Cherry Blossom Soap

Learn how to make cherry blossom soap! Formulated with moisturizing cherry blossom-infused oil and essential oils, the whipped soap recipe offers gentle cleansing and a beguiling cherry blossom scent. The elegant soap is a wonderful addition to your spring skin care and makes lovely gifts.

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Homemade cherry blossom soap

I am SO excited about this cherry blossom soap, and do you know why? I LOVE cherry blossoms. They are the most beautiful and elegant heralds of spring. And the fact that they are so fugacious makes these dainty blossoms even more precious.

For years, I wanted to create skincare recipes starring cherry blossoms, and today I’m over the moon to share this DIY cherry blossom soap recipe with you! If you find cherry blossoms as appealing as I do, be sure to save this soap-making tutorial.

This homemade spring soap not only captures the delicate scent of blossom petals, but the soap also has a wonderfully soft, whipped texture. It feels incredibly light and velvety on the skin.

It sounds so fancy and almost extravagant, but making Sakura soap is much easier than you imagine. The recipe starts out with a whipped soap base and is ready in about 20 minutes. If you have an electric mixer, you can recreate this at home!

I’ll also show you how to blend a beautiful cherry blossom scent with essential oils, and we’ll talk about the possible skincare benefits of these lovely spring blooms. You’ll love it!

For more Sakura-inspired ideas, try our cherry blossom body lotion, cherry blossom soy candle, and my cherry blossom essential oil blend next!

Benefits of cherry blossom soap

• Gentle cleanser: My cherry blossom soap is a gentle and effective cleanser. It produces a creamy, rich lather and can be used to wash your hands and as cherry blossom body wash.
• Antioxidant activity: Cherry blossoms are full of antioxidants and possess soothing, anti-inflammatory properties. They are said to fight skin damage from free radicals and calm irritation and redness.
• Lighten hyperpigmentation: The spring blossoms may aid with hyperpigmentation as they suppress the overproduction of melanin, creating a more even skin tone.
• Natural fragrance: The soap is infused with a natural essential oil blend that emulates the light scent of Japanese cherry blossoms.
• Lovely gift: Cherry blossom is a beautiful gift for natural skincare lovers. The easy soap recipe makes enough to create several gifts for your friends and family.

Ingredients

Dried cherry blossoms are a little harder to track down, but the rest of the ingredients are really easy to source. Find measurements for each soap ingredient in the recipe card at the end of the post.

• Whipped soap base is a type of soft soap that can be mixed until a smooth, fluffy texture is reached. I used a product from Stephenson called cosmetic base. Crafter’s Choice also offers a whipping soap base.
• Coconut oil is an excellent moisturizer and will keep your skin soft and supple. We need to make a cherry blossom oil infusion. Be sure to purchase liquid (fractionated) coconut oil.
• Dried cherry blossoms are needed to make cherry blossom-infused oil. You can buy real Japanese cherry blossom (Sakura) on Etsy and at specialty food stores that focus on Japanese cuisine. We’ll talk more about this fascinating ingredient in just a moment.
• SLSA (optional) is a cleansing agent made from coconut and palm kernel oil. The cleanser boosts the lather and foaming qualities.
• Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant. The powerhouse ingredient moisturizes and strengthens the skin. The vitamin also protects the essential oils from oxidation.
• Pink mica (optional) lends the soap a soft pink color reminiscent of the delicate pink cherry blossom petals. Without a colorant, your cherry blossom soap will appear white.
• Essential oils: Since there is no real cherry blossom essential oil, I’ll show you how to make a cherry blossom essential oil blend that resembles the smell of Sakura.
• Preservative: I used Preservative ECO (Geogard ETC), a natural broad-spectrum preservative, to prevent spoilage from bacteria and mold. The preservative boasts a bitter almond scent that beautifully enhances the cherry blossom fragrance.

What is whipped soap base?

Instead of melt-and-pour soap, I decided to make this DIY with a whipped soap base. This type of soap base is whipped until light and fluffy.

I used this foaming bath butter from Stephenson. You could also try the whipped soap base from Nature’s Garden or the foaming bath whip by Crafter’s Choice.

