Learn how to make DIY pumpkin spice body wash to get you in a fall mood with this easy recipe!
My husband loves body wash, scented soaps, and candles, but I'm always on a mission to remove potentially harmful chemicals and ingredients from our lives! That's why I created this homemade pumpkin spice body wash and hand soap recipe. It's all-natural, great for your skin, and smells delicious! It also lathers well and feels super creamy.
My husband usually complains when I make us use homemade soap, but he's used this body wash every day since I made it!
Let's take a look at the ingredients in this homemade body wash and hand soap. People frequently have questions about specific ingredients and if they can make substitutions, so make sure to check out this section if you have any questions!
Make sure to scroll down for free printable gift tags and a printable recipe card!
This post includes affiliate links, which means I may earn a commission on purchases made through links at no additional cost to you.
Castile soap
Castile soap is a plant-based natural, biodegradable soap. It was originally made with olive oil in the Castile region of Spain, but today it's also made with coconut, castor, or hemp oils. Castile soap is environmentally friendly, nontoxic, and safe for the whole family!
Castile soap has many different uses, and it's my preferred base for homemade body washes and hand soaps. If you're unfamiliar with it, you can read more about Castile soap here.
I typically use Dr. Bronner's "Baby" unscented soap for my projects, but there are other brands, too. Dr. Bronner's Baby soap receives an overall grade of A from the Environmental Working Group.
Liquid castile soap is a must for this recipe, though you can use your favorite brand.
Honey
Honey serves several purposes in this body wash.
Honey is a natural humectant, which means it attracts and holds moisture on your skin to keep it hydrated. Honey also contains natural alpha hydroxy acids, which encourage exfoliation and help clear away dead skin.
Honey contains antibacterial agents and has been used since ancient times to help treat wounds and burns. Research shows that, in most honeys, enzymatic production of hydrogen peroxide is what makes it antibacterial. (source)
Use raw, local honey for maximum benefit!
Vegetable glycerine
Glycerine thickens the body wash and makes it lather more. Some people don't like body products that contain glycerine, but my husband loves it (and he's our main body wash user).
Like honey, glycerine is a natural humectant that helps hydrate your skin.
If you don't want to use glycerine, simply add an extra ¼ cup of castile soap.
If you do want to use glycerine, make sure to get pure vegetable glycerin.
- Pure Versatile Skin Care
- Softens and Moisturizes
- Multi-Purpose
Vitamin E oil
Vitamin E is antioxidant and may help moisturize and heal your skin.
It's a popular ingredient in skin care products, and it acts as a bit of a natural 'preservative' for your body wash. It is not technically a preservative, but it can help prolong the shelf life of homemade body products by keeping oils from going rancid.
Make sure to look for pure Vitamin E oil, not one with lots of filler oils. If you don't have high quality Vitamin E oil, you can simply omit it from this recipe.
- 100% Natural, Pure & Undiluted Vitamin E Oil. A dark, thick, smelly oil. Bos Essentials vitamin E oil is the the most effective vitamin E oil...
- Twice as effective as synthetic oils. Natural vitamin E oil (as D-Alpha Tocopherol) neutralizes free radicals and prevents collagen damage. It combats...
- An exceptional ingredient for your Natural/DIY arsenal. Add it to existing creams, serums, soaps, and other products to supercharge your skincare...
Jojoba oil
Jojoba oil is an awesome oil that's technically a liquid wax! Jojoba oil has many wonderful properties, including being humectant, antibacterial, antioxidant, and noncomedogenic (which means it won't clog your pores). It may help dry skin, assist in wound healing, and even help ease the appearance of scars.
If you want to know more, you can read about the benefits of jojoba oil on Healthline.
For a long time, I hesitated to buy jojoba oil for my DIY body care products because it can cost a little bit more than other oils. I recommend buying a small bottle of jojoba oil if you can because it's such a great ingredient to have on hand.
- 100% pure, multi-purpose certified organic body oil: Certified organic jojoba oil is derived from the seed of the jojoba shrub and is one of the most...
- For skin, hair, and body/Non-GMO project verified: Its high stability, invigorating scent, and cosmetic versatility make it ideal for all skin and...
- Now solutions is the next step in the evolution of personal care products, formulated with the finest functional ingredients from around the world.
