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    Home » Best Of

    21 Natural Bath and Body Recipes That Bring Old-Fashioned Care Back

    Sarita Harbour.
    Modified: Sep 23, 2025 by Sarita Harbour · This post may contain affiliate links·
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    Natural skin care doesn’t have to come from a store shelf. These natural bath and body recipes use simple ingredients from your kitchen, herb garden, or backyard. They’re safe for your family, inexpensive to make, and bring back the old-fashioned care our grandmothers relied on. From soap and scrubs to balms and oils, each one skips the harsh chemicals and keeps things practical.

    Glycerin Lemon Soap

    Pin
    Glycerin Lemon Soap . Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    For a fresh scent and natural clean, How to Make Lemon Soap blends citrus with oils for a safe bar. Families once used recipes like this before store-bought options. It’s inexpensive and uses ingredients you already keep at home. The soap lathers well and stays gentle on skin. Craft a batch and keep it ready for the bathroom or kitchen sink.
    Get the Recipe: Glycerin Lemon Soap

    Oregano Salve

    Pin
    Oregano Salve. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Herbal care stays simple with Oregano Salve, a recipe that uses oregano and oils for skin protection. Safe for the whole family, it skips dyes and chemicals. This old-fashioned recipe is quick to make and inexpensive. Store it in small jars for easy use. Families have relied on salves like this for generations.
    Get the Recipe: Oregano Salve

    Eucalyptus Bath Salts

    Pin
    Eucalyptus Bath Salts. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Breathe easier with Eucalyptus Bath Salts Recipe made from natural salts and essential oils. This old-fashioned blend avoids synthetic dyes and stays safe for family baths. Preparation is quick, and jars store well on the shelf. It’s inexpensive to make with ingredients from your pantry or garden. Add it to your bath for safe relaxation.
    Get the Recipe: Eucalyptus Bath Salts

    DIY Hair Butter

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    DIY Hair Butter. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Hair care feels natural again with DIY Hair Butter that nourishes with oils and butters from the kitchen. Safe for the whole family, it’s free of chemicals and dyes. This old-fashioned method shows how simple ingredients create lasting results. The recipe is inexpensive and quick to prepare. Store it in a jar for easy daily use.
    Get the Recipe: DIY Hair Butter

    Lavender Tallow Balm Recipe

    Pin
    Lavender Tallow Balm Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Healing skin the natural way works well with Tallow Balm, a recipe rooted in pioneer tradition. It uses rendered tallow and oils without dyes or harsh chemicals. Safe for your family, it costs far less than commercial creams. Preparation is simple, with results that last. Store it in jars like your grandmother once did.
    Get the Recipe: Lavender Tallow Balm Recipe

    Dandelion Oil and Salve

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    Dandelion Oil and Salve. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Wild plants become useful again with Dandelion Oil, a natural recipe made with blossoms and carrier oil. It’s an old-fashioned way to care for skin without chemicals. Safe for your family, it costs little to create. Preparation is simple, and the oil keeps well in jars. Pioneers once trusted recipes like this for everyday care.
    Get the Recipe: Dandelion Oil and Salve

    How to Make Homemade DIY Oregano Oil Recipe

    Top view of homemade oregano oilPin
    How to Make Homemade DIY Oregano Oil Recipe. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Homemade remedies keep things simple and safe for your family, and DIY Oregano Oil proves that point. Made with oregano from the herb garden and olive oil from your pantry, this natural recipe avoids harsh dyes or chemicals. It’s old-fashioned care you can trust, the way your grandmother once did. Preparation is quick and inexpensive, using ingredients already in your kitchen. A small batch lasts weeks and supports practical family living.
    Get the Recipe: How to Make Homemade DIY Oregano Oil Recipe

    Homemade Calamine Lotion

    An open jar of thick, creamy chocolate spread sits on a wooden surface, with a spoon in the background.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    For summer skin care, Homemade Calamine Lotion brings back an old remedy that eases discomfort without synthetic ingredients. Using natural powders and a few kitchen staples, this lotion is safe for kids and adults alike. It’s easy to mix in minutes, making it a frugal choice for family health. You won’t find artificial dyes here, just trusted ingredients the pioneers might have used. Keep it in a jar for outdoor season and everyday use.
    Get the Recipe: Homemade Calamine Lotion