What are dried Sakura blossoms?

When I dreamed up this soap recipe, I wanted to include real cherry blossoms in one way or another. I was overjoyed when I discovered dried Japanese cherry blossoms (aka Sakura blossoms).

Cherry blossoms are Japan’s national flower, celebrated as a symbol of hope and renewal. The spring blossoms are used to season and enhance a variety of Japanese dishes such as mochi, cookies, tea, and Sakura latte.

For my soap, I bought edible dried Sakura cherry blossoms. The blossoms are preserved in salt and plum vinegar, which gives a subtle blossom scent and helps to retain their beautiful pink color.

We use the dreamy petals to make a floral oil infusion where the petals macerate in liquid coconut oil, releasing the skin-soothing qualities into the oil. This cherry blossom oil is then mixed into the soap.

You can order these beauties online. They are available on Amazon, Etsy, and the Anything From Japan store. You don’t need much; just 2 grams are enough. And if you have leftovers, make Cyna’s Sakura body lotion.

Cherry blossom essential oil

Cherry blossoms have a delicate floral scent, composed of light notes of lilac, rose, and magnolia and a powdery vanilla aroma.

Sadly, real cherry blossom essential oil doesn’t exist. The scent of the petals is too faint and fleeting to be distilled into an essential oil. You’ll occasionally come across products labeled “cherry blossom essential oil,” but those are synthetic fragrance oils most likely.

Luckily, we can blend a few different essential oils to create a wonderful floral scent reminiscent of the gorgeous Sakura blossoms. Here’s what you’ll need:

• 120 drops rhododendron essential oil – Rhododendron features a light floral smell with slightly balsamic and herbaceous notes. It’s an excellent stand-in for cherry blossom oil.
• 36 drops vetiver essential oil – Vetiver adds a fresh green aroma typical for cherry blossoms.
• 24 drops Peru balsam essential oil – Peru balsam provides those sweet, vanillic undertones found in Sakura. You can substitute vanilla oleoresin or absolute.

These amounts are enough to scent 1 batch of cherry blossom soap. The usage rate is approx. 1.7%, which is well within safety recommendations.

Cherry blossoms also feature hints of marzipan aroma. Preservative Eco possesses a subtle bitter almond smell, which perfectly rounds out the cherry blossom fragrance.

I recently shared a dedicated post with several cherry blossom essential oil blends. This article includes blends for fruity and sweet-smelling oils, so be sure to check that out if you’re interested to learn more about cherry blossom essential oil.

How to make cherry blossom soap

Whipped cherry blossom soap is beyond easy to make. Simply infuse coconut oil with cherry blossoms and then beat the ingredients until fluffy. Let’s go over the whole process step-by-step:

Step 1: Infuse oil

Add the oil and dried cherry blossom into a small, heat-resistant glass jar. If necessary, use a spoon to push the flowers into the oil. Fill a small saucepan with 1/2 in / 1.5 cm water and bring to a mild simmer. Once simmering, remove from the heat and place the jar with the oil and cherry blossom into the saucepan. Let infuse for 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 2: Strain oil

After sitting for 30 minutes, pour the infused oil into a fine-mesh sieve to strain the oil. Discard the cherry blossom.

Step 3: Whip

Place the soap base, SLSA, infused oil, vitamin E, and mica powder into a large mixing bowl. Using a mixer, whip the mixture until light, fluffy, and doubled in volume. This process takes 5 to 7 minutes. The consistency should be similar to whipped cream. If desired, add more mica to create a richer color.

Tip: SLSA is a fine, airborne powder that can irritate the airways if inhaled. I recommend covering your nose and mouth for the first few minutes of mixing. You can take the covering off once the SLSA is fully incorporated.

Step 4: Add scent and preservative

Add the cherry blossom essential oil and preservative. Mix until everything is well combined. Your cherry blossom soap is ready!

Step 5: Package

Transfer the whipped cherry blossom soap into a storage jar. You can spoon the mixture into the jar or pipe it into the storage vessel by using a pastry (piping) bag and piping tip. Optionally, apply a printable soap label.

