olive oil or coconut oil, just because thats what's usually stocked in my pantry. The other oil I'd recommend is Castor Oil. I've never used it myself, but heard others get great results for their hair with Castor Oil. Measure out a cup or two, depending on the length of your hair. Warm it on the stove or in the microwave. Add a few drops of a couple of essential oils...especially herbs that love hair! Rosemary and Lemon are popular choices. Ask a friend or be very brave and pour it yourself over your scalp- be sure to check the temperature first. It should be lukewarm. Wrap your hair in a warm towel, shower cap or plastic wrap. Leave on for 10 minutes, or longer if desired. I have done this overnight. Wash and condition as normal. You may need to shampoo twice.