Unusual Things You Can Make Soap With (Part 1)
Thinking Outside the Soapmaking Box
When most of us start making cold process soap, we learn the basics first: oils, sodium hydroxide, water, fragrance, and perhaps a little color. Once we've made a few batches, it's natural to start wondering: what else can I put in here? That's me. That's what I thought.
Could beeswax make a harder bar? What happens when you use Greek yogurt? Can beer, coffee, or pumpkin become part of a soap recipe? And does matcha really keep its beautiful green color after saponification?
These are the kinds of questions that make soapmaking so interesting. There are plenty of unusual ingredients that soapmakers have experimented with over the years, but not every ingredient behaves the way we might expect.
In this first installment of my Unusual Things You Can Make Soap With series, we're looking at six ingredients that can bring something different to your soapmaking experiments: beeswax, Greek yogurt, beer, coffee, pumpkin, and matcha green tea powder.
We'll explore why soapmakers use them, what they can contribute to a recipe, and what to consider before adding them to your next batch. I've already made soap with coffee and matcha, so I'll also share my own experience with those ingredients.
Whether you're a beginner looking for your next project or an experienced soapmaker who enjoys trying something different, let's explore what these unusual ingredients can bring to the soap pot.
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1. Beeswax: Can It Make a Harder Bar of Soap?
What Is Beeswax, and Why Use It in Soap?
Beeswax is a natural wax produced by honeybees. It's commonly used in balms, salves, candles, and other handmade products, but it also has a place in cold process soapmaking.
Unlike the liquid oils typically used in soap recipes, beeswax is solid at room temperature and has a relatively high melting point. Soapmakers sometimes incorporate small amounts into their oil blend to influence bar hardness and other characteristics. The common range is between 1% and 3% of your total oils.
However, beeswax isn't a simple add-in. It can accelerate trace-alot, and using too much may reduce lather or make the soap more difficult to work with. It also needs to be fully melted and incorporated into the oils before the lye solution is added. You will also need to soap at a higher temperature which can be tricky. Too hot-volcano. Not hot enough-batter too thick too soon.
Benefits
May contribute to a harder-feeling bar.
Offers an opportunity to experiment with a less-common soapmaking ingredient.
Can be interesting to test in recipes designed for a firm, long-lasting bar.
Has awesome label appeal.
Best For
Soapmakers who enjoy experimenting with traditional ingredients.
Makers interested in how waxes affect soap texture and processing.
Small, carefully planned test batches.
Maker's note: Beeswax soaping is more of an intermediate level.
Recommended Product: Yasnay Organic Beeswax
New to soapmaking? Grab my FREE Beginner Maker Starter Kit
2. Greek Yogurt: A Creamy Addition to Cold Process Soap
Why Do Soapmakers Use Greek Yogurt?
Greek yogurt is an intriguing ingredient because it contains water, milk proteins, fats, and sugars, depending on the product. Those components make it an interesting alternative to more familiar liquid additions such as milk or coconut milk.
The sugars in dairy products can increase the heat generated during soapmaking, while the additional solids and acidity can affect how the mixture behaves. Yogurt also needs careful handling because its thick consistency makes it different from ordinary water.
Greek yogurt isn't guaranteed to make a soap bar more moisturizing or beneficial for sensitive skin. The finished soap undergoes a chemical reaction, and claims about the original ingredient don't automatically translate to the cured bar.
Benefits
Provides a different way to experiment with dairy ingredients.
Creates an opportunity to compare yogurt with milk-based soap recipes.
Can help soapmakers learn more about sugars, temperature, and alternative liquids.
Best For
Soapmakers who have experience handling alternative liquids.
Makers interested in comparing dairy ingredients.
Controlled experiments where the amount of yogurt and total liquid are carefully documented.
Maker's note: Use plain, unsweetened Greek yogurt and account for its water content in your formulation. Consider temperature control and do not treat yogurt as a simple one-for-one replacement for all the water in a recipe. Treat it the way you would when adding a milk-to the oils, not the lye solution.
3. Beer: An Unusual Alternative to Water
Why Put Beer in Soap?
