Practical Magic Black Soap

Oct 7

This post was originally published on October 31st, 2017. It has since been revised and updated as of October 7, 2022.

Who knew that five years ago, my obsession with the novel and film Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman would become one of our most popular blog posts of all time. This recipe is an absolute magical delight! This homemade black soap is inspired by the Owens witches and is the perfect enchanting soap recipe for your DIY skincare routine.

When I first wrote this blog post, in many ways I was still finding myself and trying to figure out what I wanted this space on the internet to be. Actually, it was right around the time that I shared this post that we made the decision to buy our farm and move to a life of true homesteading, or at least no longer homesteading in our backyard. It was then that I kind of lost the original vision for our writing, and I felt that maybe following a farm/retail business model would be better. Therefore, my love of herbalism, writing, magical things, history, and cottagecore (though I did not have a term for that at the time) were pushed to the back burner. While part of me regrets that evolutionary journey, it was also necessary for me to go through and figure out. The older I become, the more I want to embrace my true and authentic self, sharing the things that I find fascinating and love purely because I think they are wonderful.

Practical Magic Black Soap - Under A Tin Roof Blog

That still boils down to having a love affair with Practical Magic. I had the idea to come up with a recipe for Practical Magic Black Soap, inspired after the novel, five years ago because I could not find a legitimate enough sounding recipe (or really any recipe) for the soap on the internet at that time. Now, there are several copycat recipes of this soap circulating around, and many have been taken without my permission and published in magazines and the like. I have also seen several copycat soaps sold on Etsy. That part is slightly unfortunate… but this is the internet. What are you going to do?

The Owens Black Soap:

This recipe is inspired by a few very short passages in the novel Practical Magic by Alice Hoffman, in which a special “black soap” is made by the Aunts, Jet and Francis, to help heal their complexion. The soap is referenced to have special ingredients in it to keep the women looking young and vibrant, and it is only made twice a year in their home.

“At night Sally dreamed of ranch houses and picket white fences, and when she woke in the morning and looked out to see the black metal spikes that surrounded them, tears formed in her eyes. Other girls, she knew, washed with bars of Ivory and sweet-scented Camay, while she and Gillian were forced to use the black soap the aunts made twice a year, on the back burner of their stove.”

“Trouble, of course, was nothing new to the Owens sisters, especially as they grew up. The instant the girls began high school, the boys who had avoided them for all those years suddenly couldn’t keep away from Gillian. She could go to the market for a can of split pea soup and come back going steady with the boy who stocked the frozen food case. The older she got, the worse it became. Maybe it was the black soap she washed with that made her skin seem illuminated; whatever the reason, she was hot to touch and impossible to ignore.”

Finding more information other than a few small passages is difficult, which is why I figured I would try making a version of the black soap on my own. I have seen other people reference that it is supposed to be “lavender scented” though I have seen no mention of this in the series of books. It is simply just called “black soap” without any further references, other than that it for facial complexion.

herbs for the complexion:

This soap is comprised of a few ingredients that help aid in complexion and healing the skin on your face. While this soap can be used to wash the entire body, it is specially made as a facial bar soap.

Activated Charcoal:

Activated charcoal is simply charcoal that has been exposed to high temperatures, making it purer in structure. It becomes porous and can absorb toxins, making it a wonderful addition to many skincare products. You will also see activated charcoal added to toothpaste as a whitening agent, as this was commonly used to clean the teeth before modern toothpaste existed. Activated charcoal is also used to draw impurities out of the skin, such as a splinter. It is perfect for a facial soap as it helps bring toxins and impurities, such as excess oil or acne, to the surface and absorbs them to be washed away.

Goat’s Milk:

Goat milk contains fatty acids that help repair the surface area of the skin, improving the natural flora of the skin, and make the skin softer. This is a wonderful way to illuminate your facial skin and give it some much needed Vitamin A. It can also help reduce redness. This soap has a goat’s milk base.

Coffee:

Coffee has been known to help reduce inflammation in the skin due to conditions such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, and other. It is antimicrobial, making it perfect for fighting infections in the skin. This recipe has coarse coffee grounds added as a gentle exfoliator.

Rose Oil:

Roses are filled with antioxidants, making it a wonderful addition to a facial soap. This can help to prevent cell damage and aid in regenerating skin tissue. Rose is often used in skincare for its anti-aging properties and is perfect for dry skin in particular, but it is safe to use on all skin types.

sage oil:

Because sage is astringent, it can help to improve acne and blemishes, heal chapped skin, and relieve the symptoms of eczema. Sage increases collagen and is rich in Vitamin A.

supplies:

Ingredients :

3 pounds Goat’s Milk Melt and Pour Soap Base
3 tbsp activated charcoal
1/4 cup jojoba oil
1 fl oz rose essential oil
0.25 fl oz clary sage essential oil
0.25 fl oz cedarwood essential oil
2 tbsp coarsely ground coffee beans
1 tbsp dried calendula
1 tbsp dried rose petals

In a double boiler used only for natural crafting (though this is washable!), melt your glycerin soap base over the stove on low heat. Stir occasionally with a wooden spoon until melted completely.
In a large bowl, pour the melted soap base and carefully stir in the activated charcoal. It should mix in easily and become a very intense shade of black. Let the mixture cool to at least 110 degrees Fahrenheit.
Drop in your jojoba oil and essential oils and stir to incorporate.
Pour half of the soap mixture into your prepared mold. Let the soap cool slightly, giving it a thin layer of skin on the top. Sprinkle the coffee grounds over the top of this layer of soap. They should sit on top of the soap. If necessary, heat the remaining soap in your pot again. Pour the remaining soap over the top of the coffee beans, leaving about 1/2 inch of headspace.
Let the soap harden slightly again. Press the dried calendula and rose petals into the top of the soap gently with your fingers.
Let the soap harden overnight, or at least 12 hours. Remove the soap from the mold and let it cure for another 12-24 hours.
With a sharp knife or wavy cutter, slice the soap into 3-inch wedges. Allow these to cure again for several hours before using. Because melt and pour soap bases are usually made with glycerin, this soap may sweat when exposed to heat and humidity. This is normal!
Use this bar on your face and body, as it will help to heal your complexion.

final thoughts:

I am so glad that this post is well loved and used by others who are fans of the book series and film. It is really a story that changed my life and made me feel seen in a time when I felt very lost. I have always related to Sally in many ways, especially as a once single mom with a different view of the world than many of my peers and a different path that I followed. I think the best part about the end of Sally’s story is that she learns to embrace the best parts of her life; so many focus on the romance side of the story. I love that she overcomes her grief and lives her most authentic life in the end. I want to be like that, and I feel like I finally am… five years later!

I hope that if you are reading this is post as a newcomer to our blog, you can be inspired by that as well. A lot has changed since I first shared this recipe - a LOT! I am no longer a teenage single mom, but I found love, created a successful business, and now have three beautiful children. It’s been a fun and humbling journey.

I hope you enjoy making your own witchy black soap at home and basking in the self-care magic! This is by far our most popular post, so please have fun with this Practical Magic inspired soap recipe. It's a witchy beauty ritual! Happy Halloween.

xoxo Kayla