    Sugar Scrub Soap Recipe

    Five geometric, faceted white heart shapes arranged on a red surface.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Gentle exfoliation comes naturally with this Sugar Scrub Soap Recipe that blends soap base with pantry sugar. It’s an easy, old-fashioned method to smooth skin without chemical scrubs. Safe for the whole family, the mix creates both lather and exfoliation in one bar. Ingredients come straight from your kitchen, keeping it budget-friendly. Craft several bars at once for gifts or bathroom storage.
    Get the Recipe: Sugar Scrub Soap Recipe

    How to Make an Easy Homemade Beeswax Salve Recipe

    An open tin of balm on a wooden surface, surrounded by two band-aids and two packets labeled "CUARD.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Skin protection feels better when you make it yourself, and Beeswax Salve Recipe delivers an old-time approach. Beeswax, oils, and herbs combine for a natural blend free of synthetic dyes. It’s inexpensive to create and lasts a long time on the shelf. Safe for your skin, this salve has been trusted for generations. A single jar offers family care the way your grandmother relied on.
    Get the Recipe: How to Make an Easy Homemade Beeswax Salve Recipe

    How to Make Homemade DIY Bug Spray with Essential Oils

    Adding essential oils to bug spray.Pin
    Adding essential oils to bug spray. Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Keep pests away the natural way with Homemade DIY Bug Spray with Essential Oils. Unlike store versions, it avoids harsh chemicals while staying safe for kids and pets. The recipe uses garden herbs and oils you already have at home. Preparation takes just minutes and costs far less than commercial sprays. It’s a simple old-fashioned solution for modern families.
    Get the Recipe: How to Make Homemade DIY Bug Spray with Essential Oils

    Easy Homemade DIY Shampoo Bar Recipe Without Lye

    Three white, flower-shaped soaps in a woven basket on a dark marble surface.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Natural ingredients make a difference in hair care, and DIY Shampoo Bar Recipe Without Lye shows how. Kitchen oils and simple additions form a safe bar that avoids harsh detergents. It’s the kind of old-fashioned recipe families used before bottled shampoos. Inexpensive and easy to shape, it lasts longer than liquid options. Safe for kids and gentle on scalps, it fits right into family routines.
    Get the Recipe: Easy Homemade DIY Shampoo Bar Recipe Without Lye

    DIY Recipe: How to Make Your Own Homemade Toothpaste

    Natural toothpastePin
    Photo Credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Daily routines feel cleaner with Homemade Toothpaste that swaps chemicals for natural powders. A quick mix of baking soda, coconut oil, and optional mint keeps it inexpensive. Safe for your teeth and your kids’, it’s as practical as it gets. Families once made toothpaste this way long before tubes filled the shelves. You’ll appreciate the simplicity and natural care.
    Get the Recipe: DIY Recipe: How to Make Your Own Homemade Toothpaste

    Beeswax Lip Balm Recipe: Orange Spiced Cider

    Four small plastic containers filled with a white creamy substance placed on a wooden table.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Soft lips stay that way with Beeswax Lip Balm Recipe, a safe blend of wax and oils. This natural mix uses simple ingredients you may already keep in the kitchen. It’s an old-fashioned method trusted long before commercial tubes. Inexpensive to create, one batch fills several containers. Families can rely on it for safe, chemical-free moisture.
    Get the Recipe: Beeswax Lip Balm Recipe: Orange Spiced Cider

    Peppermint Foot Scrub Recipe

    A glass jar of pink sugar scrub with a wooden spoon on a wooden surface, next to a peppermint candy and a red and white ribbon.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Tired feet find relief with this Peppermint Foot Scrub Recipe made with natural oils and sugar. It’s a safe, family-friendly way to refresh skin after long days. Inexpensive and simple, it avoids dyes and harsh chemicals. Peppermint oil from the herb shelf adds old-fashioned freshness. A small jar keeps well in the bathroom for regular use.
    Get the Recipe: Peppermint Foot Scrub Recipe