Beer is one of those ingredients that sounds unusual until you discover how many soapmakers have experimented with it. Depending on the type of beer, it contains water, dissolved sugars, and other compounds from the brewing process.
Beer can be used as part of the liquid in a soap recipe, but it requires preparation and careful handling. Residual carbonation can cause problems when the liquid is combined with sodium hydroxide, and sugars can contribute to overheating. Beer may also influence the finished soap's color and scent, although its original aroma shouldn't be expected to remain intact.
Different beers can produce different results, making this an interesting topic for a future comparison experiment.
Benefits
Offers a creative alternative-liquid experiment.
Creates opportunities to compare light and dark beer varieties.
Can produce interesting variations in the appearance of handmade soap.
Best For
Experienced soapmakers curious about unusual liquid ingredients.
Experienced beginners ready to learn about alternative-liquid preparation.
Makers who enjoy documenting differences between test batches.
Maker's note: Use a tested preparation method for removing carbonation, allow for complete cooling, and follow a reliable procedure for incorporating beer into a lye-based recipe. Never add hot or actively foaming beer directly to sodium hydroxide.
4. Coffee: More Than Just a Scrubby Soap
How Is Coffee Used in Soapmaking?
Coffee is a familiar ingredient in handmade soap, but there is more than one way to experiment with it. Some soapmakers use cooled brewed coffee as part or all of the liquid, while others add used, dried coffee grounds for texture.
These are two different techniques with different considerations. Coffee liquid can produce a tan or brown color, and its appearance may change during saponification and curing. Coffee grounds can add physical texture, but the result depends on the grind size and amount used.
Coffee is especially useful as an educational ingredient because you can compare a plain soap batch with one containing brewed coffee or grounds. That makes it easier to see what the ingredient actually changes.
Benefits
Offers two distinct approaches: brewed coffee and coffee grounds.
Can contribute to the visual character of a handmade bar.
Provides an easy way to explore liquid substitutions and physical additives.
Best For
Beginners who want an accessible soapmaking experiment.
Makers interested in textured bars.
Soapmakers who enjoy comparing ingredient variations.
My experience: I've made coffee soap and it turned out great, though very scrubby. It did heat up quite a bit in the mold which caused a crack down the center, but I was able to press it down gently and it closed almost completely. I did not insulate the soap and actually put it in the fridge to counteract the heating.
Related: The Ultimate Coffee Soap Recipe (Creamy, Exfoliating, Skin-Loving)
5. Pumpkin Purée: A Seasonal Soapmaking Experiment
What Happens When You Add Pumpkin to Soap?
Pumpkin purée is a seasonal ingredient that can be used in cold process soap, making it a natural choice for autumn projects and handmade holiday gifts.
Pumpkin contains water, carbohydrates, and plant solids. Those components can influence the consistency and heat of a soap batter, while the natural orange color may change during saponification. A bright orange purée doesn't necessarily mean the cured soap will be equally bright.
It's important to account for the moisture introduced by the purée rather than simply adding it on top of an already calculated liquid amount. A small, controlled batch is a sensible starting point.
Benefits
Offers a seasonal ingredient for autumn soap collections.
Creates opportunities to explore natural-looking color changes.
Works well as a topic for documenting an experiment from mixing through curing.
Best For
Soapmakers planning fall-inspired batches.
Makers interested in using food-based ingredients.
Small-batch experiments with careful liquid and temperature control.
Maker's note: Use plain pumpkin purée rather than sweetened pie filling. Keep the formulation consistent, monitor heat carefully, and record the finished soap's color after curing.
New to soapmaking? Grab my FREE Beginner Maker Starter Kit
6. Matcha Green Tea Powder: Can You Keep the Green Color?
Why Use Matcha in Handmade Soap?
Matcha is finely powdered green tea, known for its vivid green color. In soapmaking, it can be used as a botanical powder to explore natural-looking green shades, although the result may differ significantly from the color of the powder itself.
The high-pH environment of freshly made soap can affect plant pigments, and oxidation or other changes during curing may alter the final shade. The amount of matcha, how it's dispersed, and the rest of the formulation can all influence the appearance.
Matcha also provides a useful opportunity to discuss the difference between using a botanical ingredient for color and assuming it will deliver the same benefits associated with drinking green tea or applying it in a leave-on skincare product.
