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How to Make Massage Soap Bars

Here’s how to make massage soap bars for an in-shower massage to relieve muscle tension. An especially great DIY gift for him!

I’ll be the first to admit I’m a creative person. If I’m not making soap, then I’m making candles, a bath scrub, a face mask, pom poms, tassels, or bath bombs – the list doesn’t ever end. I am continually adding to it in true Enneagram seven fashion. 

But learning how to make massage soap bars checked all my creative boxes! They are so unique yet so easy to make. If you’re thinking making soap is a daunting task, you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Homemade massage bars aren’t time-consuming to make, nor difficult, and require only minimal ingredients. 

So, whether you are new to soap making (don’t miss my beginner’s guide) or have made soap several times, this soap recipe is going to check all your boxes too! 

P.S. These massage soap bars pair exceptionally well with a homemade massage lotion bar as an especially great DIY gift idea for him on any occasion! 

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What are massage soap bars? And what are massage soap bar benefits?

Massage soap bars are essentially soap with dual benefits to cleanse and massage. 

You see, massage soap bars benefit the body by targeting areas of tension with direct pressure from large round beads that stick out from the bar. These beads are formed with the use of a silicone massage bar mold. When you rub a massage bar across the body, it creates a massaging sensation. 

Many find massage bars helpful in the relief of muscle knots and tension, menstrual cramps, and even sinus pressure. My husband says they’re great to use after work or exercise in the shower. I’ve found the oval shape of the massage bar is easy to hold and adjust your massage pressure. 

Give yourself an in-shower massage while receiving benefits for the skin, too, with this homemade massage soap bar recipe!

Related To: DIY Massage Lotion Bars

What’s in a Massage Soap Bar?

While ingredients can vary, a massage soap bar basically needs three key components. I’ll walk through each of these I’ve chosen for this soap recipe. 

1. Soap Base

The first of these ingredients is a soap base. I selected a shea butter melt and pour soap base because it creates a creamy, smooth soap with a rich lather and a high amount of vitamins and nutrients. Not to mention, it’s easy to work with. 

Learn more about shea butter soap bases from our printable soap-making guides in the Simple Living Library. If you don’t have a shea butter soap base, cocoa butter melt and pour soap is another great option for making massage soap. 

2. Oil

To help a massage soap bar slide across the skin better, it’s a good idea to add a small amount of oil. I included vitamin E oil in this soap recipe because its high vitamin content makes it equally moisturizing and nourishing for the skin. And it helps create more suds. 

You could also use sweet almond oil or jojoba oil in this recipe too.

3. Essential Oils

How can you have a massage without essential oils? I paired sweet vanilla essential oil with rich, luxurious sandalwood essential oil in my recipe. Here are a few other essential oil blends that work well in massage soap bars. 

Lavender + Eucalyptus

Spearmint + Cedarwood

Wintergreen + Vanilla

Related To: How To Choose A Soap Base

How to Make Massage Soap Bars

Follow the steps in this tutorial to make massage soap bars with ease. As soon as your friends find out these are your go-to for quick relief, you’ll need to make more!  This soap recipe makes two soap bars, but you can easily double the recipe for more soap bars.

Massage Soap Bar Supplies:

1 massage bar mold

1 soap knife 

¼ pound shea butter soap base

¼ teaspoon vitamin E oil

5 ml vanilla essential oil

5 ml sandalwood essential oil

1 glass measuring cup

1 heat-resistant silicone whisk

Massage Bar Soap Recipe:

1. Prepare the silicone massage bar mold to make soap by cleaning, drying, and spritzing with rubbing alcohol. 

2. Carefully slice ¼ pound of shea butter melt and pour soap base into cubes that are approximately ½” to 1” in size using a soap knife. 

3. Scoop the sliced shea butter soap base into a large glass measuring cup. Place it in the microwave and melt the soap base at two 30-second intervals, stirring in between to avoid burning.

4. Promptly remove the melted soap base from the microwave and add ¼ teaspoon of vitamin E oil. Blend into the soap using a non-stick heat-resistant spatula. 

5. Next, add your essential oil blend of 5 ml vanilla and 5 ml of sandalwood essential oil and blend thoroughly.

6. Then, pour the soap mixture into the prepared silicone soap mold, carefully distributing it between two sections and avoiding overflow.  

7. Last, allow soap to cool in the mold for one to two hours. If needed, spritz with rubbing alcohol to remove bubbles in the soap.

8. Once it’s completely cooled and hardened, peel off the silicone mold instead of pushing the soap out to retain the shape of the massage beads. And don’t worry, silicone soap molds are really flexible, and it doesn’t damage them at all to bend, pull, tug, or squeeze. 

Prefer a Printable Massage Bar Recipe? 

You’ll be happy to hear this soap recipe makes a long-lasting bar of soap. And you can’t go wrong with gifting one! Plus, you can use the same silicone mold to make massage lotion bars too!! Equally fun and creative. 

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Pin these step-by-step instructions on how to make massage soap bars now—tag #lifenreflection on Instagram to share your soap-making with me.