How to use cherry blossom soap

Applying your DIY cherry blossom soap could not be simpler! You can use the soap to wash your hands or as a mild body wash cream. Either way, it cleanses gently and feels luxurious on the skin. Here’s what you’ll do:

1. To use the cherry blossom soap, take a peanut-sized amount and place it on your hand. You can do this with clean hands, a small spoon, or a cosmetic spatula.
2. Add some water, and then massage the soap into your skin.
3. Rinse off with plenty of water.

How much do I need?

Whipped soap is very effective, and a little goes a long way. You need a pea-sized amount to wash your hands, and a walnut-sized amount should be enough to clean your entire body.

Can I use this whipped soap recipe as a face cleanser?

No, I don’t recommend using this cherry blossom soap as a face cleanser. Although this cherry blossom soap recipe is fairly mild, the essential oils can irritate the delicate facial skin.

FAQ’s

Can I make this DIY whipped soap with other flowers?

Absolutely! You can use any dried flowers, petals, or herbs you have and enjoy in your skin care. This is a great way to adapt the recipe for other seasons and skincare needs.

Dried rose buds/petals and dried calendula are lovely alternatives to cherry blossoms and offer excellent skincare benefits.

Dried cornflower petals and chamomile are great choices for sensitive and irritated skin. Hibiscus petals are a good option for those seeking anti-aging qualities.

Does the soap stay soft?

Yes, the whipped soap will remain soft and fluffy. The texture reminds me of whipped body butter.

Can I use a cherry blossom fragrance oil?

Of course! I’ve learned from conversations with you, my lovely readers, that some of you prefer fragrance oils since eos can be costly. If that’s the case for you, feel free to prepare this homemade Japanese cherry blossom soap recipe with cherry blossom fragrance oil.

You can find cherry blossom-scented oil on Amazon. Wholesale Supplies Plus offers 2 different oils, a Japanese cherry blossom FO and a cherry blossom oil that smells like Bath & Body Works cherry blossom scent.

Can I make this cherry blossom soap with regular coconut oil?

Yes! You want to melt the coconut oil first, then infuse it and added to the cherry blossom soap as directed in the recipe. It’s also possible to use other liquid oils, such as jojoba oil, squalane, or babassu oil.

Do I really need a preservative?

The soap base already contains a preservative, and we aren’t adding any additional water, so you can get away without one. However, I still recommend including a preservative in this formulation because the soap is easily exposed to water during use.

Water is a potential breeding ground for bacteria, mold, and yeasts. A preservative such as Preservative Eco is the best way to ensure the whipped soap is safe and isn’t harboring any microorganisms.

Is SLSA safe?

Yes, SLSA is generally considered safe and mild. SLSA is often confused with SLS (sodium lauryl sulfate) because the name sounds similar. While SLS can react irritating, SLSA is gentle on the skin and not irritating. Of course, if you have concerns and want to skip it, you are welcome to do so.

However, please remember that loose SLSA powder can be irritating when inhaled. When handling the powder, always wear a face covering to protect your respiratory passages.

Packaging & gifting

Transfer the whipped cherry blossom soap into a storage jar. You can spoon the mixture into the jar or pipe it into your vessel of choice.

I used a disposable pastry (piping) bag and a large open star piping tip to fill 4-oz mason jars with the mixture. These soap jars are excellent gifts for a bridal or baby shower. The recipe makes approximately 4 to 6 jars.

And as a finishing touch, decorate each jar with a printable label. The labels fit between the lid and the metal band of the mason jars. You can download them below!

Storage instructions & shelf life

When not in use, keep the jar sealed airtight and store the whipped soap recipe in a dark, cool place. The shelf life is 1 year. The soap itself will last longer than that, but the scent will lessen after a few months.

More homemade soap recipes

Looking for more homemade soap recipes? Here are some of my other spring and summer favorites! They are easy to make, offer a variety of skincare benefits, and are sure to impress your friends and family.

• Peony Soap
• Lemon Lavender & Honey Soap
• Turmeric Soap
• Green Tea Soap
• Sea Salt Soap
• Citrus Soap