Benefits
Can contribute green or earthy tones to handmade soap.
Offers a botanical alternative to explore alongside other colorants.
Provides an interesting topic for tracking color changes during curing.
Best For
Makers who enjoy botanical ingredients.
Soapmakers experimenting with earthy, minimalist designs.
Anyone curious about the limitations of natural colorants.
My experience: I've made matcha soap, too. The finished color in the bar was a dark greenish brown. The texture was a fine gentle gritty feel, not harsh. It lathered great and I plan to do another Matcha soap with a more intricate swirl.
Recommended Product: TOMOKUYI Japanese Ceremonial Grade Organic Matcha Powder
Also See My DIY Soapmaking Essentials Amazon List
Comparing These Six Unusual Soap Ingredients
Each ingredient has a different role in a cold process recipe. Some contribute waxy or fatty material, some introduce additional liquid and solids, and others are primarily interesting for color or texture.
| Ingredient | Main reason to experiment | Main consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Beeswax | Bar characteristics | Trace and formulation |
| Greek yogurt | Dairy ingredient experiment | Moisture, sugars, and heat |
| Beer | Alternative liquid | Carbonation, sugars, and preparation |
| Coffee | Color or texture | Liquid versus grounds |
| Pumpkin purée | Seasonal botanical-style addition | Moisture, solids, and heat |
| Matcha | Green botanical color | Color changes during curing |
No single ingredient automatically makes a better bar. The best way to learn is to formulate carefully, change one variable at a time, and record the results.
Before You Try These Ingredients
A few basic principles apply to all six experiments:
Use a reliable soap calculator. Any change to the oils or fats requires checking the sodium hydroxide amount. Alternative liquids and additives also need to be accounted for in the recipe.
Account for added moisture. Yogurt, pumpkin purée, and liquid ingredients can change the total water content.
Watch for excess heat. Sugars can make a soap batter heat up more than expected.
Keep good batch records. Record ingredient amounts, temperatures, trace, unmolding, and changes during curing.
Evaluate the cured soap. Freshly cut soap isn't the final result. Color, texture, and other characteristics may change as the bars cure.
Always use appropriate protective equipment and follow safe sodium hydroxide handling procedures.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can you put food ingredients in cold process soap?
Some food ingredients can be incorporated into cold process soap, but their suitability depends on their composition, water content, preparation, and the recipe. Adding a food ingredient doesn't automatically improve the finished bar.
Do unusual ingredients make soap more moisturizing?
Not necessarily. The properties of an ingredient before saponification don't automatically carry over to the finished soap. The overall oil blend, formulation, and cleansing characteristics are important when evaluating a bar.
Can you use natural ingredients to color handmade soap?
Yes, some botanical powders and plant-derived ingredients can contribute color. However, natural colors can shift during saponification and curing, and some are less stable than others.
Should beginners experiment with alternative liquids?
Beginners can learn about alternative liquids, but they should start with reliable instructions, small batches, careful temperature control, and accurate formulation records. Some ingredients require more preparation than others.
Related Articles:
Why Coconut Milk Makes Soap So Creamy and Moisturizing
Soap Calculators: Why They Matter & How to Choose the Right One
🖤 Activated Charcoal in Skincare: Benefits, Uses + DIY Recipes
Beginner's Guide to Soap & Bath Product Additives: What They Do & How to Use Them
Clays for Soap & Skincare Making Part 1
Final Thoughts
One of the things I enjoy about handmade soapmaking is that there is always something new to learn. An ingredient that seems unusual at first can become an interesting way to explore formulation, color, texture, and the science behind the process.
Beeswax, Greek yogurt, beer, coffee, pumpkin, and matcha each bring a different question to the soapmaking table. Some may be worth adding to your regular rotation, while others may simply teach you something useful about how soap behaves.
The important thing is to experiment thoughtfully, document what happens, and judge the results after the soap has had time to cure.
This is Part 1 of my Unusual Things You Can Make Soap With series. In Part 2, we'll explore five more ingredients: rice water, potato, turmeric, cranberry juice, and aloe vera gel.
