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Candle & Soap Making

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Dog Soap Recipes & Essential Oil Blends

Pick one that's right for your pup.

By , About.com Guide

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Caps

Caps smelling fresh after a bath with my "Sweet Pooch" essential oil blend

For each of the recipes below, you'll need:
  • Melt and Pour Soap Base - it can be clear or opaque - or even one of the specialty blends like olive oil, shea butter, etc.
  • 2% (of the total recipe) Castor Oil - good for your dog's coat
  • 2% (of the total recipe) of a high vitamin E oil like Emu, Shea Butter, Avocado or Wheat Germ (you could likewise substitute in some pure vitamin E - about 1/4 tsp. per pound of soap base) - likewise very good for your dog's coat
  • And about 3% essential oil blend - use a little less if you're using mint in your blend - or a little more if you're using a lot of lavender. To figure out the 3%, multiply the number of ounces of soap you're making by .03. For example, if you're making 1lb. or 16 ounces of soap, you'd use .48 ounce of essential oil. (Yes, I'd round that up to .5 ounce.)
So, to make two pounds of soap, you'd use:
  • 2 pounds (32 ounces) of melt and pour soap base
  • .6 - .7 (.64) ounces of castor oil
  • .6 - .7 (.64) ounces of shea, avocado oil, etc.
  • 1 ounce of essential oil blend (.96 rounded up to 1)
Basic Instructions
Melt the soap base and add the oils.
Stir well to blend.
When well blended, add the essential oils and stir again. Pour into molds and you're ready.

(Tip:If you find that the oils (castor and shea etc.) are seeping out of the bars after they harden, reduce the amount you're adding. Your soap base may already have a little extra oil in it.)

Recipe #1 - Minty Fresh

  • Basic Soap recipe (above) - and for the essential oil blend:
  • 1 part peppermint essential oil
  • 1 part lavender essential oil
  • 1 part tea tree essential oil
  • 1 part cedarwood essential oil

Recipe #2 - Walk in the Woods

  • Basic Soap recipe (above) - and for the essential oil blend:
  • 1 part cedarwood essential oil
  • 1 part lavender essential oil
  • 1 part eucalyptus essential oil
  • 1 part tea tree oil
Recipe #3 - Sweet Pooch
  • Basic Soap recipe (above) - and for the essential oil blend:
  • 1 part citronella essential oil
  • 1 part tea tree essential oil
  • 1 part lavender essential oil
Recipe #4 - Outback Adventure
  • Basic Soap recipe (above) - and for the essential oil blend:
  • 2 parts eucalyptus essential oil
  • 1 part tea tree essential oil
  • 1 part cedarwood essential oil
Pretty easy huh. Let it sit for a few hours, and then put Daisy in the shower...or hose her off in the driveway...and suds her up with your new dog soap.

Note: Essential oils are very dangerous/toxic to cats and rabbits. Do not use this soap on cats!

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