If jojoba oil isn't in your budget, you can substitute with other oils like coconut oil, sweet almond oil, avocado oil, or your other favorite oil. You can also omit the oil.
Here's a picture of the jojoba plant, which is native to North America.
Vanilla extract
Make sure to use pure vanilla extract, not an imitation vanilla. Vanilla extract smells amazing, and vanilla has anti-inflammatory properties, antioxidants, and tons of vitamins.
If you don't have pure vanilla extract, it's better to leave it out than add an imitation.
Pumpkin pie spice essential oil blend
A little goes a long way with the warming spices in this essential oil blend! I used a combination of cinnamon, clove, ginger, and sweet orange oil.
With the exception of orange, these oils are very hot and need to be diluted a lot for topical application. Please don't use more than 5 drops each of cinnamon and clove oil!
How to make your own pumpkin spice body wash/hand soap
Materials and ingredients for pumpkin spice body wash
- ½ cup pure liquid castile soap (unscented)
- ¼ cup vegetable glycerine
- ¼ cup raw honey
- ½ teaspoon Vitamin E oil
- ½ teaspoon jojoba oil (or other oil of your choice)
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Essential oils
- 1 or 2 cup measuring cup with spout
- Additional measuring cups and spoons
- Spoon or spatula
- 8 oz pump or flip top bottle. Amber or blue bottles are best and help protect your body wash.
- To keep your body wash for longer, consider adding an appropriate quantity of a preservative like liquid Germall Plus.
Pumpkin spice hand soap/body wash recipe
Look below the tutorial for a printable recipe card!
Pour your castile soap into your large glass measuring cup.
Add the vegetable glycerine, honey, Vitamin E, jojoba oil, vanilla, and essential oils.
Stir to combine. If your honey is fresh, this won't take a long time. If your honey is starting to crystalize, it may take a bit more stirring.
Pour into a clean bottle with a pump or flip top and enjoy!
This body wash is best enjoyed within 4-6 weeks. If you won't use it all that soon, consider placing a portion of it in the fridge.
This body wash is so rich and creamy! It leaves your skin feeling hydrated and soft without being greasy.
If you want to give this body wash as a handmade gift, make sure to download the free printable gift tags! There are several versions with both "pumpkin spice body wash" and "pumpkin spice hand soap" available.
The round tags are 2" across and perfect for cutting out with a 2" circle punch!
Please note that the image is a low resolution preview and will look terrible if printed. The gift tags are located in the Member's Resource Library. Not a member yet? Join The Artisan Life using the form below!
DIY Pumpkin Spice Body Wash
This pumpkin spice body wash/hand soap is nourshing and smells delicious!
Materials
- ½ cup pure liquid castile soap (unscented)
- ¼ cup vegetable glycerine
- ¼ honey
- ½ teaspoon Vitamin E oil
- ½ teaspoon jojoba oil (or other oil of your choice)
- ½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
- Essential oils - I used 2 drops cinnamon, 2 drops clove, 2 drops ginger, 2 drops sweet orange
Tools
- 1 or 2 cup measuring cup with spout
- Additional measuring cups and spoons
- Spoon or spatula
- 8 oz pump or flip top bottle. Amber or blue bottles are best and help protect your body wash.
Instructions
Pour your castile soap into your large glass measuring cup.
Add the vegetable glycerine, honey, Vitamin E, jojoba oil, vanilla, and essential oils.
Stir to combine. If your honey is fresh, this won’t take a long time. If your honey is starting to crystalize, it may take a bit more stirring.
Pour into a clean bottle with a pump or flip top and enjoy!
This body wash is best enjoyed within 4-6 weeks. If you won’t use it all that soon, consider placing a portion of it in the fridge.
Make sure you can find this pumpkin spice body wash recipe again later - Pin it now!
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Tiffany
Awesome idea!
Can I just use the spices if I don't have the essential oils?
What amounts of each would you recommend?
Thanks!
Natasha
Hmmm. I think using spices in this would be a little odd since it's a body wash. I wouldn't expect powdered spices to do well in a liquid If you'd rather use whole spices, this sugar scrub might be a better choice: https://natashalh.com/diy-coffee-sugar-scrub-pumpkin-spice/ You could also add powdered spices to this solid soap recipe: https://natashalh.com/oatmeal-honey-soap/