Making your own soaps from scratch serves as the perfect way to channel your creativity and create something that pampers your skin.
Soap making can also be incredibly therapeutic. According to reputable essential oil suppliers like Wholesale Botanics, many of their customers report that soap making offers a healthy way for them to manage stress and anxiety. It may also help to foster a sense of purpose, since your hard work is rewarded with a gorgeously fragrant, unique soap.
Whether you’re looking to buy essential oils in bulk so that you can make fun soaps year-round, share the joy with friends, or set up your own side hustle, there are plenty of options to explore. Since you’re buying in bulk, it’s important to know the best options before you splurge. Read on to learn our top picks and the key considerations.
Bulk Essential Oils for Soap Making: Key Considerations
We’d love to claim that there are a few essential oils that work for everyone, but that simply isn’t the case. That’s part of the joy of soap making; you get to create (and discover) something that works just for you!
While browsing our recommendations below, we advise keeping the following considerations in mind to ensure you splurge on the right oils:
- Preferences: Do you love a light floral fragrance or are you drawn to something deeper and more woodsy?
- Skin type: Different essential oils suit different skin types; some are moisturizing and better suited to dry skin, while others are light and gentle, and ideal for sensitive skin.
- Skin concern: Are you prone to acne, irritation, or inflammation? Do you experience flakiness?
- Budget: Some essential oils (like agarwood) are more expensive than others, depending on how easy they are to source.
Intend to share or sell the soaps? Consider essential oils that are popular among the majority. According to the Statistica Research Department, tea tree, rosemary, and lavender oil are some of the most commonly used essential oils.
The Best Bulk Essential Oils for Soap Making
The options below are ideal for soap making due to their potential benefits on the skin, appealing fragrances, and overall affordability.
However, always purchase samples of the oils before you buy them in bulk. This helps you avoid disappointment (and waste) later down the line.
Lavender
Lavender oil is extracted from the plant’s flowers through steam distillation. The oil’s floral fragrance has been known to have a calming, relaxing effect, making it popular as a diffusing oil as well.
When added to soap and used topically, lavender oil may benefit the skin in several ways. While research into its effectiveness is still ongoing, it may help balance out skin tone, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, and moisturize dry skin. Since it has anti-inflammatory properties, it may also help soothe skin inflammation.
Rose
Rose is another floral essential oil made from distilled petals. Rose has a delicate, almost romantic aroma. It is commonly used in perfumes, face creams, and haircare as well as soaps.
Rose is known to be an effective emollient (moisturizer). When added to soap, it may help soften the skin, providing nourishment that soothes and reduces fine lines. Some studies have also suggested that the oil has both anti-anxiety and analgesic (pain-relieving) effects.
Rose is known to be light and gentle on the skin, making it well-suited to those prone to irritation.
Frankincense
Frankincense oil has a warm, deep, woodsy scent that can provide comfort during the winter months. Topically, it has been associated with rejuvenating and balancing out the skin. It is also thought to have anti-inflammatory properties; a reason why it has been used as a traditional medicine for centuries.
While frankincense may have healing properties, be mindful that it can interact with medications like blood thinners and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). It is also not advised for those who are pregnant. While this is most relevant if you take frankincense orally rather than apply it topically through soap, it is still advisable to consult a doctor before use.
Other Popular Essential Oil Choices
While the three above are our top recommendations, here are some other essential oils that are well-suited to soap making (and bulk purchasing). Explore in your own time to determine if they are a better fit for your needs and preferences:
- Tea tree
- Cedarwood
- Sandalwood
- Patchouli
- Orange
- Lemongrass
You can also consider an essential oil blend, where you combine different essential oils together to get your perfect fragrance and benefits.
Buying Bulk Essential Oils for Soap Making
Once you’ve decided on the essential oils you intend to buy, the next step is to find the right bulk supplier.
Generally, it’s best to work with an online supplier instead of a high street aromatherapy store, as they often provide more options and significant discounts on bulk. Bulk essential oil suppliers like Wholesale Botanics even provide a free consultation before you purchase to help you make the right decision for your needs or business.
Whichever supplier you choose, make sure they stock high-quality essential oils. They should be 100% pure, organic, and kept in dark amber glass bottles for preservation.