    Easy Homemade Coffee Brown Sugar Scrub Recipe

    A glass jar filled with dark coffee grounds sits on a blue and white patterned plate.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Coffee grounds don’t go to waste with this Coffee Brown Sugar Scrub that smooths skin naturally. It uses simple pantry ingredients for a frugal, old-fashioned recipe. Safe for family use, it avoids commercial fillers. Preparation is quick, and it stores easily in a jar. You’ll see how everyday kitchen items care for skin safely.
    Get the Recipe: Easy Homemade Coffee Brown Sugar Scrub Recipe

    Easy Natural DIY Gardeners Soap Recipe

    Two rectangular bars of soap, one wrapped with twine and paper, placed on a wooden surface with coffee beans scattered around.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Hands that work outdoors benefit from Gardeners Soap, a recipe that blends natural exfoliants with soap base. It’s safe, chemical-free, and old-fashioned in its approach. Ingredients come straight from your kitchen and garden. Bars last long, keeping it cost-effective for family use. You’ll find it practical and easy to prepare in small batches.
    Get the Recipe: Easy Natural DIY Gardeners Soap Recipe

    Scrub With Sugar: Handmade Lavender Grapefruit Soap

    Purple flower-shaped soaps on a lace surface with a logo in the bottom right corner.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Simple and safe, this Scrub With Sugar shows how pantry staples keep skin soft. Families once relied on recipes like this before chemical scrubs existed. It’s quick to mix and inexpensive, making it accessible for everyday use. Free from dyes, it stays gentle on your skin. Keep a jar handy for the bathroom shelf.
    Get the Recipe: Scrub With Sugar: Handmade Lavender Grapefruit Soap

    How to Make Herbal Bath Salts with Wild Roses

    Two glass bowls filled with flower petals, one with ice, rest on a white silky surface surrounded by scattered petals and small flowers.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Homemade soaks feel comforting with this How to Make Herbal Bath Salts guide. Using herbs from your garden and pantry salt, it avoids dyes and chemicals. Safe for family use, it’s the same kind of old-fashioned care pioneers enjoyed. Preparation is simple and inexpensive, storing well in jars. Make several batches for thoughtful gifts.
    Get the Recipe: How to Make Herbal Bath Salts with Wild Roses

    How to Make Lip Balm with Beeswax and Coconut Oil

    A tin filled with golden honey beside a honey dipper on a wooden surface.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Moisturize naturally with How to Make Lip Balm With Beeswax and Coconut Oil, a safe mix of kitchen staples. Families can trust this old-fashioned method free of dyes. It’s inexpensive and produces several tubes in one batch. Safe for kids and adults, it’s a natural way to protect skin. The recipe takes just minutes to prepare.
    Get the Recipe: How to Make Lip Balm with Beeswax and Coconut Oil

    Natural Recipe: How to Make Easy Homemade Sunscreen

    A glass jar filled with yellow cream on a wooden table, accompanied by a small bottle, sunglasses, and a honey dipper.Pin
    Photo credit: An Off Grid Life.

    Safe sun care comes with Natural Recipe: How to Make Easy Homemade Sunscreen. It avoids chemicals, using oils and zinc oxide for protection. The recipe is inexpensive and made with ingredients from your pantry. Families used similar old-fashioned blends before bottled sunscreens. Keep a jar ready for outdoor days.
    Get the Recipe: Natural Recipe: How to Make Easy Homemade Sunscreen

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    About Sarita Harbour

    Sarita Harbour is a long-time freelance writer, blogger, and homesteader who has been creating online content for over 15 years. She’s the founder of An Off Grid Life, where she shares practical advice on self-reliance, homesteading, off-grid living, and homeschooling based on her 11-year adventure living in Canada’s remote Northwest Territories.

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    Sarita Harbour.

    I'm Sarita. My family and I lived off the grid for 11 years in Canada's far north. If I did it, you can too.

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