Because of their fresh ingredients, some of these soaps have a shelf life of several weeks, so plan to use them soon after making them. (But with soaps this appealing, that will hardly be a problem.) Use our easy wrapping ideas to give the soaps as gifts, or just add a splash of color to your hand-washing routine.

Stack soaps (these get their pretty colors from pureed berries) in a clear cylinder and add a tag to make a useful gift. 

Clear round diameter tubes, 2 3/4", glerup.com

Clear square box, 4"-by-4"-by-4", glerup.com.

Delight someone with a fresh-scented and boldly striped soap made in a mini loaf pan.

Add nature's essence to a homemade soap gift.

Make fragrant homemade soaps using honey, ginger, cinnamon, and other items from your larder.

Use honey, dry milk, and clay to make soap inside cardboard cartons.

Rejuvenate the senses with soap made using pantry stamps, essential oils, and baking molds or cutters. Show off your gifts in pretty little patterned dishes, secured with a strip of glassine or waxed paper and tied with a satin ribbon.

Wow guests with soaps wrapped in patterned boxes made in a photo-editing program.