DIY ‘Outback Mate’ Lush Soap Dupe: Stretch Your Favorite Soap and Control What’s Inside
Let’s be honest—spending $9 on a single bar of Lush’s Outback Mate soap feels a little extravagant. As someone who’s tried to get the most out of every penny, I wanted to find a way to stretch this beloved bar further without sacrificing its refreshing eucalyptus scent or that beautiful blue-green swirl.
Instead of rationing showers to make it last, I went the DIY route, experimenting with various methods to recreate a similar soap at home—minus some of the more questionable ingredients. Whether you want to make a dupe that feels almost identical to the original or stretch that one bar into several, I’ve got you covered.
In this guide, I’ll show you how to either melt down your Outback Mate bar with a commercial melt-and-pour base or craft your own soap base from scratch, replicating Lush’s unique recipe. It’s all about maximizing your investment and taking control of the ingredients.
Understanding Lush’s Soap-Making Process
Lush soaps, including Outback Mate, start with a base made of canola and coconut oils. These are melted down with solvents like glycerin and propylene glycol to create a malleable soap base that gets reworked with various additives, including essential oils and colorants.
While the soap itself feels luxurious, some ingredients like propylene glycol, EDTA, and tetrasodium etidronate are included for stability and performance but can irritate sensitive skin. By making your own dupe, you can skip these chemicals and replace them with skin-friendly alternatives.
Deconstructing Lush’s Ingredient List
- Eucalyptus Infusion
- Rapeseed Oil
- Coconut Oil
- Glycerine
- Propylene Glycol
- Water
- Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
- Fragrance
- Eucalyptus Oil
- Lemongrass Oil
- Peppermint Oil
- Titanium Dioxide
- Sodium Chloride
- Citric Acid
- Corn Starch
- Sodium Hydroxide
- Sodium Bicarbonate
- EDTA
- Tetrasodium Etidronate
- Synthetic Fluorphlogopite
- Tin Oxide
- *Citral, *Citronellol, *Geraniol, *Hydroxycitronellal, *Limonene
- Blue 1, Blue 1 Lake
Notice that glycerin and propylene glycol appear high on the list—both used as solvents to keep the soap malleable and easy to pour. While propylene glycol helps with moisture retention, it can irritate sensitive skin. Ingredients like EDTA and tetrasodium etidronate prevent soap scum and enhance performance in hard water, but they’re not exactly gentle. By creating your own base, we can replace those with safer, more natural options.
Your DIY Options: Stretching the Soap or Making It From Scratch
Option 1: Melt-and-Pour Soap Base (Easiest)
If you want a fast way to multiply your Outback Mate bar, this is the most straightforward option. You can buy a neutral melt-and-pour soap base—just make sure to pick one that aligns with your skin preferences. Once you melt the base, you can grate your Outback Mate bar, melt it down with the base, and pour it into new molds to set.
Option 2: Homemade Soap Base (More Control)
If you want complete control over your ingredients, creating your own soap base from scratch is the way to go. I spent a lot of time tweaking this method to get as close to Lush’s formula as possible—minus the synthetic ingredients.
Lush Soap Base Dupe Recipe
Oils
- Canola Oil: 40% – A gentle oil that forms the bulk of the soap, just like in Lush’s recipe.
- Coconut Oil: 55% – Provides a rich lather and cleansing power.
- Castor Oil: 5% – Adds a boost to the lather, giving it a more luxurious feel.
- Cocoa Butter or Shea Butter: 5% – Optional, but great for adding moisturizing properties to the soap.
Lye Solution
- Water to Lye Ratio: 2:1 – Standard ratio for a cold-process soap base.
- Sodium Lactate: 1 tsp per pound of oils – Helps harden the soap, giving it a long-lasting bar.
- Citric Acid: Acts as a natural chelator to prevent soap scum and enhance lather.
Superfat (optional)
Superfat at 5% – Adds extra moisture to the soap, which is great for dry skin.
How to Make the Soap Base
- Mix the Lye Solution
- Dissolve the lye into the water, then add citric acid. If you’re using citric acid, remember to add a little extra lye to account for what gets neutralized.
- Let the lye solution cool before adding it to the oils.
- Heat the Oils
- Melt your oils together. Once the oils and lye solution are both at about room temperature, you can combine them.
- Initiate Saponification
- Slowly add the lye solution to the oils, using a stick blender to reach “trace” (the point where the mixture thickens like pudding). This is when saponification, or the process of turning oils into soap, begins.
- Pour into Molds
- Pour your soap into molds and let it cure for at least 24–48 hours until solid. Once hardened, you can remove the soap from the molds and let it cure for 4–6 weeks for best results.
How to Stretch the Soap
- Grate the Soap
Once your soap base is cured, grate it into fine shreds.
- Melt in a Slow Cooker
Place the grated soap in a slow cooker with a solvent mixture of glycerin and a 2:1 sugar (or sugar alcohol) to water solution. This keeps the soap flexible and helps dissolve it. Use about 1 part solvent to 3 parts soap by weight.
- Add the Outback Mate Bar
If you’re duplicating Lush’s bar, this is where you can add a shredded piece of your original Outback Mate bar into the mixture for the signature scent and color.
- Pour into New Molds
Once everything is melted and combined, pour the soap mixture into molds and let it set. Once firm, cut into fresh bars.
Why Some Ingredients Are Skipped
- Propylene Glycol: We replace this with natural humectants like glycerin and sugar syrup.
- EDTA & Tetrasodium Etidronate: These preservatives are swapped out for citric acid, which is a natural chelator and helps improve the lather without harsh chemicals.
By following this method, you can take one bar of Lush’s Outback Mate and transform it into multiple DIY dupes that are gentler on your skin (and your wallet). Whether you’re using a commercial melt-and-pour base or creating your own from scratch, this recipe gives you control over what’s in your soap, while keeping the original’s invigorating scent and smooth lather. With a few easy steps, you’ll have a stash of refreshing bars that stretch your budget and keep your skin feeling great.
English 
French