How to Make Rosemary Infused Olive Oil Soap (5% Superfat)
If you love the idea of combining natural skincare with the craft of soap making, this recipe is for you. This beautiful handmade soap blends the herbal goodness of rosemary-infused olive oil with the gentle cleansing of coconut oil and the firmness of palm oil, creating a long-lasting, moisturizing bar that’s as practical as it is luxurious.
In this post, you’ll learn how to:
Make your own rosemary-infused olive oil using ADI,
Follow a step-by-step cold process soap recipe, and
Explore alternatives to palm oil for different preferences.
Before I go to details, I would like to thank Debra Sturdevant (her soap brand is Country Artist Botanicals, in upper NY) for her generosity to provide the soap beginner friendly recipe.
Credit: Debra (Country Artist Botanicals)
🌿 Step 1: Make Rosemary-Infused Olive Oil with ADI
Before we start the soap making, let’s prepare the infused oil — the heart of this recipe. Rosemary is rich in antioxidants and known to support skin renewal, making it a wonderful herb for soap making.
To infuse rosemary in olive oil using your ADI:
Prepare your herbs: Use dried rosemary leaves to prevent moisture from spoiling your oil.
Add ingredients: Place rosemary in ADI’s infusion chamber and pour in olive oil (1 part herb to 5 parts oil).
Set infusion: Let the ADI work for 4–6 hours until your oil turns fragrant.
Strain and store: Filter the oil and keep it in a clean, dark glass bottle until use.
This step turns your olive oil into a skin-loving herbal base that brings out the essence of rosemary in every bar.
Credit: Debra (Country Artist Botanicals)
🧼 Step 2: Soap Recipe (5% Superfat)
Ingredients:
8 oz (24%) Coconut Oil
15 oz (44%) Rosemary-Infused Olive Oil
11 oz (32%) Palm Oil
4.8 oz Lye (sodium hydroxide)
11.2 oz Distilled Water or Rosemary Hydrosol
💡 Why Palm Oil?
Palm oil adds firmness and longevity to soap bars. It creates a stable, creamy lather and balances the cleansing effect of coconut oil.
If you prefer a palm-free recipe, you can replace it with one of these alternatives, Because different oil has different saponification value, this formula is designed for palm oil. When you change the oil, need consult with professional soap maker or calculator for adjusting the lye amount.
Shea Butter – creamy texture, great for dry skin
Cocoa Butter – adds firmness and a luxurious feel
Tallow or Lard – traditional hardening fats for non-vegan soap
Babassu Oil – a plant-based alternative similar to coconut oil
⚗️ Step 3: Cold Process Soap Making Instructions
1. Prepare your workspace.
Gather your equipment (scale, thermometer, stick blender, mold, gloves, goggles). Work in a ventilated area and follow all lye safety precautions.
2. Measure your ingredients.
Weigh everything precisely.
3. Prepare lye water.
Always add lye to water, never water to lye. Slowly add lye to water, stir until dissolved, then allow to cool.
*a lot of heat will generate after lye added in water. Add slowly and in small quantity each time.
4. Heat your oils.
Melt coconut and palm oils together, then add your rosemary-infused olive oil. Bring the oils to around 100°F (37–40°C).
5. Combine lye and oils.
When both are at similar temperatures, slowly pour the lye solution into the oils. Blend with a stick blender until you reach trace — the point when the mixture thickens slightly and trails appear on the surface.
6. Add herbs or essential oils (optional).
At light trace, stir in rosemary leaves, essential oils, or other botanicals with a silicone spatula.
7. Pour into mold.
Scrape the mixture into your mold, cover it with cardboard or a lid, and drape a towel over to insulate.
8. Unmold and cut.
After 12–24 hours, remove the soap and cut into bars. If it’s still soft, wait a bit longer before cutting.
9. Cure your soap.
Place the bars in a cool, dry, ventilated area for 4–6 weeks. This curing time allows water to evaporate, hardening the soap and ensuring a gentle, long-lasting bar.
🕰️ Tip: Use a dehumidifier in your curing space for a consistent, even cure.
🌸 Tips for Best Results
Use herbal hydrosols instead of distilled water for added aroma and skin benefits.
Cure longer for a harder, milder soap.
Always wear safety gear when handling lye.
Label and date your soaps — it’s helpful for tracking curing time and recipe tweaks!
✨ Final Thoughts
Making rosemary-infused olive oil soap is a beautiful way to connect with herbs and create something functional, fragrant, and natural. Using your ADI, you can prepare custom infusions and hydrosols that take your soapmaking to the next level — all in a single device.
Ready to try it yourself? Gather your herbs, power up your ADI, and start crafting your next herbal soap masterpiece!
