Soap should be made during the new moon phase for best results.

Making Soap During the New Moon for Purity and Success

Details

According to this traditional belief, soap-making was ideally carried out during the new moon phase. Practitioners claimed that lye mixed more effectively, and fats saponified better when made during this lunar period. It was thought that the new moon symbolized a clean slate and increase—the ideal energetic environment for cleansing agents like soap. The process often involved rendering animal fat, mixing it with lye water (wood ash and rainwater), and stirring for hours. Timing was crucial, as many believed the moon’s position influenced chemical reactions and physical properties in handmade items. Making soap during a waxing moon, especially the new moon, aligned with beliefs that all things made during this phase would grow stronger and more effective.

Historical Context

This superstition draws heavily from rural European and colonial American farming communities, where lunar phases guided agricultural and domestic tasks. The moon’s influence was thought to affect not only tides and crop cycles but also human activities like baking, planting, and soap-making. In societies where soap was an essential household product made from scratch, ensuring its quality was critical. The idea that celestial forces could enhance domestic products mirrors broader trends in folklore, where timekeeping and ritual schedules were aligned with natural cycles. Such practices were particularly prominent before the advent of industrial soap production in the 19th century.

Modern Relevance

Though rarely followed in industrial settings, this lunar soap-making tradition persists among some artisan soapmakers and practitioners of folk traditions. In contemporary natural wellness and neo-pagan communities, lunar timing still holds importance. Homemade and organic soap businesses may reference moon phases in marketing, linking heritage methods to a sense of authenticity and spiritual alignment. Hashtags like #moonphasecrafts and #moonmagic occasionally feature soap-making content, especially around the new moon. While most modern soapmakers follow scientific formulas, some continue this tradition as a symbolic or spiritual step in their craft.

Sources

Farmer’s Almanac (almanac.com): Entries on moon phases and household tasks

Quick Facts

Related Superstitions

A baby’s future career or fate is predicted by the first object they select during a ceremonial setup.

In several Asian and Eastern European cultures, a traditional ceremony is held for babies usually around their first birthday. Known

Why Superstitions Persist in Modern Times

Despite widespread access to scientific knowledge and rational frameworks, superstitions continue to influence everyday behavior across cultures and demographics. From